Roller Boy

by Marcia Strykowski

Mateo always assumed he'd make the baseball team with his buddy Jason, but when only Jason makes the team, his mood sinks low. So low, he knows he has to do something about it. But what? What can he be good at? When Mateo wins free lessons, he discovers he's pretty good at roller-skating. And it doesn't hurt that the most beautiful girl he's ever laid eyes on happens to be Roller City's star skater. But still, roller -skating? No way can Jason find out Mateo is whirling around in girly skates--anybody halfway to cool would be hanging at a skate park, on boards or blades. Other issues stacked against him are the strong reservations of his mother, who feels Mateo should be spending his time studying, not skating, and his inability to eat gluten--no more grabbing a pizza with the guys. Despite these conflicts, Mateo keeps his sense of humor and channels his innermost strength into an incredible ride on roller skates that just might take him all the way to regionals.

164 pages, Paperback

First published September 28, 2018

About the author

CALL ME AMY, a Bank Street College of Education's Best Books of the Year, was also shortlisted for the Crystal Kite Award. AMY'S CHOICE is the sequel. Next up was ROLLER BOY! Debut picture book coming in 2026. Living in New England, Marcia has always felt a connection to the ocean and its creatures. When she's not watching the waves, she works at a public library. To learn more about the author and her books, please visit:

blog/website: https://marciastrykowski.com/
twitter: http://twitter.com/MarciaStry
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marciastryk...
BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/marciastryko...

Reviews

[Michelle Olson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such an excellent book for middle school-aged boys. Many teens miss out on doing fun activities because they fear getting laughed at by their peers. The idea that boys shouldn’t participate in “girly” activities is outdated, yet it still exists. This book does an excellent job of addressing this issue.

[Michelle E · Rating 5 out of 5]

Marcia Strykowski has written a rocking and a rolling new novel. Roller Boy is hard to put down and exciting to the end. Join Mateo and friends as they cruise through everyday roller skating practice to their chance at the tournaments. Highly recommended!

[Julie Fulton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mateo wants to be on the school baseball team, but it turns out he isn't good enough. When he wins free roller skating lessons he attends grudgingly, worried his friends (and enemies) will tease him. But Mateo is good at skating. Paired with Roller City's star skater, Hayley, he starts to have some confidence in himself. Strykowski touches on a range of diversities - Mateo is Hispanic, has celiac disease, uncontrollable hair, isn't very big and as such is an obvious target for the neighbourhood bullies. Through his skating development he manages to have the confidence to face his bullies and believe in himself - his transformation is beautifully written in Strykowski's flowing and exciting writing. I was thoroughly convinced by Mateo's journey from an insecure boy desperately wanting to be accepted to one who is happy to accept himself as he is - a proud Roller Boy. A skilfully written story with good life lessons woven into the fun!

[Margo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Any middle schooler who feels pangs of insecurity from time to time (and which one doesn't?), who worries about fitting in (again, did we say "middle schooler"?), or a need to make parents and friends proud of him or herself (hands in the air, anyone?) will find ROLLER BOY a delightful read. Award-winning author of many middle grade novels Marcia Strykowski skillfully weaves together a tale of Mateo ("Tomato"), a Hispanic young man trying to navigate the perilous waters of middle school and the bullies in the neighborhood and wanting to find acceptance and affirmation. Discovering an unlikely venue for his achievement, roller skating, Mateo grows in confidence and develops an ability to follow his dream, despite the bullies, the snarky competitors, and trying to be gluten-free in a pizza-filled, snack-saturated middle school world. Strykowski is pitch-perfect with Mateo's voice, and her insights into the mind of a thirteen-year-old boy are humorous and poignant, a tribute to her writing skill which is demonstrated in all of the believably-drawn characters. Her exciting and fluid descriptions of the skating scenes make one want to lace on a pair of skates and take to the roller rink. Young readers will be encouraged to have hope for their own dreams, despite having to deal all the angst that accompanies middle school existence. Wit, insight, and heart are paramount in this enjoyable read!

[Cathy Ogren · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this heartwarming story of family values, bullies, and successful goals.

[Kirsti Call · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Who knew, back when he started his first roller-skating class that he'd ever get this involved. Guess he could say winning Ava's crazy raffle had changed his whole outlook on life. His whole life. All because the door closed with the baseball team and opened onto onto skating."

Roller boy is well written, poignant and compelling. Mateo is the kind of main character that you wish you could hang out with in person. He wants more than anything to be on the baseball team, but when he doesn't make the team, he discovers a new talent. Marcia Strykowski does a great job of getting inside the head of a middle school boy and showing the complexities of his feelings about life. The book addresses friendship, bullies, crushes, talents, family relationships, poverty, single parents, and more.

I highly recommend this for boys and girls of all ages.

[Rebecca M · Rating 5 out of 5]

Roller Boy is a fun and heartwarming story about a young boy growing up and finding his place in his community. As a former skater, I loved dipping into this world of jumps, spins, and shoot-the-ducks. It brought back so many wonderful rink-side memories! As a librarian, I was happy to see a younger middle grade novel that will appeal to both boys and girls alike. Mateo is a funny, witty character readers will instantly relate to as he navigates normal thirteen-year-old problems like making friends, getting cut from the team, dealing with unfortunate nicknames and bullies on the block--even handling serious food allergies. The thing that really sets this book apart, though, is its heart. Mateo's journey from self-conscious benchwarmer to someone who's proud to call himself "Roller Boy" is remarkable. Kids will love this book!

