Slide or Die

Drift X #1

by Todd Strasser, Craig Phillips (Illustrations)

17-year-old Kennin Burnett is new to Las Vegas but far from new to illegal street racing. He tries to avoid getting swept up into the life that has brought him grief in the past, but he is just too good a driver - and too much in love with cars - to resist.

Genres: Racing, Young Adult, Sports

198 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2006

About the author

Todd 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.

Reviews

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

2021 reread:

I’ve read this book three or four times since I first found it in my high school’s library, and I still love this ridiculous series so much. Somewhat shallow, especially in character dynamics, but so, so fun. This is what The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift wanted to be. It’s one of those series that teachers should hand kids who don’t like reading. It’s nonstop action and thick mid-2000s slang and flippant dialogue and rhapsodizing over hot cars that even a person totally clueless about cars (me) can mostly follow. It was my first introduction to the concept of drift racing, and damn, can Todd Strasser pick ‘em. (His surfing trilogy is similar. In fact, I recall Kennin and Kai being basically the same person.)

Kennin is exactly as I remember him: mostly chill, socially aware but uninterested in standing out, kind of a shithead, more streetwise than a kid his age should be. It’s also pretty obvious he’s carrying some trauma, which I knew but didn’t remember coming up this early in the series. He’s likable. Going nowhere fast, but likable. Definitely sympathetic, and very fun to root for.

I’ve been wanting to reread this for a while, but the second book in the series is astonishing difficult to get your hands on. It’s out of print and rarer than the other two books, for some reason, and apparently market price for it on Amazon and Thriftbooks and even eBay is $90. That’s nuts. Shoutout to my awesome friend Emily, who found it for me and let me finally embark on the reread of the full series.



Original review:
I couldn't quite decide whether this should go on my "realistic fiction" shelf or "not-so-realistic fiction". The main character is Kennin, a former drift racer who has recently moved to Las Vegas. Soon enough, he gets into drift racing again, almost by accident, when the police show up at an illegal tsuiso looking for a stolen car. The best drifters around start to wonder exactly who was driving the GTO that made it down the mountain on the drift course...and they want to race against him.

It's a good book. Kennin and Angelita are instantly likeable characters, and the idea is definitely interesting.

[Jesus · Rating 4 out of 5]

I choose to read Slide or Die or Drift x because it looks intersting and i like the 2 fast 2 furious movies and I believe they are very similar so i decided to read them and I liked it. The genre of this book has to be realistic fiction because this could actually be going on in the streets people might have some illegal racing out there. The setting of the book takes place in Las Vegas I can also say it takes place in the mountains i dont know if that counts. The main character is 16 years old his name is Kennin hes good looking and hes great at driving or drifting as they call it in the book hes wasn't such cool guy but the rumors of him knowing how to drive so well made him very popular. Hes going to have a big race and does not have a car and the job that he has is not good enough to get him a car so he gets one from his best friend tito, tito tells his sister to give him one so thats how he gets a car so that would probably be consider the main conflict. The conflict is that he just made new enemies that want to beat him in the race. Another conflict Tito beat all his money on him. He gets a car from Tito's sister. And Tito tries to get his money back but cant so that conflict is not resolved. It's a good book i am defenetely going to read the rest of the series and I really liked it.

[Chandler Heiney]

it was awesome

[Jake · Rating 5 out of 5]

