Review by Booklist Review
The inevitable skateboard question: Is it a sport, an art form, or a lifestyle? The answer is: all of the above. Skateboarding has gone from sidewalk surfing to the worldwide stage of the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games. The Smithsonian's National Museum of American History has been collecting skateboard artifacts for years, and now selections from that trove of material are brought together with contributions from some of the sport's legendary figures in a visually stunning volume that documents the impact of skateboarding on global culture. The text celebrates the sport's heritage, which goes back to Native Hawaiians, and also covers its current popularity on tribal reservations, as showcased in the National Museum of the American Indian's 2009 exhibit, "Ramp It Up." Arranged in six chapters by decade, from the 1960s through the present, the volume is filled with captivating content and a spectacular, well-integrated selection of photos and other artwork. Coeditor and exhibit curator Rogers shares that, while she and coeditor Gordon are not skaters, they are passionate about the sport's history, which is evident here in their selection of essays by, among others, skateboarding pioneer Tony Hawk, whose first board is included in the illustrations, and Mimi Knoop, coach of the U.S. Olympic skateboarding team. Guaranteed to spark interest with a wide age range and a diverse community of readers.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
