Paddle Against the Flow

July 1, 2015

Gr 7 Up-Since its inception in 2006, the UK's Huck magazine has embraced the work of artists, musicians, surfers, skateboarders, and other creative minds who follow their own paths. Culled from nearly a decade's worth of interviews with 59 iconic individuals are words of advice and wisdom and life lessons meant to inspire the next generation of radical thinkers and doers. Divided into four sections-"Life," "Work," "People," "Change"-each category is comprised of spreads featuring a quote from and photograph or illustration of a notable free spirit, several of whom will be recognizable to readers, such as athlete Shaun White and rapper Nas. However, the book's primary flaw is its assumption that a general audience will know who the vast majority of these individuals are: their relative obscurity renders their insights less meaningful to most readers. Fortunately, a "Bios" section at the end provides a snapshot of each person's accomplishments and may inspire further investigation into their lives, but it does little to justify why they are qualified to dole out advice, some of which contains adult language and content. VERDICT Best suited to communities with strong interest in the arts and DIY culture, this compendium of cool will appeal mostly to a niche audience of hipsters, artists, and other creative types.-Audrey Sumser, formerly at Cuyahoga County Public Library, Mayfield, OH

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