My rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️½⭐️ (3.5 stars)

Bruised tells the story of Daya, a Canadian teen of Sri-Lankan descent, who is traumatized by the car accident that took her parents’ lives. Living with her kooky aunt and uncle, with whom she’s never had a close bond, and suffering from survivor’s guilt, she turns to self-harm as a means to manage her internal pain. So when her friend takes her to a roller derby event, she immediately feels a connection to the sport. Most notably because of the opportunity it offers her to hurt herself more frequently.

The title of this novel itself actually comes from this revelation. As Daya’s acts of self-harm take the form of accumulating a collection of bruises across her body. But there’s much more to roller derby than getting roughed up, and a lot more going on internally that Daya needs to work through. Feelings of grief that won’t go just away, no matter how many bruises she collects.

My interest was immediately piqued when I heard of this novel. The movie Whip It left such a strong impression on me as a young queer girl, that I’ve always been curious about the sport of roller derby. (Drew Barrymore and Elliott Page? A young girl’s heart can only take so much.) As a Canadian too, reading a novel actually set in my country is always an added treat. While this story did end up being a lot different than I anticipated, I’m still glad I had the chance to read it.

I do think it’s worth mentioning that if you do wish to pick it up for yourself, that there are a lot of descriptions of self-harm detailed within. The story itself can also get pretty heavy at times, more so than I had assumed it would when I started it. However, if you’re able to handle that stuff, I think it becomes a really worthwhile read.

Bruised is a powerful look at how strength can take different forms, and that learning to open up to hurt can lead to recovery.

While it was a little slow to start – and there was less roller derby in the beginning than I thought there would be! – that sort of worked here, because this story was less about roller derby, and more about Daya herself, coming to terms with her trauma and her survivor’s guilt.

The foundation of this novel – and its driving force throughout – really is the rich and diverse characters at its heart, not the sport they’re playing. I really loved the cast of characters in the novel, as they all felt like full, realized individuals, which often books with large casts like this lack. Honestly, I found it hard not to feel for almost all of them.

I also really enjoyed the romance between Daya and Shanti! (Shanti was probably my favorite character out of the whole novel.) Boteju does a good job of showing how healthy relationships can make you a better version of yourself, which was awesome to see.

Overall, while I do think Bruised is not going to be every reader’s cup of tea – specifically because of the heavy focus on self-harm – I found it to be a good read that I thoroughly enjoyed. If you come into Bruised looking for a lighthearted story jam-packed with roller derby descriptions and references, you will leave disappointed. But if you come with an open heart and a willingness to see the messy, complicated journey of learning to live with trauma, I think you’ll be rewarded.

Thank you to the publisher, Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers/Canada, and NetGalley for providing me with an e-ARC of this book. All thoughts are my own.

Honestly I don’t have an interest in reading this book anymore and I want to be more selective with what I request.

Going into Bruised by Tanya Boteju, it was front of mind for me that I had read the author’s previous book (and debut) Kings, Queens, and In-Betweens and found out my overarching experience with it was that I resonated with and enjoyed reading about the side characters more so than the main character.

I wasn’t sure if this was a one-off or not, but in either case, I did like the book overall for the side characters (as I said), how the author described them and brought them to life, as well as the subject matter and what happened in the story itself. As I started reading Bruised, I wasn’t sure if the same thing would happen again…but I will say that I was really intrigued by the cover and the fact that rollerskating would have a prominent role since I personally got into rollerskating myself just a few months ago.

Once I was a few chapters in, I found that I had a hard time connecting with the main character. I wasn’t too surprised since this had happened to me with Tanya Boteju ‘s previous book as well and since I have actually had this happen with a number of young adult contemporary books recently.

This is no fault of the author’s but rather a case of me oversaturating my reading palette by reading too many young adult contemporary books too close together…or maybe I’ve just reached a certain point in my life where I can’t connect with characters in their teens unless they’re in a fantasy setting (i.e. set in worlds or situations where the characters’ ages are forgettable, at least for me).