[Sharon CassanoLochman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Marcia Strykowski’s Roller Boy is a middle grade must read! Strykowski’s accurate insight into middle-grade drama is a gentle reminder of the importance of being yourself regardless your age, size, nationality, or interests. This book touches on diversity in a range of directions opening the door for dialogue.
A disheartened Mateo finds another avenue of interest after he’s cut from the baseball team. He takes roller skating lessons and fears ridicule and reprisal for his new hobby. However, Mateo’s best lesson learned is not how to skate, but how to be happy as himself by accepting his individuality.
Roller Boy by Marcia Strykowski portrays real-life examples of preteen challenges and the power of acceptance.

[Paula · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just like Marcia's previous Amy books, Roller Boy was easy to sink into, like your favorite chair. Marcia knows how to skillfully tap into the feelings of tweens/teens and boys as well as girls will be able to relate to this story. Mateo is struggling for an identity and though baseball pans out, he finds his home in the roller world, and Hayley, a developing "crush" is within that realm. He deals with self-confidence challenges as well as the Dudd Street gang, which will keep readers turning pages.
I highly recommend this enjoyable and uplifting book for anyone nearing or in middle school!

[Claudia · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am happy to see more roller skating fiction; this one for YA readers, which I am not.
The story was fine, but there was so much technically wrong with the roller skating background info. Beginning skaters do not do twizzles, choctaws and some of the other skills listed in the narrative. It is also unrealistic for a beginning pair or dance male skater to perform his first lift on skaters. This would be practiced in sneakers on the floor first. These details bother me because it seems the author did not perform any research to make the setting believable for those who are knowledgeable about the sport.

[Laura Cooper · Rating 5 out of 5]

From beginning to end, Roller Boy is pure joy. Author Marcia Strykowski is a master at capturing the middle school voice and bringing main character Mateo Garcia to life. You can't help but cheer him on as he navigates through disappointments, dangers, unexpected opportunities, and ultimately triumph. The writing and pacing are flawless, making this a great classroom read. I can't recommend it enough!

[Laurie Edwards · Rating 5 out of 5]

When Mateo doesn't make the cut for the baseball team, it seems to be the end of his friendships and his dreams. Then he wins free roller skating lessons. Reluctant to try such an unappealing sport, he plans to drop out after six weeks. But then he meets Hayley. A chance to skate with this hot girl keeps him coming back. But little does he know this choice will change his life in ways he didn't expect.

Fast, fun read.

[Rebecca Colby · Rating 5 out of 5]

When Mateo doesn't make the cut for the school baseball team, he learns he has another talent--roller skating. In developing this new talent, he also overcomes some of his insecurities about not making the team, not liking his hair, and having celiac disease, while also facing the bullies in his life. This is a fun read and enjoyable story for middle grade novel readers about developing confidence.

[Rosemary Krol · Rating 5 out of 5]

I totally enjoyed reading Roller Boy. Mateo is a character that is easy to like and can be a role model for a lot of kids. He's smart, funny and doesn't let things get him down. He's a well-defined character that I think kids will enjoy getting to know. Maybe we'll have more of his adventures in print one day.

[Adaela McLaughlin · Rating 5 out of 5]

One skinny 13 year old looks inside and comes up big in this middle grade novel. When people believe in Mateo and help him achieve his dream, he responds by reaching for his courage and finally, showing the world what he's got. Wonderfully written and powerfully messaged, this book zings with delight at every turn of the page.

[Maura Nt · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed Roller Boy, from the first pages I was caught up in this young boy's story. Unlike many children's novels about sports, this had more of a literary quality with fully developed characters. Between his sister and his best friend/skating pal, there are plenty of fun females in the story, too. My girls and I were hooked right to the last page!

[Yvonne Ventresca · Rating 5 out of 5]

In Roller Boy, Strykowski explores how Mateo’s middle school setback (not making the baseball team) eventually leads to a triumph in the roller-skating rink. Mateo’s passion and skill develop naturally and realistically over the course of the novel. With roller-skating at its heart, Roller Boy presents an alternative to typical sports team success stories.

[NovElla · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading this book – it made me want to roller skate! Main character Mateo discovers his passion for roller skating at the local rink. This is an excellent, contemporary story of a boy in middle school. It was wonderfully written.

[Sara · Rating 5 out of 5]

I became engrossed right away in the first few pages when I felt Mateo's disappointment when he didn't make the baseball team. From then on I was hooked. Very good character portrayal, some good, some bad as in real life. Great choice for boys and girls of all ages.

[Jill Gustafson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have been waiting for the release of Roller Boy, and as soon as I opened the package, I started reading. This book did not disappoint. Great, believable characters, a suspenseful plot and some great life lessons hidden in amongst the fun. I will be recommending this to all of my young friends.

[Josh · Rating 5 out of 5]

One boy's journey toward confronting the skeptical voices in his life, both internal and external, and ultimately overcoming them, are at the heart of this entertaining and genuinely heartwarming novel by Marcia Strykowski. It's a warm and skillfully told story about a boy navigating the confusing waters of middle-school insecurities, bullies, competitors, and a particularly annoying gluten allergy. Highly recommended.

[Carol Gordon Ekster · Rating 5 out of 5]

Roller Boy is a well written engaging story about a middle-schooler, Mateo Garcia, faced with a gluten allergy, bullies and insecurities. Great plot and voice.

[Marissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent read. The author's writing style transports the reader into Mateo's world, hard to put down. The book is filled with childhood life lessons presented in an entertaining way.

[Joyce · Rating 5 out of 5]

Roller Boy is a well-crafted MG novel with a main character who is learning to accept and live with Celiac disease.

[BFSreader · Rating 5 out of 5]

A good read, spot on. I took lessons a few years ago. This made me remember the meets and fun we had.