Title/Author:
“TT: Full
Throttle” by Nicole Winters
Genre/topics:
Motorcycle
Racing, fiction, Young Adult (YA)
Published:
September
20, 2013
Length:
264 pages
Rating:
5 of 5
stars (outstanding)
Review:
The
Tourist Trophy (TT) Race on the Isle of Man, one of the premier motorcycle
racing events, was the dream of Scott and his father. Now Scott has to attempt to qualify for this
race without his father, who died before realizing that dream. How Scott continues on this quest, not only
for himself but also for his father, is the story told in this outstanding young
adult (YA) book by Nicole Winters.
What sets
this book apart from many other YA novels is that the focus of the story is
about the sport of motorcycle racing and the course for the TT race. Many critics of this genre complain about
too much “teenage angst” that takes away from the main story. That is certainly NOT the case with this
book.
Yes, there
are conflicts with each of the characters. Scott is wondering how he can possibly
qualify for the race. Maggie, or Mags as
she is called in the book, loves working on bikes and wants to be a top-notch
mechanic, but her parents have other ideas. Scott has feelings for Mags, but
wonders if she feels the same and whether he should tell her. Dean has demons
from his past he wants to overcome. All three of them are mourning the loss of
their friend Neil, who wanted to travel to the Isle with Scott for the race. They
are important to the story, but not written in a manner that neither detracts
from the race nor is over the top in dramatics.
A reader
does not have to be a fan of the sport or even have much knowledge to enjoy
this book. Ms. Winters does a wonderful job
of not only explaining the technical aspects of the bikes, but also her
description of the course. The scenes in which Scott is on the track, whether
in practice or during a qualifying run, are superbly written. The reader not only experiences the thrill of
the sharp turns and fast straight sections, but also gets inside Scott’s mind
as to what he is thinking about at that moment.
This book
can be read by anyone of any age and be enjoyed. It is one that I would recommend for anyone
who simply loves a good story or if one wants to learn more about motorcycle
racing. Ms. Winters did her homework on
the topic and this story is one that shows that hard work can result in an
outstanding product.
I wish to thank NetGalley and the publisher for providing a copy in exchange for an honest review.
Did I skim?
No – I
made sure to devour every word of this story.
Did I feel connected to the
characters?
Yes. Each one of them seems to be genuine with conflicts, but focused on thier task.
Pace of the story:
Excellent
– the main story of Scott’s attempt to race in the TT moves along and is always
the focus. The side stories of each
characters other issues are woven nicely into the main story without becoming a
distraction.
Positives:
There are
so many. While the story is marketed as
a YA story, it is a great read for any age.
I felt the best aspect of the book was the outstanding research into
racing and the course that Ms. Winters did in preparing to write this book. The details of particular marks and turns on
the course are illustrated in a way that the reader will think he or she is
actually there on the course.
Negatives:
There
aren’t many, whether it was for the story, characters, editing, flow, or the
research into racing or the TT course.
All aspects of this book are well done.
Do I recommend?
Yes – for
anyone, any age who simply enjoys a good book.
ebook (Kindle)
Buying Links:
http://www.amazon.com/TT-Full-Throttle-Nicole-Winters/dp/1459405153/ref=la_B00CWEJTFY_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1380471955&sr=1-1
No comments:
Post a Comment