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Roll
Winner of the 2018 Burr/Worzalla Award * A CCBC (Cooperative Children’s Book Center) Choices 2018 Pick * A Bank Street Best Children's Book of 2017 A hilariously funny and poignant debut novel, perfect for fans of Jerry Spinelli, Kat Yeh, Gary D. Schmidt, and Rebecca Stead. When Lauren (but call him “Ren,” pretty please) Hall sees birds falling from the sky, he knows something is wrong. But just as he’s starting to worry, he realizes that the birds are plummeting toward the ground on purpose. Turns out they’re Birmingham Roller Pigeons, and his new neighbor Sutton is training them for a competition. Sure, it’s strange, but Ren’s best and only friend Aiden has picked this summer to start hanging with the popular kids. So Ren starts training pigeons with Sutton—what’s the worst that could happen? A bird falls on his head? You’ll have to read Roll to find out.
224 pages, Hardcover
First published May 25, 2017
7 people are currently reading
347 people want to read
About the author
Darcy Miller
3 books47 followersDarcy Miller is the author of ROLL (Winner of the 2018 Burr/Worzalla Award * A CCBC Choices 2018 Pick * A Bank Street Best Children's Book of 2017) and MARGOT AND MATEO SAVE THE WORLD (Booklist Starred Review). She lives with her librarian husband and two small children in Wisconsin.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 70 reviews
November 18, 2016
I may be a tad biased, but this book is amazing! It also contains my personal philosophy on onion rings.
June 8, 2024
I chose this MG book to even out my mood after reading my last “clunker”. It was a very nice surprise!
Eleven year old Lauren is a bit of a nerd, but he’s funny and friendly. His best friend has been growing away from him, though, and he runs track only to please his dad. While on a run, he notices birds falling from the sky. He then meets Sutton, a girl his age with wild red hair and an avid “fancier” of Roller Pigeons. She raises them and and enters them in competitions.
This book has everything a MG should have! It has a new subject to learn about, a few (but not too many) vocabulary words, and clever, likable characters. The only thing that is missing for me is my own 5th grade class to read this to! Since Lauren is a sponge for trivia, this book also mentions a few offbeat facts that present the opportunity to take a break from reading and look into.
Well done, heartwarming book!
Eleven year old Lauren is a bit of a nerd, but he’s funny and friendly. His best friend has been growing away from him, though, and he runs track only to please his dad. While on a run, he notices birds falling from the sky. He then meets Sutton, a girl his age with wild red hair and an avid “fancier” of Roller Pigeons. She raises them and and enters them in competitions.
This book has everything a MG should have! It has a new subject to learn about, a few (but not too many) vocabulary words, and clever, likable characters. The only thing that is missing for me is my own 5th grade class to read this to! Since Lauren is a sponge for trivia, this book also mentions a few offbeat facts that present the opportunity to take a break from reading and look into.
Well done, heartwarming book!
March 1, 2017
An utterly delightful novel about a boy's coming of age, friendships in flux, and embracing who he is. Highly rec.
April 16, 2017
I ADORED this book. Southern Minnesota, comic books, the uncertainty of friendship, growing up, and pigeons. Reading the descriptions of Ren stepping into the pigeon coop was like stepping into my childhood - growing up, my next-door neighbor raised pigeons and I loved spending warm summer afternoons in the musty shed.
Miller does an excellent job of exploring how friendships change and evolve as kids get older. ROLL is funny, honest, and touching.
Miller does an excellent job of exploring how friendships change and evolve as kids get older. ROLL is funny, honest, and touching.
August 5, 2017
Roller Pigeons. I didn't even know that was a thing, but now, like Ren, I am a little obsessed! This is a fun, humorous, absolutely fascinating book about friendship, growing up, and being true to yourself. (Ren's voice and fun facts are extra entertaining.) Truly a book for the whole family--but be warned, you will spend a lot of time on You Tube watching pigeons roll!
October 23, 2017
This was such a beautifully down-to-earth MG novel! I loved the characters and loved how important family and friendship is in the story.
June 14, 2017
Roll is a charming and funny middle grade book. It's perfect for anyone who has felt like an outsider trying to find a place to fit in. Kids will relate to the challenges of navigating tween social groups and adults will love Ren's dorky humor sprinkled throughout. This is a great book for adults and tweens to read together.
