Tony Hawk and His Team-Skateboarding Superstars by Lita Sorensen

Tony Hawk and His Team: Skateboarding Superstars. by Lita Sorensen. Rosen Central, 2005. 64 pages.

Review/Personal thoughts:  For the right group, this story of Tony Hawk will be of high interest. The introduction describes Tony as a hyper, skinny fifth grader who was clumsy. He went on to become one of the best skateboarders ever. At age fourteen, Tony became a professional.  Stressed throughout the book is the concept of teamwork, which Tony says accounts for his individual successes. He considers his family his first team and describes his parents as “very supportive of everything their kids wanted to try- from surfing to playing in a rock band.” Tony tried tennis, baseball and basketball before he became interested in skateboarding. Tony got a sponsor and entered contests around the time that the professional National Skateboard Association was formed.  Tony Hawk was the first National champion when he was still in high school! Wealth and fame soon followed. At age nineteen he was considering retirement. He instead continued in the sport and began his own company. At twenty-seven Tony won competitions at the first ever X Games. One of his greatest achievements was to complete a trick called the 900-a two and one half turn in mid air. Tony is still involved with skateboarding today.  The book is a great introduction not only to Tony Hawk, but to the entire extreme sport of skateboarding.  Reader’s are given a short history of the sport, pictures and descriptions of skateboard tricks, a glossary and resource page.  Tween skaters will love this book!

Genre: Non-Fiction, Biography

Reading Level: 6.6 Interest level: Ages 9 to 14.