Kickturn

Spangler, Brie. Kickturn
June 17, 2025 by Knopf Books for Young Readers

E ARC provided by Netgalley

Lindy and her parents have a nomadic lifestyle, traveling the Southwest in a converted school bus (a "skoolie") so that her mother can post pictures of herself doing yoga poses, spreading love and lifestyle advice. Her father, a formr software engineer, helps, and Lindy is often called upon to model clothing sent by sponsors, since posts featuring her do well on the analytics. Lindy is tired of this lifestyle, and lonely for friends her own age. She spends a lot of time watching the skateboarder and social media star Kentucky Jones while neglecting her homeschooling material, which she finds difficult, especially since her parents don't seem to offer much support. When the bus breaks down in San Jose, California, it's not an easy fix, and the family rents a house while waiting for the repairs to be done. Lindy meets Dasha  and May at a convenience store, and the two invite her to skateboard with them. They show her the ropes, and May even loans her a board. Lindy enjoys having a more private room, and warm shower, and some friends. She also takes to skateboarding in a big way, and her parents often accompany her to the skate park, where she also meets Carter, a seven year old social media influencer who can do a lot of skate tricks that Lindy can't even imagine. When the group finds out that Kentucky Jones is coming to San Jose, they are super excited to meet their idol. The bus takes a while to be fixed, but eventually is road worthy once again, and Lindy's parents inform her that they will be moving on. Unhappy to be leaving, Lindy sabotages the bus. When her parents find out, they are angry, and a bit perplexed that Lindy is no longer enjoying life on the road. She pleads her case for staying, which is bolstered by the fact that she is failing all of her online classes. Lindy gets her way, and the family decides to stay in San Jose. 

Strengths: There need to be a lot more books about skateboarding, as well as volleyball and track. It's interesting to see parents who are social media influencers; Weissman's So Over Sharing is another one to look at. Lindy's desire to stay in one place and make friends is understandable, and it's great to see her connect with girls her age while also developing a hobby. Bonus: both of Lindy's parents are alive!
Weaknesses: This was a little younger than I had hoped; the font looks hand drawn, ala Wimpy Kid, and the interior illustrations do support Lindy being in late elementary school. I just wish that she had been older. I also wish that the parents had paid more attention to Lindy; at a minimum, they should have checked her progress in school. 
What I really think: This is a good choice for readers who enjoyed other books about families on the road, like Gemeinhart's The Remarkable Journey of Coyote Sunrise, Goebel's Alpaca My Bags, or Hawes' Big Rig.