Ren is a whip-smart comic-book reader who has just moved away from his best friend, Aiden. Feeling pressured to try running by his Dad, he stumbles across Sutton, his nearest neighbor, and her pigeons. Ren spends the rest of the summer entranced by the pigeons and a growing friendship with Sutton while trying to hang onto his friendship with Aiden and making his dad believe he's running every day. Sutton has a thing for honesty and Ren needs to figure out how true friends should act.
Highly recommended!
Ren is a whip-smart comic-book reader who has just moved away from his best friend, Aiden. Feeling pressured to try running by his Dad, he stumbles across Sutton, his nearest neighbor, and her pigeons. Ren spends the rest of the summer entranced by the pigeons and a growing friendship with Sutton while trying to hang onto his friendship with Aiden and making his dad believe he's running every day. Sutton has a thing for honesty and Ren needs to figure out how true friends should act.
Highly recommended!
January 25, 2017
This book is so charming! It's equal parts hilarious and heartfelt. Ren's voice is so perfect, and Sutton completely won my heart. A delightful read that I highly recommend!
October 15, 2018
This is a nice, coming-of-age story - well-written yet I'm afraid it might not stick with me, except for how Birmingham Roller pigeons are featured. I liked how Ren made some efforts to change and improve himself, yet also realized the ways in which he wanted to stay true to himself too.
I'm looking forward to seeing this author speak at the Wisconsin Library Association conference next week.
I'm looking forward to seeing this author speak at the Wisconsin Library Association conference next week.
December 14, 2023
Okay, I don’t know how to start. The only thing I’d say is that this book is AMAZING. This book spread an important message and it was delivered pleasantly. At first, I drew no interest because I thought the writing style was too flat. I didn’t enjoy the book that much if I’m gonna be completely honest but still, I enjoyed the ending very much and I thought it was so so wholesome. I couldn’t help but giggle and laugh so loud in some parts of the book. The plot wasn’t the very best but I enjoyed it SO MUCH. The characters were so likeable. Like can you imagine how relatable Ren is? The way he mentioned phobias and symptoms throughout this book. The way he thinks is so straightforward and they were really honest. Like I UNDERSTAND you Ren. Ren was also hilarious, it would be a bit rude but it was hilarious that he was a short character, it suits his personality so well. Sutton was also like, I don’t know how to describe this but, she’s probably going to be one of my favourite book characters. Sutton seemed so cool when I first read about her and I knew at that point that she would be like the main female protagonist who helps Ren deal with his problems, like I love her so much. The creative idea of putting pigeons as the main topic as well was, I can’t say anything more.
I can understand every single character here though, like the way Ren deals with peer pressure and friendship problems. I experience those too sometimes and this book was a comfort. The way Ren felt like an outcast at Kurt’s party was also really like, it felt pretty sad because I do feel like that too sometimes. The writer was able to express the emotions perfectly. The way Ren also tries to be like others, if I be honest this isn’t just a story for me. It gives me some solutions, like what I should do when I’m in the same position as Ren. To wrap it up, I loved this book so much, I'd honestly recommend it to every person I know. The only thing I was against was how the writing style was too flat, it was detailed and descriptive but the plot was also a bit too flat. Nonetheless, I find it odd how I enjoyed it so much at the end. I hope to read more of Darcy Miller’s amazing books. Thank you so much for this fascinating experience!
I can understand every single character here though, like the way Ren deals with peer pressure and friendship problems. I experience those too sometimes and this book was a comfort. The way Ren felt like an outcast at Kurt’s party was also really like, it felt pretty sad because I do feel like that too sometimes. The writer was able to express the emotions perfectly. The way Ren also tries to be like others, if I be honest this isn’t just a story for me. It gives me some solutions, like what I should do when I’m in the same position as Ren. To wrap it up, I loved this book so much, I'd honestly recommend it to every person I know. The only thing I was against was how the writing style was too flat, it was detailed and descriptive but the plot was also a bit too flat. Nonetheless, I find it odd how I enjoyed it so much at the end. I hope to read more of Darcy Miller’s amazing books. Thank you so much for this fascinating experience!