In either case, the same thing happened with Bruised that happened to me with Kings, Queens, and In-Betweens where I was more intrigued and felt more engaged by the side characters than the main character. And in Bruised‘s particular case, I think this might have been again because of how the side characters were written and also because the side characters were a little older than the main character (ranging from a few years older to a decade or two older). My two reasons for not resonating with the main characters could very well be working hand-in-hand in this manner.

All in all, I will say that I did enjoy following the main character’s journey from start to finish, especially when interacting with the other characters they met along the way. I also really liked how Tanya Boteju ‘s writing has developed since the first book and how the descriptions and story played out in Bruised–I’m curious to see what the author will write next!

I LOVE LOVE LOVED this book!!! Roller derby lesbians is exactly what everyone needs in their lives!! I handsell this book on the regular because it is so freaking good.

Bruised - Tanya Boteju

I read this book at the perfect time, because I just bought myself a pair of roller skates last week!!

Bruised follows Daya, whose parents immigrated from Sri Lanka, and who recently died in a car accident. This book deals heavily with grief, and Daya learning to cope with the death of her parents. This book has such a diverse cast of characters. Daya’s best friend Fee uses they/them pronouns. There’s an F/F romance. There are Brown, Black and Asian characters.

I could not put it how book down and I read it in two days, even though I was reading other books, I just wanted to read this one. I was really rooting for Daya the whole time. She goes to therapy for her grief, and this book depicts therapy in a positive way. Daya discovers roller derby and thinks that’ll be a good way to deal with her emotions, but she finds so much more from it. I really enjoyed following Daya’s journey. We see her learn how to rely on the people in her life and not just keep everything bottled in. Overall I highly recommend this book and Tanya Boteju will definitely be an auto buy author from now on!! (Also she’s a Canadian author!!)

Since Daya’s parents died in a crash that she survived, she has given herself bruises. She keeps bruising herself so she can physically feel the emotional pain from losing her parents. Daya learns about roller derby teams, and she realizes that’s an activity that will give her lots of bruises. The sport is more physically grueling and painful than she expected. She idolizes the star of the team, Kat, and she befriends Kat’s sister, Shani. Roller derby opens up Daya to exploring her own feelings and finding her personal strength.

This was a coming of age story. Daya had to learn to accept the death of her parents, and she also was coming to understand her own romantic feelings. Daya blamed herself for her parents’ death, since she survived their car crash, so she self harms by bruising herself. Daya also discovered her sexual identity. She became vulnerable by beginning a relationship with a girl that she didn’t expect to have. Daya had a lot to discover about herself in this story.

Despite the serious subject matter for most of the book, there were some entertaining characters. Daya’s aunt and uncle who were her guardians were quirky actors. They would dance and play games without worrying about how they looked to the outside world. Daya met some older characters through her roller skating. They were former roller skaters who still liked to get dressed up and help the younger skaters. They were all funny characters who lightened the mood of the story.

This was a great young adult story!

Thank you Simon and Schuster Canada for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Bruised by Tanya Boteju is a heavier read than I would normally gravitate to, but I enjoyed every page. This one is a great introduction to roller derby, and I loved being immersed in this fast-paced world. The main character is tough, but as the book progresses, she learns to embrace different forms of strength. I would recommend this one to those looking for a more serious coming-of-age story.

As a way of coping with the loss of her parents, Daya joins a roller derby term in hopes of externalizing her pain rather than dealing with it emotionally. The sport is unfamiliar to her, and she has never played on a team before, which pushes her to her limits in unexpected ways–both physically and mentally. I have never read a book about roller derby before, and it was really interesting to explore this world along with Daya. The dynamic cast of side characters who make up the Killa Honeys is also a highlight.

❀ COMPLEX MAIN CHARACTER

Daya is a complex character, and I loved her growth. She is incredibly strong, but when we meet her, she is closed off after suffering a tremendous loss. While her ways of coping are unhealthy, it is easy to root for her, and to understand where her actions are coming from. As the book progresses, Daya discovers a different side of herself and learns to be part of a team, beginning a gradual path towards healing.

