Hell on Wheels: The Incredible Story of Rookie Roller Derby Queen Cindy McCoy

by Karen Mueller Bryson

This captivating biography reveals the details of sports legend, Cindy McCoy's inspirational life story. Cindy escaped a difficult youth, in which she faced abuse and abandonment, by becoming a professional skater as a teen and traveling on an international roller derby team. Fans in Australia became like a surrogate family to young Cindy and she was soon voted Roller Game Rookie of the Year and Roller Game Queen of the Year, an honor that was never repeated. This moving narrative, about a young woman, who gave everything she had to the sport she loved, will appeal to fans of roller derby as well as readers of all ages just learning about this fascinating sport.

Genres: Memoir, Roller Derby, Nonfiction

115 pages, Paperback

First published June 28, 2012

About the author

Karen M. Bryson (TM) writes new adult, love in midlife, and contemporary romance with a little spice and lots of heart. She is a winner of the prestigious RONE Award for Excellence in the Indie and Small Publishing Industry. When she's not at her computer creating spicy stories Karen likes to spend time with her husband and their bloodhounds. Karen is also an award-winning/optioned screenwriter. Karen writes under the pen names SAVANNAH YOUNG, SIERRA AVALON, REN MONTERREY and USA TODAY BESTSELLING AUTHOR DAKOTA MADISON.

Reviews

[Timothy · Rating 2 out of 5]

The broken promise of this thin volume is that it reads not so much as a book as it does a fifth grade homework assignment. Inoffensive but workmanlike prose takes what one imagines could have been an easily absorbing memoir and utterly fails to breathe the most anemic of winds into its limp sails.

In 1965, at age sixteen, Cindy McCoy leaves school & home to join the Roller Games, the oft-vilified competitor to the historic Roller Derby. She leaves behind her parents who both had abandoned her at different points in her childhood and a sexually threatening mother’s boyfriend to move to Australia where she becomes a star of the nascent Roller Games down under.

While her career would ultimately last only a few years, there was drama and excitement enough in McCoy's life for great narrative nonfiction, expect for the fact that author Karen Mueller Bryson fails to deliver any of it to the page. We’re on p.43 before there is even the first mention of roller derby (erroneously referred to as both “…the Roller Derby Games/Roller Games…” and on p.46 “…the Roller Derby Games…”), which would be one thing if this were a normal length book, however as it is this comes 40% of the way through. Everything that follows: her culture shock in Australia, her rivalries and successes on the track and off, a show-down with the lecherous mother’s boyfriend back in the States, and her ultimate career ending injury are treated so superficially that the whole awkwardly written affair is mercifully over before you know it.

A pedestrian effort with a clear lack of editing or copyediting; the final insult to the reader is that there is not a single photo of her on the track amongst the current family photos of her at the end.

An A+ as a fifth grade essay, this is a D- as a book worth reading. Only for the absolute completest. At least it is as short as it is uninspired.

For a top-notch sports memoir by any standard, and a little-known gem in the cannon of roller derby books, read Semka: The Sammy Skobel Story.

[T.W. Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hell on Wheels is subtitled "The Incredible Story of "Rookie Roller Derby Queen' Cindy McCoy", but it is really a story about a young lady's life and the events that shaped her. Ms. McCoy's story is full of entertaining anecdotes, some funny, some cute, some sad. There is enough to give you a peek at what shaped the person, but I would have enjoyed hearing more about the Roller Derby itself. I would have enjoyed hearing about what she thought of the T-Birds in the '80s when it was almost like pro-wrestling on skates with the over-the-top personalities. It's not that the stories about Cindy McCoy's life were not interesting, I just believe it would have added to the story.

[Leah]

I won this book but didn't really care for it. The material is interesting, but the style is poor. There are a lot of run on sentences, spelling mistakes, and more. This read more like a poorly written paper than a book.

[Stacey · Rating 2 out of 5]

This read more like a magazine article than a book. Light on content, lots of editing mistakes, and not enough meat on the bones. More details, please!

[Lisa Bentley · Rating 2 out of 5]

Hell on Wheels is the true account of the life of Cindy McCoy – a legend in the world of Roller Derby.

McCoy’s relatively short career in the Roller Derby was awash with travel, injury and personal sadness and in this short book we look back on her amazing journey and her achievements and we see how the Roller Derby has become a cult sport with a growing number of followers.

Hell on Wheels gives a good insight into one of the sports stars and leaves you wondering why Roller Derby is not prime entertainment.

Hell on Wheels – The Incredible Story of “Rookie Roller Derby Queen” Cindy McCoy by Karen Mueller Bryson is available now.

[AnaMaree · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice story

There were a few over used phrases, typos, and some things could have been covered in more detail. POV doesn't normally bother me, however this would have been amazing with more detail and written in first person. It was interesting but lacking the depth it could have had. I felt like there was too much unsaid.

Just a personal opinion. I don't like leaving a "bad" review as I admire the courage it takes to tell a story. I just feel like the story was not really told.

[Marla Hayes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some biographies read like a dry recitation of details. This is not the case with HELL ON WHEELS. Author Karen Mueller Bryson gently leads the reader through the harsh and unrelentingly unfair tale of Cindy McCoy's youth. A youth that molded this young woman into the determined and talented athlete who deserved every accolade she earned during her roller derby years. The author delicately handles the sensitive issues in McCoy's life and shines a light on the strong personality

[Zac Stojcevski · Rating 3 out of 5]

What a story, what a shame. Indeed an interesting story, I found myself checking and rechecking if this was an abridged version of a greater volume. No it was not! Lack of depth contributed to disappointment. Also, as an Australian I was caught by errors of fact, noticeably a kola "bear" and a feral ostrich - er hmmm- try emu. I hope the author considers a second volume or updated edition. As it stands, it's not a bad read and could be a useful compulsory read for 9th graders. Go Thunderbirds!

[Cindi · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a free Kindle download. I found it to be a bit light & fluffy. I guess I was hoping for more down & dirty derby info. Still, was interesting to learn a little about one of the first female derby stars.

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this short biography of Roller Derby Queen/Star "Cindy McCoy". I think readers of all ages will like this especially young readers, which I think this book is more written for.

[Brittany · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was really excited to read this book...it left me wanting more...maybe something more in depth. It could have been so much more....

[Michelle · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book read like a school essay. Not impressed with the writing at all.

[Marissa Sherman Deziel · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm am only about half way through but the book while and interesting story is poorly written and riddled with errors.

[Carrie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Reads like a 7th grade book report.