Ramp Rats (Graphic Guide Series)

by Liam O'Donnell, Mike Deas (Illustrator)

Overview

Fresh from his adventures in Wild Ride, Marcus is back and helping his cousin, Bounce, learn to skate. Between learning how to ollie and do a 50-50 grind, Bounce and his friends also have to avoid the skate-park goons and take on the outlaw bikers who are terrorizing the small town. Excitement, action and some radical skating tips. Hang on for another wild ride!

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781554696949
Publisher:	Orca Book Publishers
Publication date:	04/19/2018
Series:	Graphic Guides Series , #2
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	64
File size:	10 MB
Age Range:	9 - 12 Years

About the Author

Liam O'Donnell is an author and educator who has created over forty books and graphic novels for young readers, including the Max Finder Mystery, Graphic Guide Adventure and West Meadows Detectives series. He was born in Northern Ireland and came to Canada when he was five years old. He studied media at Ryerson University and has worked on film sets in Canada, Ireland and the United Kingdom. Liam lives in London, Ontario.

Mike Deas is an author/illustrator of graphic novels, including Dalen and Gole and the Graphic Guide Adventures series. While he grew up with a love of illustrative storytelling, Capilano College's Commercial Animation Program helped Mike fine-tune his drawing skills and imagination. Mike and his family live on Salt Spring Island, British Columbia.

Editorial Reviews

In this second volume of Orca's Graphic Guide Adventures, the how-to topic is skateboarding. Tween Benny must beat local bully Crunch in an upcoming skateboarding contest to save face at the skate park. Meanwhile, he and his friends can't practice, since the entire town is a "no-skate" zone. As the law chases them from parking lot to alley, they teach each other (and the reader) how to do some simple skateboard tricks. In addition to preparing for the contest, Benny is also tracking down a mysterious vandal who is terrorizing local businesses, and there is never any doubt that he will manage to nail both the criminal and the contest. The overt messages ("People say skaters are fearless, but that isn't true . . . Good skaters just face their fears") and predictable ending ensure that this slim graphic novel is unlikely to appeal to most readers over ten, and certainly not a seasoned skater. However, the graphic format and step-by-step instructions on skating technique may draw in reluctant readers or young novice skaters. (Graphic fiction. 8-12)

Kirkus Reviews

"The concept of this book is both clever and creative. Recommended."

The Bookmark - BCTLA

"The explanations of how to do each trick are well-integrated into the story...The artwork has a cheery, inviting, Saturday-morning quality to it, and the cast is ethnically diverse without skin colors being an element in the story...Recommended for most graphic novel collections, particularly where skateboarding is popular."

NMRLS Youth Services Book Review

"This book is a demonstration of perfect pairing... as Ramp Rats takes two things kids love, skateboarding and graphic novels, and combines them to create a wonderful values story."

Resource Links

"A graphic novel which uses engaging illustrations, believable dialogue and realistic situations to convey a fun and interesting story...Recommended."

CM Magazine

"A well-written comic book about skateboarding with a fun cast of characters and engaging artwork, with actual skate tips and tricks...interspersed throughout the book, this is the ultimate comic for reluctant readers and skate fans alike!"

Library Media Connection

"Fast paced action in an urban setting will capture the attention of the target audience, keeping them turning the pages as Bounce learns to stand up to someone who has been pushing him around for too long."

Canadian Teacher Magazine

"Aside from the action-packed story, great characters, and colorful artwork, this graphic novel adventure includes an array of practical skateboarding tips for beginners."

Booklist

"Recommended."

Tucson Unified School District

"Aside from the action-packed story, great characters, and colorful artwork, this graphic novel adventure includes an array of practical skateboarding tips for beginners."

Booklist

*no details*

Southwestern Ohio Young Adult Materials Review Group