Lowriders

Children's Literature

An entry in the well-done "Roaring Rides" series, this book features gutsy vocabulary, interesting insider jargon, boxed "Roaring Facts," and informative picture captions for the well-chosen photographs. The setup is designed to grab the attention of would-be car aficionados with frequent topic-headed text and plenty of white space. History begins in the Great Depression when mostly young Mexican-Americans found creative ways to dress up their old cars and the colorful pictures show many customizing experiments. These include incredible sound systems, hydraulic "pump and dump" systems, the California "rake," and various other style features. A profile of the "King of Kustoms," George Barris, details the many cars he has designed for television and movies. A mention of customized bikes suggests where readers might get started. While the vocabulary is often challenging, to the interested reader this is a seductive invitation to hunker down and read for awhile. Numerous websites, suggested further reading, a glossary, and an index are included. 2004, Rourke Publishing, Ages 10 to 14.
—Susan Hepler, Ph.D.