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Drift X #3
Sidewayz Glory
The cops cracked down on illegal races, and now the only street racing around is at the hottest casino on the strip. The casino owner is starting his own high-stakes, high-payoff drift team -- and there's little he wouldn't do to have Sin City's best drifter.
Kennin's under pressure to quit the scene and get his life back on track. But when he's offered five grand to fix his ride -- and the promise of enough cash to take care of his problems -- Kennin knows exactly what he has to do. No matter what the catch.
Kennin's under pressure to quit the scene and get his life back on track. But when he's offered five grand to fix his ride -- and the promise of enough cash to take care of his problems -- Kennin knows exactly what he has to do. No matter what the catch.
147 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 20, 2006
8 people are currently reading
133 people want to read
About the author
Todd Strasser
226 books800 followersTodd Strasser is an American author of more than 130 novels for adults, young-adults, and middle graders.
His most recent novel is Summer of '69
Booklist review: "Drugs, sex, and rock 'n' roll, those hallmarks of the summer of 1969, are all here, but there's so much more. In this loosely autobiographical novel, Strasser introduces 18-year-old Lucas, who is bright and sensitive but also a screw up…. The picture painted of the Woodstock music festival shows the dark side of peace and love, and the prevalence of drugs is on almost every page…The best part of the book, however, is the one that transcends eras: Lucas' introspection as he contemplates his place in the world."
Kirkus review: "Strasser perfectly captures the golden haze of youth and life on the cusp of adulthood. Readers fascinated with this time period will find much to enjoy... Vietnam, Woodstock, road trips, and acid trips: a sweetly bittersweet, surprising, even melancholy bildungsroman set against a world in flux. Groovy, man."
His most recent young adult novel is Price of Duty:
2018 New York Public Library Best Book for Teens
“Compact and suspenseful, the novel raises important questions about war.” – Kirkus
“This thought-provoking book is both welcome and imperative.” – Booklist * (starred review).
"Rather than attempting to sway the reader, it offers awareness." - VOYA
“Tightly wound and compelling ... appropriate for an older middle school and high school audience. VERDICT: Highly recommended.” – School Library Journal
Bio: Todd was born in New York City. When he was young his parents moved to Roslyn Heights, New York (Long Island). Todd went to the I.U. Willets Elementary school and then attended the Wheatley School for junior high and high school. His best subjects were math and science. He also liked to read, but he had trouble with spelling and grammar, and didn't do well in English. His favorite sports were tennis, skiing and fishing. Todd went to college at New York University for a few years, and then dropped out. He lived on a commune, then lived in Europe where he was a street musician.
All the while, Todd wrote songs and poems and lots of letters to his friends back home. Finally he decided to try being a writer. He returned to the United States and went to Beloit College where he studied literature and writing.
After college, Todd worked at the Middletown Times Herald-Record newspaper in Middletown, New York, and later at Compton Advertising in New York City. In 1978, Todd sold his first novel, Angel Dust Blues. He used the money to start the Dr. Wing Tip Shoo fortune cookie company. For the next 12 years, Todd sold more fortune cookies than books.
Todd now divides his time between writing books and speaking at schools and conferences. When he's at home, he likes to spend time with his children and dog, Cooper. He still likes to play tennis and ski, but his favorite new sport is surfing.
His most recent novel is Summer of '69
Booklist review: "Drugs, sex, and rock 'n' roll, those hallmarks of the summer of 1969, are all here, but there's so much more. In this loosely autobiographical novel, Strasser introduces 18-year-old Lucas, who is bright and sensitive but also a screw up…. The picture painted of the Woodstock music festival shows the dark side of peace and love, and the prevalence of drugs is on almost every page…The best part of the book, however, is the one that transcends eras: Lucas' introspection as he contemplates his place in the world."
Kirkus review: "Strasser perfectly captures the golden haze of youth and life on the cusp of adulthood. Readers fascinated with this time period will find much to enjoy... Vietnam, Woodstock, road trips, and acid trips: a sweetly bittersweet, surprising, even melancholy bildungsroman set against a world in flux. Groovy, man."
His most recent young adult novel is Price of Duty:
2018 New York Public Library Best Book for Teens
“Compact and suspenseful, the novel raises important questions about war.” – Kirkus
“This thought-provoking book is both welcome and imperative.” – Booklist * (starred review).
"Rather than attempting to sway the reader, it offers awareness." - VOYA
“Tightly wound and compelling ... appropriate for an older middle school and high school audience. VERDICT: Highly recommended.” – School Library Journal
Bio: Todd was born in New York City. When he was young his parents moved to Roslyn Heights, New York (Long Island). Todd went to the I.U. Willets Elementary school and then attended the Wheatley School for junior high and high school. His best subjects were math and science. He also liked to read, but he had trouble with spelling and grammar, and didn't do well in English. His favorite sports were tennis, skiing and fishing. Todd went to college at New York University for a few years, and then dropped out. He lived on a commune, then lived in Europe where he was a street musician.