January 28, 2017
This is such a precious and realistic book. Miller nails trying, and stumbling along, to find your place in your family and your social circles. Well done!
July 3, 2022
This was such a fun book!! A great story for young readers. Wholesome.
October 7, 2017
A boy named Lauren is trying so hard to like running. Instead, he keeps getting distracted by Birmingham Rollers -- daredevil stunt pigeons. Can you blame him?
October 20, 2017
I loved the voice in this novel. I want to read a dozen more books by this author. The only reason this stayed a three-star book is because the novel never really hit any high points—just solid all the way through.
September 2, 2017
Spectacular book - on the quiet side as Ren finds himself alone for the summer after moving away from town. That means running and hanging out with himself until he meets Sutton who trains pigeons. I absolutely loved this book and learned so much. Plus, Ren is a great character full of flaws as he struggles to find himself. His interesting scientific notes are awesome. Highly recommend - a great 0ld-fashioned book about summer, growing up and pigeons!
March 4, 2017
Darcy Miller's debut MG novel "Roll" is a refreshing take on some universal trials of early adolescence: identity, fitting in and friendships. Ren, Miller's funny and very likable protagonist, meets Sutton, his new neighbor, one morning while he's supposed to be out training for the cross country team. Sutton has a unique interest: pigeon rolling. Ren and Sutton strike up a friendship and Ren begins helping her train her birds. What will his best friend Aiden, who's suddenly started hanging with the "cool kids" think? I've seen this book compared to the work of Jerry Spinelli (who is one of my all-time favorite young adult and middle grade authors), and that comparison is apt; at times "Roll" reminded me of "Star Girl." "Roll" is a quick read, with tight pacing that will keep MG readers interested, and Miller provides Ren with a great voice; he's equal parts smart, funny and sweetly naive. Sutton is also an interesting and enjoyable character. I was intrigued by the inclusion of pigeon rolling, and the book provided enough information about the hobby that I was able to catch on quickly, without bogging down the story in too much detail. This quirky, 'clean' book has a lot of heart! Recommended for MG readers!
May 27, 2017
ROLL is a fantastic read: great dialogue, true middle grade voice, quirky and interesting details about pigeons and life.
Ren (full name Lauren, but please don't call him that) Hall has just moved into a new house in the country. It's actually an old house--his grandparents--and it's still full of their things. However, it's only 8 miles from his old home so he'll still go to the same school and still see his best friend all the time. It's not like his best friend has grown three inches and is suddenly hanging out with the cools kids at the pool or anything. Right? Maybe.
When out for a run one morning, Ren sees birds falling from the sky. He has stumbled upon the sport of pigeon rolling and Sutton, a girl with flaming red-orange-yellow dyed hair and a knack for telling the truth. Sutton has moved from far away (Washington DC) and her father is in the hospital after a terrible car accident. Little by little, Ren learns that it's okay to accept changes as he and his friends grow up.
Highly recommended. ROLL will fly into your heart.
Ren (full name Lauren, but please don't call him that) Hall has just moved into a new house in the country. It's actually an old house--his grandparents--and it's still full of their things. However, it's only 8 miles from his old home so he'll still go to the same school and still see his best friend all the time. It's not like his best friend has grown three inches and is suddenly hanging out with the cools kids at the pool or anything. Right? Maybe.
When out for a run one morning, Ren sees birds falling from the sky. He has stumbled upon the sport of pigeon rolling and Sutton, a girl with flaming red-orange-yellow dyed hair and a knack for telling the truth. Sutton has moved from far away (Washington DC) and her father is in the hospital after a terrible car accident. Little by little, Ren learns that it's okay to accept changes as he and his friends grow up.
Highly recommended. ROLL will fly into your heart.
July 26, 2017
I loved this book and I've got a handful of friends with younger kids who are going to be getting a copy sometime in the near future. Not only is it wonderfully unique with it's focus on truly small town Minnesota and pigeon rolling, but it deals with change is such an honest and moving way.