❀ POWERFUL MESSAGE

Throughout this book is a powerful message about toughness. To Daya, vulnerability is a weakness, as she has been conditioned to be strong her entire life. However, as she gets to know the Killa Honeys, she starts to learn that softness is a different kind of strength in itself. In fact, her raw toughness can be considered a weakness. It is so moving to watch Daya come to recognize the softness in herself, and she doesn’t become any less tough because of it.

❀ A STORY ABOUT GRIEF AND SELF-DISCOVERY

Bruised by Tanya Boteju is a story about grief and self-discovery. I loved the topic of roller derby, and the main character is well-developed. The book’s message about different forms of strength further enriches the narrative. Those looking for a heavier yet accessible read about the world of roller derby will enjoy this one.

Roller derby? Queer? POC? Hard-hitting contemporary? This book has it all!

Daya's parents died in a car accident but to avoid feeling all the emotions that come with grief, Daya seeks out ways to inflict pain and form bruises on her skin. Bruises hurt but they numb the pain of grief. Typically Daya skateboards as a way to get the bruises but lately it has not been having the effect that Daya is looking for. When her friend brings her to a roller derby bout, Daya is amazed. These girls are fierce, strong, and get a lot of bruises. Maybe roller derby will be the solution to all Daya's problems? Or maybe roller derby will present its own challenges.

In the beginning, I was not invested in this book. I was so excited for the roller derby aspect as it is a sport that I feel is so underappreciated and underrepresented. I quickly became annoyed with Daya because of her stubbornness. However, I did push on because I was so excited about the roller derby. I am so glad that I did push on. Daya's stubbornness was essential for the plot of the book and as the story progressed I just wanted to give her a hug, or buy her a drink. I loved absolutely every single character, although I wish we got to know Fee and their girlfriend more (possible side story option?), I also want a sequel about Kat!

The roller derby was so thrilling and exciting! The characters were all intriguing and sweet and hilarious and adorable. My initial reservations about this book did bring my rating down but by the end of the story, my rating went up to a 4 star. Also, the cover art is absolutely stunning!

Bruised was on my most anticipated book releases of 2021 list and it definitely did not disappoint. I’ve always loved playing all kinds of different sports growing up and as I got more into reading I grew to love books which included sports. Usually the books I pick up involve sports that I’m familiar with, but roller derby was a completely new sport to me and I couldn’t wait to learn more about it. I learned so much about how roller derby works and all the different terminology that is used. I also learned a lot through my deep dive of watching roller derby videos on Youtube after I finished reading the book.

As for Daia, I absolutely adored her and her friends so much. After Daia loses her parents in a crash she starts using bruises to inflict pain on herself that she can control and to help her forget the pain of losing her parents. Throughout the book you get to see Daia grow so much in so many different ways and I loved reading her story.

I could talk about this book for ages, but I’m going to leave it at this book was absolutely amazing and if you are looking for a new sports book to pick up, I highly recommend Bruised by Tanya Boteju. 5/5 stars without a doubt and I can’t wait to pick up more of Tanya Boteju books in the future!

Rating: 3.5/5 stars

Overall, I enjoyed reading this book, an emotional YA contemporary novel. I thought it did a good job with handling grief, loss, and love throughout the book.

In terms of the characters, it was nice to see the character's journey through the ups and downs, like how the readers get to see their flaws. Flawed characters that are continually working on themselves. It was interesting to read Daya's journey from grieving over her parent's death to getting to know roller derby.

I was fascinated about roller derby and it was cool to get to know more about the sport. The book did a good job setting the scene from roller derby practice to the actual game.

Bruised is a coming of age novel that talks about grief, loss, and love.

Thanks to Simon & Schuster Canada and Netgalley for sending me an e-arc.

CW: grief, parental loss, death,car accident, self-harm, emotional abuse, and bullying.

Bruised is a story about grief, guilt, and harmful coping mechanisms. I began looking forward to this novel from the moment I heard of its 2021 release, and I was thrilled to receive an advanced reader copy. Many of the roller derby aspects were uncomfortable for me, and the inaccuracies greatly hindered my ability to fully fall into this story, but we’ll begin with the positives.

