Sneakers

February 15, 2018

Readers who care deeply about kicks will dive into these three- to five-page long interviews collected by Corral (creative director, Farrar, Straus & Giroux), Alex French (contributing editor, Esquire), and Howie Kahn (contributing editor, Wall St. Journal), highlighting 54 key people in the community of sneaker designers, manufacturers, and trendsetters. Readers who don't know their Yeezys from their Consortium NMDs will still enjoy browsing the footwear photographs (all shapes, sizes, and colors) and meeting the interview subjects (mostly men, hip, and under 40). VERDICT Not a necessary purchase but a shelf-brightener where budgets allow.

Copyright 2018 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

December 15, 2017
Grades 9-12 For the almost 60 designers, marketers, store owners, bloggers, and artists featured in this unique book, buying sneakers wasn't just a back-to-school event but a way of life. Short profiles based on interviews highlight the essence of sneaker culture, from each individual's gateway sneaker to a career in the sneaker industry. While a few names, such as Kobe Bryant and Serena Williams, may be instantly recognizable, readers will take more interest in the diverse men and women who have turned dreams of designing and selling sneakers into reality. In each case, there's a sincere respect for the sneaker as a perfect blend of engineering, art, and pop culture. The varying graphic design, which, of course, plays with images of sneakers, keeps the artwork as fresh as the text. Fashion designers and artists seem the obvious audience for this niche book, but engineers and entrepreneurs will also find inspiration. Although marketed as YA, the sophisticated text may have wider appeal to adult readers. Those who make the leap will find a lot of soleand soul.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2017, American Library Association.)