Little ones, this book is for you! If you want to win a copy for yourself, just leave a comment below with how you started riding – that’s it! Two winners will be chosen May 31st! Open internationally. Learn more about Shred Girls with the author below:
What is the book about and what inspired you to write it?
The Shred Girls series follows three girls—Lindsay, Ali and Jen—as they navigate questions of friendship, fitting in and finding their own identities while learning to crush it on bikes. Book 1, Lindsay’s Joyride, kicks off the series with bookworm Lindsay getting stuck with her supervillain-esque cousin Phoebe for the summer—and then finding a BMX bike park and two other amazing girls. (The best way to describe the series is if you’re familiar with The Babysitter’s Club, The Hardy Boys or any series like that… But replacing babysitting and mysteries with bike riding.) I love that I’m hearing about a lot of girls who ride bikes who are now loving reading, and that Lindsay’s Joyride is the first chapter book they’ve wanted to read… But I didn’t want the series and website to just help girls who already ride bikes, I wanted to reach the bookworms, the girls who haven’t heard of cycling, the shy kids who are afraid of going to a group sporting event. (Like I was!)
You recently had a launch party for the book, how was it?
Launch party at Joyride150 in Markham was AMAZING. So many girls, including a lot of the Real Life Shred Girls featured on Shred-Girls.com, showed up to celebrate, play on bikes, talk about books, eat pizza, and make new friends. It was the coolest day! (Tons of photos here, just credit Jody Wilson)
What age group is the book geared towards, and what can parents take away from the book?
The book is for middle grade readers, around 8 to 12, but I know some 6 and 16 year olds who are reading it as well! One of the cool things I’ve seen is when cycling parents have gotten the book for their non-cycling kids, and reading it together got their kids excited about trying out bike riding. (And on the flip side, a couple of cycling girls who were reluctant readers have been taking the book to school and reading it every night!) … And bonus, I tried to sneak in a few actual tips for getting started riding, so that if a girl reads it and wants to try BMX, she has a few practical tools to get started.
Where it’s available?
Wherever books are sold!
(You can also shop the Shred Girls store for tshirts, hats, tank tops and more in a few different designs!)