After Daya survives a car crash, and her parents do not, Daya is forced to live with her aunt and uncle. She turns all of her grief inwards, and uses physical pain to divert her focus from emotions that are overwhelming. As a teenager bearing the weight of significant trauma, Daya was not always likeable, but it was easy to see her as a real person. Every bit of growth, every emotional risk she allowed herself to take, filled me with genuine pride for her as a reader. Her father placed an unhealthy emphasis on his idea of ‘tough’, and Daya adopted a lot of these traits because her love for him – and her need for his love in return – was so strong.

The Found Family themes were a delight, and I loved the diversity. As a person of colour it is always just… nice… to read a book where all of the characters are not white. It’s comforting to read cultural experiences with language and food and family that match your own. And the queer representation was *chef’s kiss*. Shanti and Fi were emotionally grounded angels; I would lay down my life for Shanti. I wanted Daya’s aunt and uncle to be my parents. I saw my own grandmother reflected in Shanti’s grandmother. I would read a whole book about the elderly Black couple who owned the skate shop and their friends.

On a less positive note, roller derby in the context of this story acts as a plot device. Boteju had an opportunity to showcase the sense of community that exists in roller derby, and the emotional fortitude it builds, and this opportunity was largely wasted.

Roller derby attracts a lot of people who do not quite fit in anywhere else, and it has a reputation with the general public for being reckless and theatrical because of it. The book plays into many of those harmful stereotypes; there are drunk spectators harassing people without repercussion, unhealthy power dynamics between seasoned skaters and brand new skaters, hazing, and while the actions of one particularly problematic skater (Kat) are eventually addressed, it was alarming to me that her behaviour went unchallenged by other established skaters in the league (and without consequence).

Roller derby is a difficult sport requiring a huge degree of mental and physical control, and the portion of the global community partaking in WWE style theatrics is microscopic. To have the opportunity to present good clean roller derby and opt for inaccurate showboating, displays a lack of research and left me feeling incredibly disappointed.

Thank you to netgalley and Simon and Schuster for the free e-arc of Bruised in exchange for an honest review.

This was definitely a hard-hitting contemporary novel. It discusses grief, guilt, self-harm, and so many other sensitive topics. It was all done extremely. I teared up and had to stop a few times to compose myself.

I read this entire book in one sitting. The story was gripping and I truly immersed myself in it. I wanted to see what was next for our characters and I really cared for them.

Whilst not every character is particularly likable, they all shine in their own way and I loved all of them, flaws and all. Another thing I really enjoyed is that we learn to love the characters alongside Daya. As her story and her perception(s) evolve, so do her feelings towards the rest of the cast. Living this transformation with her was compelling

I would like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review, all thoughts and opinions are my own.

I loved the ideas incorporated here, but felt like it was trying too hard.
The author attempted to incorporate so many ideas that most of them didn't have a chance to mature.
I think it would have worked better if the author hadn't tried to represent so many themes in one book. Picking 1 or 2 main focuses would have allowed those to breath and develop more naturally.
Thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster Canada for my DRC.

I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review! This book genuinely blew me away. I have read Tanya’s other book, Kings, Queens and In-Betweens, before and I could tell she was going to become one of my favourite authors. The way she writes characters and their interactions and hardships, speaks to a deep place inside me. This book feels so important. When I was in my early teens, I had friends who did roller derby and because I suffer from chronic pain, I was never able to join myself. This book made me feel like I was finally part of that world I had been so interested in years ago. I also really strongly appreciated the way she wrote grief and self harm. I saw myself in Daya, as well as Shanti and Fee! It felt like these characters were all little pieces of myself and that made the reading experience even more magical and emotional! I loved that the characters were flawed but worked on those flaws and started to view things differently as the book went on. Also, the representation in this made my heart sing! Being a nonbinary person who identifies (recently) as a lesbian, seeing that representation of a character using they/them pronouns and a sapphic relationship really hit home with me! I would highly recommend this book!! Last point is that Tanya is from the same city as me and that makes me feel an overwhelming amount of pride for her and her books! I may not know her personally, but it makes me so happy to see her do well!!