I wish I'd had - or found - a book like this when I was a kid. Honestly, there was a time in my 20s when I really could have used some insight. I didn't just hate change, I was completely unprepared for it. When friendships morphed into something new or ended, I floundered and was completely devastated. I completely sympathized with Ren when he noticed the way his friendship with Aiden - and Aiden himself - was changing and didn't know how to deal. It's a testament to Miller's writing and insight that the friendship came to a head in a way that was both realistic and satisfying for this reader.
Roll is wonderfully engaging, full of delightful characters and plot. I can't wait to see what Miller will come up with next.
I wish I'd had - or found - a book like this when I was a kid. Honestly, there was a time in my 20s when I really could have used some insight. I didn't just hate change, I was completely unprepared for it. When friendships morphed into something new or ended, I floundered and was completely devastated. I completely sympathized with Ren when he noticed the way his friendship with Aiden - and Aiden himself - was changing and didn't know how to deal. It's a testament to Miller's writing and insight that the friendship came to a head in a way that was both realistic and satisfying for this reader.
Roll is wonderfully engaging, full of delightful characters and plot. I can't wait to see what Miller will come up with next.
December 30, 2016
When Ren Hall’s BFF, Aiden, starts hanging out with the popular kids over the summer, Ren is left at loose ends—until he meets Sutton Davies, the new girl in town. Sutton, with her flaming red hair and penchant for Violent Femmes T-shirts, is not your average 11-year-old, Ren soon discovers. She is a Birmingham Roller Pigeon fancier, and now that her dad is laid up in the hospital, she needs a new training partner for the upcoming National Birmingham Roller Club competition. But is Ren, a comic-book loving Renaissance Faire enthusiast, really the boy to do it? Five stars to this warm, funny, and incredibly uplifting book. Highly and enthusiastically recommended!
March 22, 2017
The one thing I loved even more than learning about Birmingham Roller Pigeons (and I loved that A LOT) was Ren's voice. Lauren Hall, aka Ren, has the most perfect, most quirky, snarky-funny middle-grade voice ever. He's self-aware, and funny enough to melt through tension and let us see beyond the stress of certain excruciating middle-schoolish situations. How welcome this approach, and this perspective, will be to certain young readers!
This book has a lot of heart, a quiet, funny sense of humor, and a lot of interesting birdy info on an obscure sport I'd never heard of. What more can one ask? Remember debut author Darcy Miller's name -- she is a writer on a ROLL!
This book has a lot of heart, a quiet, funny sense of humor, and a lot of interesting birdy info on an obscure sport I'd never heard of. What more can one ask? Remember debut author Darcy Miller's name -- she is a writer on a ROLL!
April 26, 2017
Ren thinks he wants to follow in his father's footsteps, quite literally, by going out for the cross-country team, but he doesn't really enjoy running. It's certainly not as interesting as what his new neighbor, Sutton, does every morning as he jogs by: Sutton is training her Birmingham Roller Pigeons to compete in a championship fly. As Ren's new friendship with Sutton is beginning, his lifelong friendship with Aiden hits a rocky patch. Darcy Miller's charming debut offers a thoughtful, funny take on the evolving nature of preteen friendship and the art of staying true to yourself. Give this one to fans of Jenni Holm or Barbara O'Connor's contemporary MG stories.
May 16, 2017
Oh, my! I just loved these characters so much I wanted to scoop them up and bring them home to live with me. In this pitch-perfect middle grade novel set over the course of the summer between fifth and sixth grade, good-natured, comic book-loving Ren meets a new friend- a girl named Sutton whose hobby is pigeon rolling- and starts to break away from an old one- Aiden, who's been his best friend since kindergarden. Miller perfectly captures the growing pains of that period when a kid is branching out, fearful of letting go of the past, a little apprehensive about the future, but full of heart. I adored this book and can't wait to share it with my 10-year-old son.
June 17, 2020
Lauren, or Ren as he prefers to be called is going through some life changes: his family has moved out to the country away from his best friend in Aiden in town, he's trying to become a competitive runner to please his dad, and he meets Sutton the new girl who lives next door. Ren is having trouble sorting things out: Is is best friend making cool new friends and leaving him behind? Should he keep running to please his dad even though he is not enjoying it at all? Can Sutton become his friend?
