The Jammer

The JammerSet against the backdrop of roller derby, The Jammer is a poignant story of broken bones and healing hearts from one of Australia's most popular middle grade authors, Nova Weetman. Fred has moved around her whole life, one small town after another. She never minded starting over because she always had her mum, her dad and her love of roller derby. On the track she was Fred or Dead, the star jammer, a gun at smashing through a line of bodies and

both Mackerel and Ahab can't help but be drawn back into the underworld

capturing the humour

spewing ash that blots out the sun

Apart from having this highly unusual personal background

where tales are told rather than shown

" The answer is the simple truth that binds us all: An Invisible String made of love

Under a false identity

Ashala fights to protect those she loves from old enemies and new threats

Yet even in the North Carolina backcountry

this gripping novel interweaves themes of grief

and the memories - however painful - that bind a family together

Beginning with the neighbouring passenger on the flight out and his tales of fast boats and failed marriages