Shelly Struggles to Shine

by Kit Rosewater

  “I dub thee, creative genius!” Jules said.

  Shelly closed her eyes. She imagined the Daredevils team spread across the track, and for the first time she saw herself like she saw the others. Shelly was the one who thought outside the box. She had the ideas that sometimes were just bonkers enough to work. When other people saw a squiggle, Shelly could see a picture. She was the one on the team who brought the impossible to life.

  Jules brought her hand down on either of Shelly’s shoulders. As her eyes opened, Shelly saw her dad carrying a heaping basket of tacos.

  “Dig in!” he said.

  The Daredevils didn’t need to be told twice. They grabbed their fried avocado and Cotija cheese tacos and stuffed them halfway into their mouths. Bits of cabbage and cheese dribbled down their faces.

  Soon the basket was empty and the napkins were stained and balled up. Bree propped her elbows on the wooden table and leaned in toward the others.

  “Today was awesome,” she said, “but we definitely need some new plans for the next time we go head-to-head on the track.”

  Kenzie looked up. “Mom! Dad! Can we go play at the park?”

  The adults looked at each other and shrugged.

  “If you’ve got the energy!” Kenzie’s dad called.

  Kenzie clapped and stood from the bench. “Let’s go, then! Bomb Shell, can you make some sketches?”

  Shelly smiled and reached into her bag. The five teammates turned for the park.

  “Let’s race there!” Jules called. “Hot lava style!”

  With her sketchbook held tight, Shelly took off alongside the other Daredevils. The hot lava sidewalk rolled out in front of them, oozing and bubbling with possibilities.

  ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

  The mantra “Teamwork makes the dream work” is especially true when it comes to the long and intricate process of coaxing a story idea into a finished book.

  I remain everlastingly grateful for the three team members most integral to my journey with the Daredevils series. Thank you to my agent, Lauren Spieller, who advocates, cheers, and critiques at the exact right moments. Thank you to my editor, Courtney Code, who brings out the best in me and the best of these girls. Thank you to my illustrator, Sophie Escabasse, official coparent of the Daredevils.

  Thank you to the teams at Amulet and Abrams, with special thanks to Marcie Lawrence, Amy Vreeland, Jenn Jimenez, Mary Marolla, Jenny Choy, Trish McNamara-O’Neill, and Megan Evans.

  Thank you to the Albuquerque Roller Derby league for letting me take notes during practice. Go Unicorns! Go Narwhals!

  Thank you to all my writing friends and critique groups—to everyone who helped me brainstorm, who left me alone to work when I needed it, and who cheered this book on from the beginning.

  To my parents, Jim and Cymeon, thank you for the happy tears. To my sister, Brooke, thank you for leaving me fake voicemails as different book fans. To my dog, Sadie, thank you for keeping your side of the office relatively tidy. To my husband, David, thank you for being the best supporter and teammate. Finally, to the baby acrobat, thank you for sharing your mom with these pages. You’ve made my shiniest dreams come true.

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  Kit Rosewater writes books for children. Before she was an author, Kit taught theater to middle school students, which even a world-renowned cat herder once called “a lot of work.” Kit has a master’s degree in children’s literature. She lives in Albuquerque, New Mexico, with her spouse and a border collie who takes up most of the bed. The Derby Daredevils: Shelly Struggles to Shine is the second book in Kit’s Derby Daredevils series. Catch her online at kitrosewater.com or @kitrosewater.

  ABOUT THE ILLUSTRATOR

  Sophie Escabasse is the author-illustrator of the forthcoming graphic novel trilogy The Witches of Brooklyn. She lives in Brooklyn, New York, with her family. Find her online at esofii.com or @esofiii.

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