I received this eARC from @simonschusterca/@simonteen via @netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Publication date: March 23, 2021

Wow. What isn't this story about. Bruised is more than just the title of this book! 💔

A teenager dealing with grief, identity, self harm and realization.

Daya takes you on a journey of self discovery.

Lost and unsure of how to move forward in a positive way she finds roller derby and a new "family" to help her along the path of self realization.

I could relate to parts of Daya but also see people in my past in her too. It made me understand things that I may not have before.

I had tears in those last few chapters. 😭

There is so much to love about this book. It deals with grief is a such an incredible way and I always appreciate a book that talks about the benefits of therapy.

I felt a connection to Daya, but it is the side characters who really shine in this and who help Daya through her grief even when she was resistant to it.

The romance is also really sweet and the roller derby element was compelling. I loved that the author included a breakdown of the history of the sport at the end.

I am excited for its release day and for everyone to read it, because I have a feeling it is going to get a lot of buzz!
It is important to note that there is a content warning to self harm and it is a major theme of this novel, so I would avoid this book if that triggers you in any way.

Minor spoilers...

Bruised, a new book from Tanya Boteju, doesn’t look to solve any of the bigger world issues that plague our daily lives, it’s more concerned with the six inches in front of your face. Or more specifically, how the day-to-day act of being a part of society while at the same time immune to its whims, can cause someone who’s experienced trauma to be a “walking dead” type of character.

Sorry for the dramatics, but that’s what Daya is doing, she’s existing in our world, but not living in it. Part of this contract we all sort of agree to is that participating in society is a give and take proposition. And Daya has decided to put up a wall between her and everyone else, not letting anyone get close to her. Because she’s learned that it’s only when you start losing things, is when you realize you have something to lose. So rather than risk that heartbreak again.

“What was left when my muscles and skills were stripped away? I worried the answer was…not enough.”

This rawness, this skewed sense of “toughness” is a behaviour she both inherited and learned from her Thatha. A person who generally viewed a lack of “toughness”, whether it be physical or emotional, as a weakness that won’t get you very far in life. This skewed world view manifested itself in many ways, but in the case of Daya’s Thatha, he was a “sports dad”. You know those guys that sit in the stands and yell at their kids? That’s him.

So, after the accidental death of both her Thatha and Amma, Daya reacts the way she was taught to, with a willful indifference. Her mind activates self-protect mode, something we all have, closing off any chance of self-exposure which will prevent vulnerability.

Often, when you become a shut in and don’t open yourself to external stimuli, love, friendship, joy, you’ll do almost anything to “feel” something, to feel human. Daya takes to self-harm to satisfy this need.

Now, this is a difficult subject no doubt and Tanya handles it well, neither exploiting it nor running away from it. For Daya, she takes to bruising herself, sometimes directly, sometimes indirectly. Up until now, this was through non-team high accident-prone sports like skateboarding, but as the cover and summary states, she discovers roller derby. And that shot of self-inflicted pain is the sweetest one yet.

So, as she enters this new world, the question becomes, how long can she sustain this behavior before it destroys her?

The battle for Daya’s soul is being fought on a few fronts but most effectively by sisters Kat and Shanti, members of the “Killa Honeys” roller derby team. Kat is the tough, show no emotion captain of the team who at first seems more like Daya’s type. Shanti is her younger, softer, more emotionally available sister who is the team’s manager/helper.

Tanya spins a nice web here, creating this push/pull between the two as they want different things from, and for, Daya. Kat sees herself in Daya, tough, take no bullshit, emotionally hardened. Shanti “likes” Daya and has enough empathy to see there’s more going on there besides anger.

“So let’s go.”

It’s Shanti who Daya thinks about the most and who in return seems like both the right, and wrong, choice for her. But the heart wants what the heart wants and slowly Shanti begins to take hold of Daya in a way she’s never felt before. This is the romance aspect of the book and it’s soft and sweet for the most part as Daya isn’t so much Questioning at this point, just numb. Shanti is able to break through and how Daya reacts provides for some nice moments in the book.

Daya’s guardians are her Aunt and Uncle, Priam and Vicki who are a force unto themselves and provide for most of the books’ humor. They’re great, they’re fun, and they love Daya, but their relationship is mostly an awkward series of attempts and fails on their part.

