Leave It on the Track

Gr 9 Up–After surviving a devastating fire that killed both her dads at a local roller rink and spending nearly five months in the hospital healing from her burns, 16-year-old Morgan “Moose” Shaker moves from a small town in Utah to Portland, OR, to live with her older half-sister Eden, whom she barely knows. Added to the loss of her dads and the only home she has ever known, Moose also struggles with her own sexual identity despite having grown up with gay parents. When Eden takes her to observe one of her roller derby practices, Moose is surprised by the openly queer community there and quickly becomes hooked on the sport. As she begins to bond with her teammates, form new friendships, and develop an even deeper relationship with one of her teammates, she gradually becomes more comfortable in her own sexuality and in her own skin. After a harrowing few days in which she returns to her former home without money, phone, or word to anyone, she also eventually begins to come to terms with the loss of the life she had in Utah and accept the new life she has begun to form in Oregon. Moose is a realistically flawed character filled with self-doubt and some questionable decision-making skills, but readers will surely root for her and her team. Moose is white. Secondary characters are racially diverse.