All the while, Todd wrote songs and poems and lots of letters to his friends back home. Finally he decided to try being a writer. He returned to the United States and went to Beloit College where he studied literature and writing.
After college, Todd worked at the Middletown Times Herald-Record newspaper in Middletown, New York, and later at Compton Advertising in New York City. In 1978, Todd sold his first novel, Angel Dust Blues. He used the money to start the Dr. Wing Tip Shoo fortune cookie company. For the next 12 years, Todd sold more fortune cookies than books.
Todd now divides his time between writing books and speaking at schools and conferences. When he's at home, he likes to spend time with his children and dog, Cooper. He still likes to play tennis and ski, but his favorite new sport is surfing.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
May 27, 2011
Well i chose to read this book because i have been reading the other two books and i wanted to know how the series ended. This book like the two other is realistic fiction because this stuff could be happening out there in the U.S. where illegal street racing happens. The setting takes place in Las Vegas and in the casino because thats where all of the races are going to be at, they decided that racing in the mountains was to dangerous after what happened to Kennin. So the casino were Kennin works they are building a track so people could race legally. Kennin is a skinny guy who has a sister that is in reabilitation after consuming drugs but hes a really good drifter has a best friend named tito broke his leg on a accident and is from japan. This book was mainly about him reabilitating after his crash and going back to racing again the casino owner wants him to race in his new track so he gets more publicity and more money he does not know if he wants to race again after what happened to him so takes a while before he says yes and agrees to race in the new track. The main conflict in my mind was trying to get him into racing again but after that he had another one were he did not have a car but it was taken care of when his sister let him use hers witch wasn't the best but angelita fixed it and that conflict was resolved. The three books were really good i think people should really give the Drift X series a chanse they are really good.
January 20, 2010
this book is about a boy named kennin and he does illegal street racing. at some days he works at the casino for valet parking later his boss finds out he has been racing. so his boss decides to open a team of drifting but kennin does not know if he could keep doing this he just wants to get his life straight. this book is like real illegal street racing. lots of people get arrested but apparently kennin never gets caught since its a fiction. i would rate this book 5 stars because i love books about cars and fiction books. i would recommend this book to people who love action books. and cars.
December 20, 2017
Strasser, Todd Sidewayz Glory, 197 p. Simon Schuster –
Kennin wakes from his horrific crash and finds himself with a badly broken leg and in the hospital, having lost five days in unconsciousness. Even with his cast on, he finds himself pressured on all sides – from Tito, who wants to make up for causing the crash; from Derek, who wants him to race at Mr. Mercado’s new drift track; from Jack, who wants sole control of Kennin’s sister; from Mariel, who still trying to make her boyfriend jealous. On the track and in his life, Kennin is never sure if he will ever regain control of anything.
Excellent end to the Drift X trilogy. Buy at least two copies of each title, because at least one will be stolen!
MS, HS-ESSENTIAL
Kennin wakes from his horrific crash and finds himself with a badly broken leg and in the hospital, having lost five days in unconsciousness. Even with his cast on, he finds himself pressured on all sides – from Tito, who wants to make up for causing the crash; from Derek, who wants him to race at Mr. Mercado’s new drift track; from Jack, who wants sole control of Kennin’s sister; from Mariel, who still trying to make her boyfriend jealous. On the track and in his life, Kennin is never sure if he will ever regain control of anything.
Excellent end to the Drift X trilogy. Buy at least two copies of each title, because at least one will be stolen!
MS, HS-ESSENTIAL
March 11, 2021
2021 reread:
Very classic trilogy construction here. The previous two books had more gradual rising action, and this one ramps it up hard and fast. This is Kennin’s darkest hour, and the hits keep coming.
It all wraps up very quickly, with the pacing typical of the entire series, but only here does it really feel rushed. You get the collision of all the plot threads from the whole series all at once, which is deftly handled but very very eventful for the last forty or so pages.
One of the things I actually really like about this series is how the rivalry with Chris never comes to a head. It seems like circumstance should throw them into conflict, but they never have issues with each other. It’s Mariel and Ian who cause all the drama. Chris comes across as a mostly decent guy who’s just doing his thing, and he and Kennin respect each other but don’t cross paths beyond hanging out at the same racing events. They don’t ever go head to head in a tsuiso, but the vibe they have is that they’re both in it for the driving while almost everyone else around them is there for the scene. There’s a mutual respect there. I just think it’s a pretty interesting character dynamic when most stories would set Chris up as an antagonist.