One morning while out running Ren sees a strange sight birds seeming to fall from the sky! He doesn't believe his eyes and tries to get a closer look. He comes across his new neighbor, red headed Sutton, who is somehow connected to these strange birds. She explains that the birds are a special type of pigeon: Birmingham Rollers who actually somersault out of the sky. Ren, who is academically talented, decides to research the pigeons to learn how to help Sutton with a special pigeon competition. Sutton is having a challenging summer herself - she's new in the neighborhood, her dad is hospitalized after being in an accident, and her mom is busy caring for him. She welcomes Ren's help since her dad cannot help at this time. With all their personal issues Ren and Sutton have a lot in common and more than a few differences. Can they overcome everything and become friends and win the pigeon championship? I enjoyed a story of middle school friendship from a boy's point of veiw for a change.
Side note: When I began reading I thought the pigeons were totally fictional but learned they actually exist and so do the competitions. There are even pigeons who just roll around on the ground!
One morning while out running Ren sees a strange sight birds seeming to fall from the sky! He doesn't believe his eyes and tries to get a closer look. He comes across his new neighbor, red headed Sutton, who is somehow connected to these strange birds. She explains that the birds are a special type of pigeon: Birmingham Rollers who actually somersault out of the sky. Ren, who is academically talented, decides to research the pigeons to learn how to help Sutton with a special pigeon competition. Sutton is having a challenging summer herself - she's new in the neighborhood, her dad is hospitalized after being in an accident, and her mom is busy caring for him. She welcomes Ren's help since her dad cannot help at this time. With all their personal issues Ren and Sutton have a lot in common and more than a few differences. Can they overcome everything and become friends and win the pigeon championship? I enjoyed a story of middle school friendship from a boy's point of veiw for a change.
Side note: When I began reading I thought the pigeons were totally fictional but learned they actually exist and so do the competitions. There are even pigeons who just roll around on the ground!
December 12, 2017
Fantasy is all the rage these days, so it's nice when a truly realistic book like this one comes along--a book that really could happen, about normal kids!
Ren (boy) and Sutton (girl) have each recently moved to the country, next door to each other, and are trying to get through the summer. As is typical for middle school books (and students!), Ren realizes that his (former) best friend Aiden is now hanging out with a (cooler) guy, leading to some dilemmas and some hilarious scenes, including a wardrobe overhaul and an ill-fated pool party. Ren has also told everyone that he is going to be on the cross country team and is working through a training regimen set by his dad (a former running star)--the only problem is, he's not sure he actually likes running.
Sutton has recently started training Birmingham Roller pigeons, and working with her and the birds proves to be much more interesting than running for Ren--partly because pigeons somersaulting through the sky is fascinating, and partly because Sutton is quite interesting, with her fire red hair and casual, don't-care-what-people-think attitude. Also, her dad is in the hospital recovering from a serious injury.
Ren and Sutton navigate and re-negotiate their dreams and relationships throughout the book in a realistic and satisfying way. Recommended for older school age and middle school readers who want a book about "real kids"!
Ren (boy) and Sutton (girl) have each recently moved to the country, next door to each other, and are trying to get through the summer. As is typical for middle school books (and students!), Ren realizes that his (former) best friend Aiden is now hanging out with a (cooler) guy, leading to some dilemmas and some hilarious scenes, including a wardrobe overhaul and an ill-fated pool party. Ren has also told everyone that he is going to be on the cross country team and is working through a training regimen set by his dad (a former running star)--the only problem is, he's not sure he actually likes running.
Sutton has recently started training Birmingham Roller pigeons, and working with her and the birds proves to be much more interesting than running for Ren--partly because pigeons somersaulting through the sky is fascinating, and partly because Sutton is quite interesting, with her fire red hair and casual, don't-care-what-people-think attitude. Also, her dad is in the hospital recovering from a serious injury.
Ren and Sutton navigate and re-negotiate their dreams and relationships throughout the book in a realistic and satisfying way. Recommended for older school age and middle school readers who want a book about "real kids"!
November 21, 2018
The summer Lauren (“Ren”) Hall’s family moves into his late grandmother’s home is a pivotal one.
