Snowboard Maverick

March 1, 1998
Gr 4-7-Dennis O'Malley, 13, loves to skateboard. However, even though he lives in a winter sports resort area, he's reluctant to try snowboarding because of a skiing accident that occurred when he was much younger. Eventually, the boy overcomes his fears and his parents surprise him with a snowboard for Christmas. After a few days, he has managed to make his way down the slopes without too much difficulty. He's drawn into the more daring aspects of the sport, as he will do anything to avoid being called a "chicken." This leads him to embark upon a foolhardy race down a dangerous slope. He wins, but is properly contrite, knowing where his actions might have led. Having found an older mentor, Dennis eventually becomes an "awesome" snowboarder. Following his tried-and-true formula, Christopher offers nothing new here in terms of plot-the story simply involves a different type of apparatus stuck to the feet. However, he includes some of the terminology of snowboarding (he avoids mentioning how Dennis deals with the financially crippling lift fees); and the plot, though simple, slides along with enough super moguls along the way to please snowboarders and perhaps some others as well.-Todd Morning, Schaumburg Township Public Library, IL

April 1, 1998
Gr. 3^-6. Although he is a skateboard pro, 13-year-old Dennis has a fear of snowboarding because of a previous skiing accident. But his two best friends succeed in getting him to try the snowboard, and Dennis really takes to it. Many of his skateboarding skills carry over, and he quickly progresses beyond the beginner stage. He eventually accepts challenges from two snowboarders: one a hated bully, the other an older, admired athlete. The race with the bully is foolish and risky, and the contest with his idol shows a favorable contrast. These two events unfold with suspense, and readers will identify with the various tormented feelings Dennis experiences. This is a book about snowboarding, but it is just as much about friendship, loyalties, and a young teen's relationship with his parents. Like Christopher's other books, it is fast paced without shortchanging the emotional depth of the main character. ((Reviewed April 1, 1998))(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 1998, American Library Association.)