Still a fun ride, neater than I remember, but I stand by the three star rating versus the four stars for the other two books. Delighted to finally get the chance to reread, delighted that this is one of the old favorites that holds up.
Original review:
Since Kennin's crash, the illegal tsuisos have stopped. Now Mr. Mercado, a wealthy casino owner, wants to see drifting go legitimate. He wants Kennin on his team.
But what would Kennin's life be without complications? Jack, Derek, and Mariel all want a piece of him. Ian wants him off the road. And on top of it all, there's a police detective investigating the stolen GTO, and he thinks Kennin is behind it.
Very classic trilogy construction here. The previous two books had more gradual rising action, and this one ramps it up hard and fast. This is Kennin’s darkest hour, and the hits keep coming.
It all wraps up very quickly, with the pacing typical of the entire series, but only here does it really feel rushed. You get the collision of all the plot threads from the whole series all at once, which is deftly handled but very very eventful for the last forty or so pages.
One of the things I actually really like about this series is how the rivalry with Chris never comes to a head. It seems like circumstance should throw them into conflict, but they never have issues with each other. It’s Mariel and Ian who cause all the drama. Chris comes across as a mostly decent guy who’s just doing his thing, and he and Kennin respect each other but don’t cross paths beyond hanging out at the same racing events. They don’t ever go head to head in a tsuiso, but the vibe they have is that they’re both in it for the driving while almost everyone else around them is there for the scene. There’s a mutual respect there. I just think it’s a pretty interesting character dynamic when most stories would set Chris up as an antagonist.
Still a fun ride, neater than I remember, but I stand by the three star rating versus the four stars for the other two books. Delighted to finally get the chance to reread, delighted that this is one of the old favorites that holds up.
Original review:
Since Kennin's crash, the illegal tsuisos have stopped. Now Mr. Mercado, a wealthy casino owner, wants to see drifting go legitimate. He wants Kennin on his team.
But what would Kennin's life be without complications? Jack, Derek, and Mariel all want a piece of him. Ian wants him off the road. And on top of it all, there's a police detective investigating the stolen GTO, and he thinks Kennin is behind it.
January 14, 2011
I choose this book because it is the 3rd book in the series and i like the first 2. This book is realistic fiction. This book takes place in las vegas and in the end they go to california. The main characters name is kennin brunet. He is asian and he gets made fun of because of that. He has long hair and he is nice to you if your nice to him. The book is about people who drift and get in trouble but they start drifting on a new track kennins boss created. The problem is kennin does not have a car but his boss gives him money cause he wants him to race for him. Kennin also is getting watched buy a detective because he thinks kennin stole some cars but it was titos cousin who did it. Kennin won his first race against ian but then he has to race chris who is really good. Kennins boss said its not about who wins its about the show so they tie because there cars break down. So Kennin doesnt go to jail cause he tells on jack who got his sister in trouble. Well Kennin and Angelita move to california so she can go to school and Kennins sister can be in rehab.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 4, 2010
Its about this boy named kennin who illegally street races. In this book kennin had to race up against the school best drifter Chris Craven. The night he was racing Chris someone loosened the bolts on his left tire on the front side. All of a sudden while he was going around the corner his wheel flew off and he went into a rock wall. All of his friends thought he was dead but he got lucky and he only broke his leg. Now that recovered he is joing the Babylon drift racing team but there is one problem he doesnt have a car. So he goes and asks his sister to borrow he yellow civic. He put about 5 grand into and made a fast car. In the race he beat a guy named Ian and know he is up against his rival Chris the manager of the drift team says to them both its not about winning its about the show. So around the 3rd lap Chris bumped Kennin and his nose hit the wheel and broke it. So it ended up being a tie cause both of there cars quite running
April 11, 2014
The book was good and it was the final book in the series. Unlike the other two there is more to keep you interested throught the entire book. It brings you away from drifting and it shows what troubles Kennin is having with his life. It ends in a good way but sometimes i wish there was a little bbit more to sum it all up.
Want to read
April 14, 2016Kind of hope this one is the best because I love a good ending to a series, also hope no one dies, but I haven't read that far yet to know if there's anyone in the series that I want to go. PLease no one reply with any spoilers to keep it a secret from me and others that don't want to know yet.
July 6, 2008
Its really cool.I had learnt things about car and illegal racing in this book,I really like it.If I had a chance, I will recommend it to everyone who love cars.
Read
May 24, 2010F STR driftX bk.3
June 7, 2011
It was a really great book! From the first to last book. Just wish there was more books about illegal street races .
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews