snchard's review
4.0
I feel like I'm running out of things to say to praise the Pocket Change Collective books! Again, this was succinct, personal, highly quotable, and read like a TED talk. Now I want to find out more about skate culture in general and Leo Baker specifically.
sockimposter's review
5.0
“We must build the spaces we want to see in the world out of the moments where we do not see ourselves.”
ravensandpages's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
3.5
arc provided by the publisher via netgalley in exchange for an honest review. thank you, Penguin!
Even if you have little to no knowledge of pro skating or skating competitions outside of media or Tony Hawk,
this pocket-sized memoir will draw you into the reality: the ups and downs, the highs and lows, and the tricks and the troubles. Skate for Your Life is a very short memoir from Leo Baker examining the intersection of their gender identity with their passion for skateboarding, an inside look at how despite being a sport built on freedom and self-expression, the restrictions society places on gender can bleed in and douse the fire of passion.
It's always difficult to rate nonfiction but most especially a memoir, since 'plot' and 'characters' aren't something I can judge as an outsider. Skate for Your Life works perfectly as a short dip into Leo Baker's thoughts about skateboarding and how they've been accepted for something they weren't, rejected for being themselves, and then coming around and carving that space and acceptance out for themselves and people like them. The writing could be a bit simplistic and clunky at times, but given the length of the essay I was able to find it endearing instead of tedious and hard to work through.
This memoir also really spoke to me as a non-binary reader. It's a really great look into the transmasc experience, and so many of Leo Baker's sentiments resonated with me. For being so short, this book really felt like it reached across the divide, both to hold up a mirror to readers like me and also offer a window for those who may not understand, but seek to. Plus, the illustrations inside are really cute, so that was a neat bonus.
If you're looking for a quick nonfiction read, consider picking this or other books from the Pocket Change series!
Even if you have little to no knowledge of pro skating or skating competitions outside of media or Tony Hawk,
this pocket-sized memoir will draw you into the reality: the ups and downs, the highs and lows, and the tricks and the troubles. Skate for Your Life is a very short memoir from Leo Baker examining the intersection of their gender identity with their passion for skateboarding, an inside look at how despite being a sport built on freedom and self-expression, the restrictions society places on gender can bleed in and douse the fire of passion.
It's always difficult to rate nonfiction but most especially a memoir, since 'plot' and 'characters' aren't something I can judge as an outsider. Skate for Your Life works perfectly as a short dip into Leo Baker's thoughts about skateboarding and how they've been accepted for something they weren't, rejected for being themselves, and then coming around and carving that space and acceptance out for themselves and people like them. The writing could be a bit simplistic and clunky at times, but given the length of the essay I was able to find it endearing instead of tedious and hard to work through.
This memoir also really spoke to me as a non-binary reader. It's a really great look into the transmasc experience, and so many of Leo Baker's sentiments resonated with me. For being so short, this book really felt like it reached across the divide, both to hold up a mirror to readers like me and also offer a window for those who may not understand, but seek to. Plus, the illustrations inside are really cute, so that was a neat bonus.
If you're looking for a quick nonfiction read, consider picking this or other books from the Pocket Change series!
rainbowbookworm's review
Q: Are you a boy or a girl?
A: Does it matter?
Baker recounts what it was like to blaze a trail in the skating world when you are not a cisgender male and you want to skate on your own terms.
A: Does it matter?
Baker recounts what it was like to blaze a trail in the skating world when you are not a cisgender male and you want to skate on your own terms.
kerasalwaysreading's review
5.0
Such a great and honest look into the path to doing what you love for the reason you love it and learning to be comfortable with being yourself and feeling comfortable forcing others to see you as yourself as well. I found this books really moving.
Thank you to Penguin Teen for my copy.
Thank you to Penguin Teen for my copy.