“A force so gentle and consistent I hadn’t even noticed it was there.”

But it’s through them she will eventually find some resolution and understand that father doesn’t always know best, and that her mother was perhaps tougher than he was. Daya’s guilt isn’t rational but it is overwhelming and doesn’t exactly encourage healthy behavior as we’ve talked about, and that includes how she views her Amma. Turns out she quietly moved mountains for her only child, but Daya’s Thatha had her so mixed up, it went unnoticed.

Yes, thanks to Priam and Vicki, she’s starting to learn that self-forgiveness is essential if she is to find enjoyment in life and relationships. I can’t stress enough how important this relationship is, the one between her and Priam and Vicki.

Bruised is a story about family, love, loss, and all that comes with being a young person still finding their way. It’s wonderfully saccharine and emotionally resonant at the same time, perfectly suited for the YA audience. I particularly enjoyed Tanya’s examination of “found family” and how sometimes they choose you, and just letting that happen can be a wonderful thing.

And in the end, with the help of this new “family”, Daya’s best self, while still a work in progress, is a combination of both her mother and her father, a combination of both Kat and Shanti. Like Rizzo, tough but tender. And while she’s still getting used to tender, with the help of Shanti, she’s liking more and more each day.

Bruised isn’t a grand bit of fiction, it’s quite basic in its mandate in that you get what you give. It’s a little slice-of-life tale about how hard the world can be, but, if you open yourself up to it, sometimes it can be pretty okay.

I really loved this book. The depiction of grief was bang on. I could almost feel the characters. I highly recommend reading this book.

I loved every single second of this book, and have literally no critiques. The characters were well rounded and fleshed out, the depiction of grief and self-blame felt genuine, the roller derby scenes were awesome, and the romance made my heart fill with joy. I loved EVERY character, and appreciated Boteju's ability to write a naturally diverse story without it feeling like boxes were being ticked. Watching Daya grow and take the steps she needed to take in order to get help was an honour, and I truly cannot wait to read Boteju's other work! Trigger warnings for parental death, death by car crash, self harm, depression, mentions of child abuse/domestic violence, homophobia and transphobia (challenged on page)

"Bruised" by Tanya Boteju, Simon & Schuster Canada
Category: YA LGBTQ romance
*I received this eARC from Simon & Schuster Canada via NetGalley in return for an honest review.
My rating: 5 stars
TW (trigger warnings): death, self-harm, bullying, mention of domestic abuse

Description from the publisher:
To Daya Wijesinghe, a bruise is a mixture of comfort and control. Since her parents died in an accident she survived, bruises have become a way to keep her pain on the surface of her skin so she doesn’t need to deal with the ache deep in her heart.
So when chance and circumstances bring her to a roller derby bout, Daya is hooked. Yes, the rules are confusing and the sport seems to require the kind of teamwork and human interaction Daya generally avoids. But the opportunities to bruise are countless, and Daya realizes that if she’s going to keep her emotional pain at bay, she’ll need all the opportunities she can get.
The deeper Daya immerses herself into the world of roller derby, though, the more she realizes it’s not the simple physical pain-fest she was hoping for. Her rough-and-tumble teammates and their fans push her limits in ways she never imagined, bringing Daya to big truths about love, loss, strength, and healing.

A grief-stricken girl finds camaraderie and a way to keep the bruises coming in "Bruised", a YA novel from Tanya Boteju.
I really enjoyed this book. Daya, the main character, had a wonderful, sarcastic wit and a great voice throughout this novel. I loved how the author didn't shy away from the reasons Daya kept hurting herself while still not having the character do a deep dive into her psyche. She self-harms to keep grief at bay, focusing the pain physically instead of internally. I found this very believable and written with care. The novel was a quick read with it's fast pace but didn't feel like it glossed over anything. The characters were well-rounded and even the antagonist was written with understanding and love. The relationships with the girls on the derby team, the older couples and her guardians were hilarious and fun to read, while her relationship with love interest Shanti was hard but ultimately satisfying. A great coming of age novel.