From Booklist:
Gr. 6-12. With the help of writer Digeronimo, skateboarder MacDonald offers a highly readable, personal biography that follows him from his first sports encounters, at age three, to his recent professional successes. Throughout, MacDonald emphasizes his struggles and "lessons learned," such as using nonviolent tactics to deal with bullies. He details impoverished years in his late teens and twenties before he finally made it as a pro. MacDonald's unwavering determination, as well as his nonpreachy avoidance of drugs and booze ("I might miss a day of skating"), makes him an excellent subject for a YA biography. Plenty of affectionate anecdotes about MacDonald's parents, brother, and wife will satisfy fans, and teen skaters will love his descriptions of what skating actually feels like. Lots of black-and-white and color photos round out this appealing title that is sure to get heavy circulation from strong and reluctant readers alike. Gillian Engberg
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From School Library Journal:
Grade 5 Up-With more than 11 million skateboarders in the U.S., this autobiography by one of the sport's premier skaters as well as an ESPN X Games champion is a definite must. Following an introduction by Tony Hawk, Macdonald takes readers on his journey from his youth in Boston to California to fulfill his dream of becoming a pro skater after high school, to his years as a pro. He does not sugarcoat the hard work and determination it took to reach his goal. Sidebars throughout the book give great anecdotes of memories and lessons learned. The black-and-white and full-color photographs, some full page, give readers a look into this amazing, dangerous, and exciting sport. A natural for autobiography assignments for fans of the sport.
Diane Olivo-Posner, Long Beach Public Library, CA
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