I Choose this book because Mrs. Sternberg told me it was good and i like cars. This book is a realistic fiction book. It takes place in las vegas and on a mountain outside the city. The main character's name is Kennin he is poor and he has been through alot his dad is in prison and his mom passed away. His sister isnt very nice to him and is dating a guy who has money. In this book Kennin is with his friends Tito, Angelta, and Raoul at the mountain in Raoul's stolen car. Kennin saved this one guys life and pulled him out of a burning car before it blew up but when he grabbed him it blew up right after they got out. Raoul got drunk and could not drive back and they heard the cops coming so Kennin said he is gunna drive but he dosent have his lisence. So they took off down the Mountain top in the stolen vehicle and they were running away and Kennin droped everyone off so they did not get in trouble. He kept running and ditched the car in a jail parking lot. He was walking back and a cop stoped him and he said he was having trouble at home thats why he was out. So he goes home and his sisters boy friend is there. So at school its all in the news paper about the racers and everyone thinks he was driving the car and he was really good so they want him to race the next time they go up but he said it wasnt him and he cant even drive. So he gets out of school and goes to work at a casino were he washes cars and his boss has a really cool car. So he takes it for a spin and when he comes back his boss is there but he dosent get fired because he did not lie. So they go to this popular girls party and there is a fight but they stay out of it and everyone is swiming in there underwear and Marial (popular girl) comes up to them and starts flirting with Kennin. Marial has a boyfreind that is on the football team and is the best drifter they know and thats who Kennin is gunna race. So the night of the race they are getting the car ready and thats were the book ends. I liked this book because there is constant action and i love cars.

[Timd · Rating 4 out of 5]

I chose this book because i like street racing.The genre is ficton.The setting took place in L.V. . The main characters the work around car and some times race them.The summary is this kid comes to town and then he gose to the races once and his friends ucle get drunk and so he dirves dowen the moutionthen gets them down the hill and lets thm out and he gose to get rid of the car and just start waking and then a cop stops him and takes him to the camp for bad people becausee his dad was there then he siad alright ill let you go. The main problem is that he ets in trouble for street reaing all the time but he has to leave eaver tim hes get in trouble. By him just hang out with friends .the boook was ghood but did not realsey the book was going to be that good

[Kaden · Rating 5 out of 5]

a really good book lots of car ,engines, drifting

[Danny Griffin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was good up until the end because it just cuts off, it makes it so you have to get the other books to finish one story.I like how it kept me intertained with the racing and the cops. The story took off fast and told alot.over all it was a four star rating.

[Adam Rhodes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Drift x-slide or die/battle drift
By Todd Strasser

I originally did not want to read But things don't always happen how I want to so we did

this reading thing where we had to pick a book and read it and I ended up with two different

books it was Saturday night dirt and drift x slide or die And originally I was going to pick

Saturday night dirt but somebody had beat me to the book I ended up with drift X It is a young

adult realistic fiction book and originally I was not excited to read at all but I started reading it

and it Seemed to fit me almost perfectly The book started off pretty fast and it got right to the

ACT and it starts on a hill in front of a garage where the main character kennin is waiting for his

friend tito but before he arrives titos Sister walks out of the garage she was in there working on

a car that she had been working on for a couple of months now Canon has a pretty interesting

backstory he is from Japan is Dad is in prison and his sister is hooked up with this older guy

who has a lot of money and ends up using her but anyways that is how the book starts. no t

only am I a very picky reader but this got me hooked I've read both books in the series so far if

there is a third one I'm going to read it and overall I would highly recommend this book it is really

good and The book came out September 16th 2021.

[Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

As someone from the car and book community, I broke my neck to buy this book. I LOVED reading it. I love the attention to detail on the cars. One thing…I understand it’s a shorter read than most books, but this felt a little too rushed. I am still giving it a 5 of 5, though. Definitely going to go buy the other books. I recommend for anyone who loves muscle or JDM cars, or even F&F, to read this series.

[Alyssa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great book for those who like cars and racing, but it also shows some of the emotional sides of a struggling high school student. The end of the book keeps you wanting more and I am on my way to get the second in the series.

[Riyhad Jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a wonderful book, had a lot of action and felt like a book that would be awesome if it was put into a movie. Would recommend it to people who love cars or people who like action. So many more versions of this book which makes it better.

[Allen Baker · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought It was a good book as a guy who likes cars and other vehicles. Drifting is now a popular sport and I would probably try it in my older years. I recommend this book to people who like vehicles.