He and his childhood best friend Aiden are moving apart, he decides to follow in his father’s footsteps and try out for the cross-country team, and his new neighbor Sutton introduces him to the world of training pigeons. It all comes to a head when Ren and Sutton attend the pool party being thrown by Aiden’s new buddy, the popular Kurt. This middle grade book is full of the angst expected from this age group. What sets it apart from others is that it is told from a boy’s point of view. Ren is appropriately geeky and doesn’t always fit in with the rest of the crowd at school, as he is more interested in comics and smart as all get-out. Sutton is comfortable with who she is, expressing it visually by dying her hair and training pigeons. My only quibble is that Sutton states that she is eleven years old; she and most of the characters act a few years older than that. Lots of great passages to savor as Ren begins learning some hard life lessons (people change with time as do friendships, you don’t have to live up to your father’s legacy – it’s OK to create your own). Great vocabulary words can be found throughout. “Ren’s Pigeon Facts” is appended.
Recommended for grades 5-8.
He and his childhood best friend Aiden are moving apart, he decides to follow in his father’s footsteps and try out for the cross-country team, and his new neighbor Sutton introduces him to the world of training pigeons. It all comes to a head when Ren and Sutton attend the pool party being thrown by Aiden’s new buddy, the popular Kurt. This middle grade book is full of the angst expected from this age group. What sets it apart from others is that it is told from a boy’s point of view. Ren is appropriately geeky and doesn’t always fit in with the rest of the crowd at school, as he is more interested in comics and smart as all get-out. Sutton is comfortable with who she is, expressing it visually by dying her hair and training pigeons. My only quibble is that Sutton states that she is eleven years old; she and most of the characters act a few years older than that. Lots of great passages to savor as Ren begins learning some hard life lessons (people change with time as do friendships, you don’t have to live up to your father’s legacy – it’s OK to create your own). Great vocabulary words can be found throughout. “Ren’s Pigeon Facts” is appended.
Recommended for grades 5-8.
February 28, 2024
I loved so much about this book and am so happy it "found" me. This story has everything I love about middle grade--friendships--both old and new, figuring out how to be your own person and not just fit in, family drama/relationships with loving parents, humor, and an authentic point of view character. I adore Ren and Sutton as friends. I loved how Sutton is a "tell-it-like-it-is" person which is the opposite of Ren, who wants to people please and avoid change and conflict.
The hobby of training pigeons for competition is so much fun to get to know through these characters. I've never encountered this in a middle grade book before and found it delightful.
This middle grade book is stuffed to the covers with heart and I recommend it to all readers who enjoy realistic, humorous fiction with deeper themes such as changing friendships, moving, making new friends, caring for animals, and being honest about what you want and who you want to be.
The hobby of training pigeons for competition is so much fun to get to know through these characters. I've never encountered this in a middle grade book before and found it delightful.
This middle grade book is stuffed to the covers with heart and I recommend it to all readers who enjoy realistic, humorous fiction with deeper themes such as changing friendships, moving, making new friends, caring for animals, and being honest about what you want and who you want to be.
July 24, 2017
I liked this sweet book about a boy and a girl who meet when different circumstances bring them to a small town. Lauren is adjusting after moving into his grandparents' house, and Sutton is adjusting after moving from the big city and having her father get into a terrible accident. Their paths cross when Lauren (who is trying to train for cross country to please his father) comes across pigeons "rolling" from the sky and joins Sutton in the world of Birmingham roller pigeons - a phenomenon that I knew nothing about before reading this book. (Darcy Miller's dad was a farrier, apparently, and she is a wealth of knowledge on this subject - which I love! I see kids going onto Youtube to learn more about this after reading Roll.)
Great story of identity, change, friendship, and engagement (in something other than a phone.) I have warm feelings toward this book.
Great story of identity, change, friendship, and engagement (in something other than a phone.) I have warm feelings toward this book.
January 12, 2018
This was a great read aloud book for our family because:
(1) My 9 year old was belly laughing out loud at Ren's humor (and we all need to hear more belly laughs).
(2) My 9 year old didn't want to put the book down, and was willing to read aloud (which doesn't always happen).
(3) There were interesting literary and thematic elements making this a good book for home learning.
