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.

The Sandlot

The Sandlot: Film, 2007 Studio: Twentieth Century Fox Director: David M. Evans Run time: 101 minutes

Plot: California, early 1960’s, a young boy by the name of Scotty Smalls moves into the neighborhood.  Quiet and academic, Scotty isn’t one to make friends easily but wants so much to find a place within the world of the neighborhood boys who play baseball…everyday.  With little knowledge on how to catch or throw a ball, Scotty experiences ridicule by these same boys until the leader of the group steps in to give him some pointers.  From there, Scotty begins to make his way into the world of summer, baseball, and friends.  As “boys will be boys”, the film chronicles the antics and good times of this circle of baseball-loving friends who show great loyalty to one another, especially when Scotty gets them all “into a pickle”.  Throw into the mix, the myth of “the beast” that lives behind the homerun wall where baseballs forever disappear and scary stories abound, and these boys are in for one crazy summer.  Hearts are tested, courage is demanded, lessons are learned, as this crew of friends finds out the true meaning of friendship, acceptance, and finally being understood.

Review/Personal thoughts:  This film is a must-see filled with moments that not only touch your heart, but also your funny-bone - laugh out loud scenes that speak to every boy and the memories of his youth.  The beauty of this film exists in telling a simple story of a boy who wants to make friends and longs for acceptance.  It is an examination of friends helping each other out and creating memories that they will remember forever.  But the film is also about listening to your heart and doing the thing you thought you couldn’t do…with the help of your buddies.  And in its simplicity, the film also uncovers the fact that we sometimes fear that which we don’t understand…and perhaps in facing the fear, we come to understand it, and ourselves, a bit better.  This is a film that is universal in its appeal with a soundtrack that acts as an effective backdrop to the story.  Sit down for a good laugh and enjoy the memories of childhood.

Rated: PG

Interest Level: Ages 8 and up