Description
A powerful and redemptive story of how the dazzling world of roller derby helped one young woman transform her fear and selfdoubt into gutsy bighearted adventurous living
A universal story of healing and triumph made all the more beautiful wild and free by Gabes fierce love for roller derby and her team who become her familyABBY WAMBACH Olympian activist and author of the 1 New York Times bestseller Wolfpack
ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR Book Riot
Growing up queer in a conservative Midwestern town Gabe Montesanti never felt comfortable in her own skin A competitive swimmer she turned to perfectionism and selfcontrol to create a sense of safety only to develop an eating disorder and constantly secondguess her instincts When she enters graduate school in St Louis she is determined to put the baggage of her childhood behind her With no prior experience she joins Arch Rival one of the topranked roller derby leagues in the world Gabe instantly falls in love with the sports roughness intensity and open embrace of people who are literally and figuratively scarred She soon finds community and a sense of belonging reveling in the tattoos glitter and campiness
But when Gabe suffers a catastrophic injury she can no longer ignore the parallels between the physicality of roller derby and the unresolved trauma of her upbringing Rendered inactive forced to be still Gabe realizes she needs to heal her emotional wounds as much as her physical ones she must confront her fear and selfdiminishment in order to feel truly alive
Told with unflinching honesty and a giant dose of wonder Brace for Impact is a tender inspiring memoir about the everyday heroism of pursuing a life less ordinary and the deeply human need to be at peace with who you are
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