[Jack · Rating 4 out of 5]

Todd Strasser has done it again with the first installment in his Drift X series with Slide or Die. The story is about a teenage Asian American boy living in his new home of Las Vegas and his amazing skill behind the wheel. At the age of 16 and without a license Kennin Burnett can hold his own in a car and knows all about the new found Drift Racing. With his new friends behind him in the garage, on the streets, and out on the track, he will take on any bigot wannabees who dare to challenge him. Todd Strasser writes with a very simple and unique style that describes a beautiful scene with every page. Easy to read, easy to understand, this type of simplicity makes for a very enjoyable reading experience. The characters and settings give you a feeling of actually being there, right in the middle of the action.
Writing about cars can be a bit tricky at times. Trying to get good and accurate car knowledge across without over doing it isn't an easy task. Unless your last name is Strasser. The realism in the descriptions of the cars is fantastic and also doesn't bombard you with a constant, large spotlight on them. While they are a larger part of the story than most other inanimate objects, They aren't the main subject of the tale but rather a very key and well placed supporting role in the story.
Overall, this is a fantastic short book that almost anyone would enjoy. The book is written for young teenagers but if you can relate to cars you will relate to this book. From the classic confusing love interest to the speedway drama this book will captivate you and keep you on the edge of your seat the whole way down the track.

[Jennifer Wardrip · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reviewed by Randstostipher "tallnlankyrn" Nguyen for TeensReadToo.com

Todd Strasser introduces readers into the world that The Fast and The Furious made popular, drifting, in his new series DRIFTX.

Kennin, a 17-year-old Asian-American, and his older sister move to Sin City to be closer to their convicted father after their mother passes away. There he befriends Tito and the beautiful Angelita, who are both into all types of race cars.

He soon gets swept into the world of drifting when he decides to go along with Tito and Angelita, and their cousin Raoul, to study, well, cars being the subject. And since the police have been raiding all of the races, it's no surprise when they show up.

Kennin takes control of the car when a tsuiso, a twin-battle drift, was in progress, and his talent is revealed. Once word gets out on how talented he is, Kennin is faced with competitors who do not want to be shown up by some new kid.

The first in the DRIFTX series, Todd Strasser brings all the cars and terminology into this action-packed novel. With drawings in each chapter, SLIDE OR DIE will definitely cause reluctant readers and fans of drifting to think twice about not reading. Fans of Todd Strasser's work will not be disappointed with this introduction into a new sport.

[JoJoTheModern · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sometimes I check a book out of the library at random. Completely at random. My to-read list is awfully long so random books are an indulgence, comparable to skipping a meal for ice cream.

This was one of those random books. I saw it in the library; the cover looked interesting; the back-cover blurb looked interesting; I checked it out. And that's how a grown woman read a pulp YA novel about illegal street racing. Look, I'll read just about anything.

And Slide or Die is worth the time! Each scene's atmosphere is well constructed, whether the characters are standing on the shoulder of a mountain road at night or inside a travel trailer in the poverty-broken side of town. Human relationships are dramatic and realistic; vehicles are described with love (but not to a degree that would bore someone who knew nothing about cars). Anyone who enjoys the Fast and Furious movie series, craves a gorgeous sports car, or even just likes driving for its own sake should find Slide or Die a tasty way to get that action/sports car/driving fix.

The novel ends smack in the middle of things, right on a to-be-continued moment if there ever was one, so now I need the second novel. It won't be random. Just one more title on my to-read list.

[Johnathan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I choose to read this book because I have a passion for cars. The book by Todd Strasser has such an interesting plot that from the first chapter you are engulfed by the thought of street racing and a lifestyle of cars. The setting takes place just outside of Las Vegas, mostly in high school or in the scenic mountains of Nevada. Angelita Rivera has a lot of traits I see in myself, but that's beside the point. She has a passion for car as strong as I have, just not muscle cars. Her brother Tito Rivera is more or less a wanna be, always trying to tag along to drift races or talking a big game about something he has no clue about. Kennin Burnett on the other hand has a vast knowledge of cars and can drive. Drive better than most that race on the streets. I recommend this book ages 15 and up, it would also help to have an exceptional amount of knowledge about tuners and drifting. The reason for the high age recommendation is because it talks about how the characters try to balance a normal high school life and fuel their racing and car addictions. Little kids would be having a hard time trying to understand the struggles of high school life, or the terminology of cars. All in all, the book was a superb read.

