the act of making a child a legal part of a family
adrenalin
(uh-DREH-nuh-luhn)
—
a chemical the body produces when a person is excited
passion
(PASH-uhn)
—
a very strong feeling, such as anger, love, or hatred
vendor
(VEN-dur)
—
a person who sells something
Discussion Questions
Talk about how Valeria felt about her accident. How did she feel before her cast was removed? How did she feel after competing in the comp? If her feelings were different, what caused the change?
Do you think Valeria was right to lie to Mateo by making up excuses to avoid going skating? Discuss your opinion.
Even though Valeria didn’t win first place at the comp, she still felt happy about her performance. Talk about why she felt that way. How would you have felt in her position?
Writing Prompts
In this book, Valeria, Mateo, and Chloe are friends who also longboard together. What do you and your best friends do together? Write about your favorite thing to do with your friends.
Although Valeria wasn’t sure about racing, by the end of the story she was happy with her decision. Have you ever done something you felt nervous about at first but were later glad you did? Write two to three paragraphs comparing your experience to Valeria’s.
Chloe showed a lot of confidence in finding friends at her new school. Make a list of ways you would make new friends if you moved.
More About Longboarding
Can’t wait to hit the nearest downhill? Here’s what you’ll need. Local skate shops can be very helpful if you have questions.
Deck
This is the wood board that you stand on. There are many shapes and sizes depending on whether you want to focus on downhill, cruising, or slalom.
Trucks
These are the T-shaped metal pieces that attach to the wheels.
Wheels
Which wheels you need depends on how you plan to use your board and what kind of riding you will do.
Bearings
Bearings are the round metal pieces that go inside skateboard wheels. There are a wide variety of bearings — they vary in cost and effectiveness.
Grip Tape
This is the sandpaper-like tape that you stick on your board. It helps your feet stay put. There are different kinds and colors.
Helmet, Slide Gloves, and Kneepads
Everyone crashes at some point. That makes these safety items essential. Always wear a helmet and kneepads. A slide glove has a hard plastic part on the palm. In longboarding, you often have to put your hand on the ground when you slide. No gloves equals bloody, ripped-up hands.
Discover more:
VIDEOS & CONTESTS
