Dropping In with Andy Mac: The Life of A Pro Skateboarder

FROM THE PUBLISHER

As a baby he flipped himself upside down in his jolly jumper.As a kid he rode his Big Wheel into traffic.When he discovered skateboarding, his life was changed forever.

So how did Andy Macdonald go from death-defying stunts in his jolly jumper to world champion skateboarder? In his own words, Andy shares all the ups and downs and the spills and thrills, from driving to California in a broken-down car and dressing up as Shamu at Sea World to setting world records and giving a speech at the White House. He's traveled the world over with his skateboard under his arm.

Andy's made the road to sweet, sweet success look easy. But this behind-the-scenes look takes you onto the platform of the vert ramp -- to the competitions, the long hours of practice, and more. It reveals a bumpy road to the top that, as Andy will tell you, could be reached only with the guts that skateboarding gave him.

FROM THE CRITICS

Publishers Weekly

Young fans who can't get enough of their favorite activities will flip for these new titles. Dropping in with Andy Mac: The Life of a Pro Skateboarder by Andy Macdonald with Theresa Foy Digeronimo, showcases the world of skateboarding and how far one young man traveled to follow his dreams, from "Skatepark Kid" to "California Pro." B&w photos and full-color inserts convey the speed and excitement of the sport. Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.

VOYA - David Goodale

This excellent autobiography for fans of professional skateboarding would also serve as a nice introduction to the sport. MacDonald's story is inspiring, and it will ring true with many teens. By no means a spoiled rich kid, MacDonald once lived in a suburb nicknamed "Slummerville." He also had to deal with prejudice in the eighth grade and beyond because of his different clothes and hairstyle. Subjected to verbal harassment from classmates, MacDonald continued to chase his dream of becoming a professional skateboarder and fell in love along the way. His success, however, did not happen overnight, and his resolve was tested frequently, such as when he went to more than twenty hotels to apply for work to pay the rent but was unable to get a job. This book is definitely recommended for public and school libraries where books on skateboarding or extreme sports are popular. It follows MacDonald from his childhood to the present, and it is interesting to see how his daredevil antics as a youngster foreshadowed his career. Teens will like the small paperback format of this book, and the many color photos and breezy format make it perfect for reluctant readers. Although MacDonald's story meets requirements for those assignments where students must read books of a certain length, many teachers might not approve the book because of the plethora of color photos. Glossary. Photos. VOYA CODES: 3Q 4P M J (Readable without serious defects; Broad general YA appeal; Middle School, defined as grades 6 to 8; Junior High, defined as grades 7 to 9). 2003, Simon Pulse/Simon & Schuster, 176p,

KLIATT - Tom Adamich

Skateboarding tests the acrobatic skills of its participants with its death-defying twists, jumps, and movements. Andy Macdonald is the typical skateboarding hero￯﾿ﾽdaring, tenacious, and driven! This book profiles MacDonald's humble skateboarding beginnings in suburban Boston as the child of divorced parents who took his tremendous energy level and channeled it into a sport that became his profession. He describes some of the challenges he faced in becoming a pro, the effect the sport has had on his life, and the hopes and dreams he shares with other skateboarders for the sport's continued development. Macdonald uses skateboarding lingo throughout to not only describe skateboarding activity and present its vocabulary, but to profile the skateboarding culture. The reader gains a sense of how skateboarders are viewed as "counterculture figures" who live alternative lifestyles. MacDonald attempts to illustrate that such stereotypes are not always accurate; many "mainstream" individuals enjoy the skateboarding sport￯﾿ﾽincluding "Mac" himself. Excellent color and b/w photos depict the true art of skateboarding, and students will welcome the handy glossary. KLIATT Codes: JSA￯﾿ﾽRecommended for junior and senior high school students, advanced students, and adults. 2003, Simon & Schuster, Pulse, 158p. illus.,

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