November 1, 2017
Gr 5-8-Weber introduces and familiarizes readers with the major personalities of extreme racing sports through vivid writing. In addition to gaining an understanding of the beginning and development of each sport, readers will learn about the biggest, wildest, and most dangerous moments of all time. Thrilling episodes almost always involve wicked injuries, such as Danny Chandler's serious head trauma in Wild Moments on Dirt Bikes and Geraldo Piquet's fiery rollover crash in Wild Moments of Truck Racing. Lots of colorful photos and informational sidebars break up the text but don't distract from the otherwise exciting stories. With words defined on each page as well as in the glossary, readers can avoid the tedious flipping and focus on comprehension. Readers who are mostly familiar with NASCAR or other popular televised racing events can expose themselves to new arenas and find familiar ground in titles like Wild Moments of Stock Car Racing, with Dale Earnhardt's famous "pass in the grass." VERDICT An ambitious series like this is sure to circulate, especially among car lovers.
Copyright 2017 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
July 1, 2018
While describing the excitement of each motor sport, Weber also recounts the dangers by presenting--without sensationalizing--a variety of life-threatening accidents that have occurred. Action-packed, captioned color photos complement a text that explains accident details and how drivers reacted. Sidebars noting unusual facts of the sport are sprinkled throughout, and new vocabulary is defined at the bottom of pages. Reading list. Glos., ind.
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