[Kadir Lewis · Rating 4 out of 5]

The name of this book is "Slide or Die: Drift X" by Todd Strasser. This book was about a young man named Kennin Burnett, who was sort of new around the place. He had a mysterious background, and tried to keep to himself. When he found himself in a predicament with some of the racers around town he had to come out of his shell and show out. I would recommend this book to people who thrive excitement and mystery in books. I say this because this books has different surprises around every page. The girls, the cars, and the glory. I can't wait to read the next one!

[Luke · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! I never really liked Todd Strasser too well (except for "The Wave"), but this was a BIG exception! We had to read one of three Todd Strasser books for school, and I thought I'd try this. It sounded like a good book, and that is a HUGE understatement!

This was an awesome book! The action was constant and always new, not like some books that have almost the exact same events throughout the whole book.

I would definitely recommend this book! :)

[Angeluismanzueta · Rating 5 out of 5]

a teen kennin supposly new to this town builds his reputation when a cop comes to a street racing mountian and kennin is the only good driver to escape with his friends in pontiac gto. but when he comes to school he is challeneged to a pro street racer. i have always decided to become a street racer but i had never thought of cops coming and its only after me (not good).i would give this book 6 stars it is very amazing to anyone who LOVES cars and racing.

[Andrew · Rating 5 out of 5]

TThe author wrote this book to show us the life of a street racer. The characters are believable because there can be a brother and sister that has a father who is in jail and a mother that is dead. THe author creates a picture of people on a hill drifting, racing and other things. I feel like I know who the characrter is and I am there when they race. What the author did to hook the reader was add cars. For example a ferrari, nissan, etc...

[Sandy · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book had a very slow beginning. Fake dialogue, superficial characters, it just was not the best. But, I kept reading, and it turned out ok. It was rather predictable, and it didn't have too terribly much by way of info on driving, but what it did include, was mostly accurate. And, they referenced Initial D a couple of times too, which was kind of nifty!

[Bryan Bourdet · Rating 5 out of 5]

Slide or die was a amazing book that i read. It's a book that everyone should enjoy in their free time. I couldn't stop reading this book. It just fly by. Its story is nice and surprising and you always want to know what happen next. So if anyone is thinking about reading this book YOU SHOULD!

[Angelica · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book because I really liked cars. I honestly LOVED this book because of the all the little details and risk-taking situations. Once I read this book, I absolutely had to read the rest of the series. Kennith was one my favorite characters because he was laid back and he was pretty smart about getting out of trouble. Overall, I loved this book a lot.

[Garrett Powers · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book is kind of slow to start but it picks up within a few chapters. The book leads well into the second opening up a plot line that does not make much sense to anyone. Overall the book is Good but could have been better if there were more car talk and actual drifting.

[Patrick Dyer · Rating 5 out of 5]

a realistic book and a suspanse book as well if any one who to read racing books please pick up this book

[Jefferson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome book! =] It got me all hyped up, and wanted me to already get my license and learn to drift!!!! =]

[Josie · Rating 1 out of 5]

Annoying in that it stopped before its climax. You have to read the next one.

[Tyler Bennett · Rating 5 out of 5]

These books were very detailed in which they were describing. The authork new what was right and what was wrong with the dangers the characters obtained.

[Sergio guzman]

it was a good book i really liked it because it was about cars and it really fit me because i am into cars

[Jamie · Rating 2 out of 5]

An adequate book to capture the "Fast and the Furious" fever of the mid 2000s.