Skateboarding Fiction and Non-Fiction
List prepared by Cathy Belben, Librarian, Burlington-Edison High School
Updated January 2004
FICTION
Bo, Ben. Burn Out.(F BO)
Max's one passion is skateboarding until he meets the homeless teen Luka. Suddenly, he must reevalate his priorities.
Christopher, Matt. Skateboard Renegade.
Christopher, Matt. Skateboard Tough.
Mack, Tracy. Birdland.
Haunted by the death of his older brother, 14-year-old New York City-native Jed spends his winter break filming a documentary of his East Village neighborhood. Following clues left behind in Zeke's poetry journal, he finds himself going deep into his brother's psyche. The painful memories and emotions that surface bring Jed face-to-face with the destitute, homeless girl mentioned in one of the poems. Jed's efforts to reach out to her, and the ensuing near tragedy, galvanize his grieving parents into action and into recognizing his needs. (info from Amazon.com)
Powell, Randy. Tribute to Another Dead Rock Star. (F POW)
For a tribute to his mother, a dead rock star, fifteen-year-old Grady returns to Seattle, where he faces his mixed feelings for his retarded younger half-brother Louie while pondering his own future.
Say, Allen. Stranger in the Mirror. (F SAY)
When a young Asian-American boy who spends all of his time skateboarding wakes up one morning with the face of an old man, he has trouble convincing people that he is still himself.
NON-FICTION
Brooke, Michael. The Concrete Wave:
Davis, James. Skateboard Roadmap. (796.22 DAV)
A comprehensive look at the development of skateboarding. Illustrated guides to help you learn the basic tricks and techniques. An in-depth study of the skateboard lifestyle, from clashes with authority to contest, music, art and beyond.
Hawk, Tony. Hawk: Occupation: Skateboarder. (796.22 HAW)
Details the life and career of professional skateboarder Tony Hawk. Full of great information about becoming a professional skateboarder, with lots of action photos.
Hills, Gavin. Skateboarding. (796.2 HIL)
Examines the history, equipment, and techniques of skateboarding and discusses top competitions and becoming a professional skateboarder. Uses color photographs to help illustrate the various techniques described.
MacDonald, Andy. Dropping In With Andy Mac: The Life of a Pro Skateboarder. (796.22 MAC)
World champion skateboarder Andy Macdonald tells his life story, describing his childhood in Massachusetts and his climb to the top of his sport.
Paulsen, Gary. How Angel Peterson Got His Name. (BIO PAULSEN)
Author Gary Paulsen relates tales from his youth in a small town in northwestern Minnesota in the late 1940s and early 1950s, such as skiing behind a souped-up car, inventing their own version of a skateboard, and imitating daredevil Evel Knievel.
Rosenberg, Aaron. Advanced Skateboarding: From Kick Turns to Catching Air. (796.22 ROS).
An illustrated guide to performing eighteen advanced skateboarding tricks, grouped in the categories of low, medium, and high.
Stewart, Mark. One Wild Ride: The Life of Skateboarding Superstar Tony Hawk. (796.22 STE)
A biography of the professional skateboarder, Tony Hawk, focusing on his inventive moves, competitions, fatherhood, and business enterprises.
Weyland, Jocko. The Answer is Never: A Skateboarder’s History of the World. (796.22 WEY)
The stories of early skateboarders like Gregg Weaver and Dogtown Z-Boys, as well as living skateboarders such as Tony Hawk and Steve Caballero are the subject of journalist Jocko Weyland's personal history of his, and others', skateboarding experiences. It traces skateboarding from its invention to its current popularity and offers a detailed view into the sport and subculture of skateboarding.