Ramp Rats

March 1, 2009
Gr 3-6-In this second installment in the series, Marcus is ready to fight small-town corruption and share his knowledge of skateboarding with his stepbrother Bounce, a scrappy boy who is tired of being pushed around by the local skate-park bullies. While preparing for the big skate showdown against this band of meatheads, Marcus, Bounce, and his friend Pema provide step-by-step instructions on how to execute fancy moves, such as a 50-50 grind and a tailslide. Some of these tutorials verge on being too complicated and abstract for those lacking in actual skate experience. Unlike the wilderness survival skills dispensed in "Wild Ride", the first in the series, these skating tips aren't quite as universal or of interest to as wide an audience. Nevertheless, the book's fun, stylish art and underdog story will appeal to many readers."Lauren Anduri, Brooklyn Public Library, NY"

Copyright 2009 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

September 15, 2008
Benny (nicknamed Bounce) just wants to use the cool new skate park with his friend Pema, but older, bullying Crunch and his friends have taken over the park. The rest of the town is off-limits for skateboarding, and Officer Branco is very vigilant at catching skateboarders in violation of this law; oddly enough, he is not nearly as effectiveat stopping the vandals who are shutting down businesses across town. When Bennys stepbrother Marcus comes for the summer, things heat up. Benny bets he can beat Crunch in a skateboarding competition for rights to use the park, and he and Pema discover that a motorcycle gang called the Hell Hogs are working a protection racket and are responsible for thevandalisms. Aside from the action-packed story, great characters, and colorful artwork, this graphic-novel adventure includes an array of practical skateboarding tips for beginners.The story also delivers a deft message about standing up to bullies as it depicts Bennys growing determination and self-confidence.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2008, American Library Association.)