Under the Bridge (review)

Only two things in the world really matter to Tate Brooks: skateboarding and family, particularly his younger brother Indy. A mediocre student who struggles to do his best in school, Tate is content enough to live in the shadow of the naturally gifted Indy, who also shines as Spokane’s most talented skateboarder. Tate’s unwavering support is tested, however, when Indy gives up on school completely, openly picks fights with their father, and starts hanging out with, and eventually dealing for, a thuggish local drug dealer. Desperate to repair his broken family, Tate fights to save Indy from himself, even as strict school rules and bureaucratic restrictions hinder his ability to ask for help. At times tender and unexpectedly funny, this novel provides readers with an authentically realized glimpse into one young man’s attempt to reconcile his habit of putting others first with his desire to achieve something for himself for a change. It also has plenty of action, from fast-paced skateboarding scenes to wincingly detailed fight scenes. The novel plays openly with stereotypes, as teachers, parents, and police disregard Tate and his friends as lazy delinquents, while it takes Tate and the skateboarding that he loves seriously. The diverse cast of characters is genuinely and complexly drawn, appealing despite their many flaws. Sure to please readers with an interest in skateboarding or who love a good sports story, this emotionally raw but ultimately hopeful novel also will please those looking for a gripping family drama with a dash of gritty realism.