(4) It provided a great opportunity to talk about changing family and friend relationships, common for this phase of life.
(5) It was really interesting to learn more about Birmingham Roller Pigeons.
(6) ROLL tapped in to authentic confusing adolescent relationships ending in a way that empowers the reader to think about changing relationships as healthy and normal.
I'm looking forward to reading Darcy Miller's next book!
(1) My 9 year old was belly laughing out loud at Ren's humor (and we all need to hear more belly laughs).
(2) My 9 year old didn't want to put the book down, and was willing to read aloud (which doesn't always happen).
(3) There were interesting literary and thematic elements making this a good book for home learning.
(4) It provided a great opportunity to talk about changing family and friend relationships, common for this phase of life.
(5) It was really interesting to learn more about Birmingham Roller Pigeons.
(6) ROLL tapped in to authentic confusing adolescent relationships ending in a way that empowers the reader to think about changing relationships as healthy and normal.
I'm looking forward to reading Darcy Miller's next book!
March 30, 2020
Roll is good. Like, underappreciated good.
The glut of middle-grade books out there, with their fancy covers and hope-to-become-a-series styling, subscribe to the more is more mentality and beat-you-over-the-head messaging, often about self-fulfillment (at age 12??) or social/racial justice. The authors of those books could take a cue from Darcy Miller and keep. it. simple.
What worked for Roll was its straight-forward plot, small cast of characters, and a unique topic to spearhead it all. Pigeons that roll are definitely unique.
I was a little worried when the boy's name was Lauren (Ren for short, which I adore) and the girl's hair and eyes were unnatural in their description. But it was a false alarm.
This is, at its core, a story of discovering your passion, which has a tendency to evolve as we grow. It can change because we drift from our parents' interests to our own, or because of transition in geography or age or friends. I liked that we followed Ren in the months separating 5th and 6th grade, a moment in development that toes the line between childhood into young adult. It's also awkward as all get-out. All you can do is roll with the punches.
I'm looking forward to reading this to my class next year, and that's about as a high a compliment I can bestow on a chapter book.
The glut of middle-grade books out there, with their fancy covers and hope-to-become-a-series styling, subscribe to the more is more mentality and beat-you-over-the-head messaging, often about self-fulfillment (at age 12??) or social/racial justice. The authors of those books could take a cue from Darcy Miller and keep. it. simple.
What worked for Roll was its straight-forward plot, small cast of characters, and a unique topic to spearhead it all. Pigeons that roll are definitely unique.
I was a little worried when the boy's name was Lauren (Ren for short, which I adore) and the girl's hair and eyes were unnatural in their description. But it was a false alarm.
This is, at its core, a story of discovering your passion, which has a tendency to evolve as we grow. It can change because we drift from our parents' interests to our own, or because of transition in geography or age or friends. I liked that we followed Ren in the months separating 5th and 6th grade, a moment in development that toes the line between childhood into young adult. It's also awkward as all get-out. All you can do is roll with the punches.
I'm looking forward to reading this to my class next year, and that's about as a high a compliment I can bestow on a chapter book.
May 5, 2018
This book felt a little bit like a quiet evening at home. It was a comfortable read, not too tense or colorful. A solid three stars.
Ren has just moved from the city into a farm house in Minnesota. It is the summer before sixth grade and Ren has the sneaking suspicion that his best friend is changing into someone Ren doesn't want to be friends with.
Enter the girl next door. Sutton is new to the small farm town. Ren is immediately drawn to her, not because of her colored hair or black t-shirt style, but because Sutton has an entire coop full of roller pigeons. As Ren works to help her train her flock for the upcoming roller pigeon competition, he learns a few things about friendship that ultimately help him learn about himself.
Ren has just moved from the city into a farm house in Minnesota. It is the summer before sixth grade and Ren has the sneaking suspicion that his best friend is changing into someone Ren doesn't want to be friends with.
Enter the girl next door. Sutton is new to the small farm town. Ren is immediately drawn to her, not because of her colored hair or black t-shirt style, but because Sutton has an entire coop full of roller pigeons. As Ren works to help her train her flock for the upcoming roller pigeon competition, he learns a few things about friendship that ultimately help him learn about himself.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 70 reviews