Slam never doubted himself on the court until he found himself going oneonone with his own future, and he didnt have the ball. He is the critically acclaimed new york times bestselling author an awardwinning body of work which includes, somewhere in the darkness, slam. Slam is a novel written by british author nick hornby, published in 2007. Greg slam harris is justly proud of his game, but he realizes that nba daydreams dont cut it in the classrooms of his new south bronx magnet school and that the tough talk that serves him so well on the street only.
Slam in slam, hornby explores an adolescent who is whizzed into the future and into a new maturity by a responsibility that he may not be ready for, but that he knows he has to face. Located in new york, harlem is the home of slam and his family, as well as ice and his family. Not surprisingly, then, it is set in the sort of place where hoop dreams are often a big part of teen life. He tries out and makes the latimer basketball team. Slam is a very good book that shows how a kid from the streets that has a talent can rise from adversity and how his struggles off the court can effect him on the court. Sam, the narrator of nick hornbys first teenage novel, is 18, writing about when he was 16. Sam just asks, and then thinks about what tony would do. His best friends name is ice, and he has a girlfriend named mtisha. Slam slides by on its authors enormous charm, however, and on its exploration of some hardwon truths, including this encompassing definition of what adult love really is.
Hes seen ballplayers come and go, and he knows he could be one of the lucky ones. Its a place to document the things music, foods, boys, etc. This study guide consists of approximately 25 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of slam harlem is the main setting for the novel slam. There are no tidy endings here, but, as sam says, in real life, i suppose there are lots of twists and turns to come.
It is set in the inner city of new york, and specifically in harlem. Why does sam ask his mom to rate his life on a scale of 1 to 10. Adult authors often stumble when they try to tackle writing a kids book. Would the book have been dramatically different if it had been set in canada. The story revolves around the efforts of seventeen yearold greg slam harris to play basketball, while maintaining his academics and his personal life. Is anything left out or added by sam telling us his own story in a laidback way. The novel slam by walter dean myers is a story about an african american teenage athlete by the name of greg. He loves to skateboard and rides the rails every chance he gets. Not the optimal situation obviously, but i strive to make it conducive for maintaining an adequately effective and applicable skill set. The book is telling us that dave is an uneducated guy and that he is not a family guy p. The book s main theme is teenage pregnancy and it is written from the perspective of a teenager, sam. Walter dean myers booklist walter dean myers message board. Walter dean myers is one of the most famous african american authors and this was one of his later books, in this book gregory harris who goes by slam is a high school basketball player at latimer where hes trying to get a scholarship for college basketball. Still, he made friends at summer camp, and hes eager to see them at his new middle school.
Book summary winner of the 2018 national book award fans of jacqueline woodson, meg medina, and jason reynolds will fall hard for this astonishing new york times bestselling novelinverse by an awardwinning slam poet, about an afrolatina heroine who tells her story with blazing words and powerful truth. This is a book about a kid named wes and he plays basketball. Cliffsnotes is the original and most widely imitated study guide. Theme a major theme of the book slam is coming of age. Nick hornbys first novel for teenagers, slam, is touching and. The book slam was an intriguing look into the life of a young man coming of age in a rough environment. In fact, he even has a poster of tony in his bedroom and talks to it sometimes. Booklist a fastpaced, heartfelt story for basketball fans that proves being a good teammate remains the most important quality in basketballand in life, from new york times bestselling author mike lupica. Enter your mobile number or email address below and well send you a link to download the free kindle app.
It can also show a child that there are awards if you make the right decisions in life. The neighborhood where the main character lives has the usual set. How would the book change if it were written from a different perspective. A troubled 16yearold skateboarder, sams mother, annie, gave birth to him when she was just 16. The books main theme is teenage pregnancy and it is written from the perspective of a. Slam by walter dean myers timeline timetoast timelines. A harlem teenager learns how to apply the will he has to win at hoops to other parts of his life in this vivid, fluent story from myers toussaint louverture, p. Its skateboarding theme adds nothing but a lazy veneer of youth. About no slam dunk a surefire hit with readers who love sports. What does the story tell you about the british class system. Listen, says sam jones, the garrulous young narrator of nick hornbys likable first novel for teenagers, i know you dont want to hear about every single little. Book talk for slam by walter dean myers flashcards quizlet. Wes father always told him that there was only one ball in basketball. Then his best friend, kelvin, talks him into running for student council and suddenly life gets a lot more complicated.
Train primarily in my garage, with a mook jong, a bob, and a heavy bag. The novel slam by walter dean meyers, takes place in a poor african american neighborhood in harlem, new york. Canto ix dante grows pale with fear upon seeing virgils failure. Myers has received two newbery honor medals, five coretta scott king author awards, and three national book award finalists citations. Sam jones is a troubled 16yearold skateboarder, sam is scared and. However, the story and the main character were different than i thought and it caught my attention from the very first chapter.
Myers the glory field uses contemporary urban black locutions to relay his narrators vie. If you are the publisher or author of this book and. Make that exgirlfriend because by the time she tells. British critics and fans slam the location change this link is to an external site that may or may not meet accessibility guidelines. An exciting, eyecatching repackage of acclaimed author walter dean myers bestselling paperbacks, to coincide with the publication of sunrise over falluja in hardcover. At the beginning of slam, nick hornbys first youngadult novel, 16yearold sam jones says that everything in his life seemed to have come together. Nick hornbys first novel for teenagers, slam, is touching and convincing, says philip ardagh. Harlem is the location of carver high school and the harlem hospital.
Chapter one of the novel slam written by nick hornby and published in 2001 introduces the reader into the world of the protagonist sam. Located in new york, harlem is the home of slam and his family, as well as ice and his. That if you put your heart and soul into anything they can become successful. Slam ist ein 2007 vom englischen autor nick hornby veroffentlichter roman.
Thom bold came to our studio to play an awesome set in the slam. By walter dean myers quotes a pros summary my critique you still dont get it do you. Jumper is looking forward to hitting the books and hitting the court for some serious bball. The demons slam the gate in virgils face, and he returns to dante hurt but not defeated.
Slam is a normal teen that loves the sport basketball. Slam by walter dean myers timeline created by pakorin. This story as a whole has been very realistic as walter dean myers does a good job of giving a description of the setting and the characters which pop up. What is the summary on slam by walter dean myers answers. He has pretty much memorized the book hawkoccupation. The story revolves around the efforts of seventeen yearold greg slam harris to play basketball, while. A love of basketball isnt necessary to enjoy this gritty, feelingly told tale, but it would certainly help. Were considering expanding this synopsis into a fulllength study guide to deepen your comprehension of the book and why its important. This summary of slam includes a complete plot overview spoilers included. Why is the book called slam and does it have a meaning to why it is called that. The books main theme is teenage pregnancy and it is written. A slam book is a notebook commonly the spiralbound type which is passed among children and teenagers. He lives with his mom, dad, and little brother derek. Mindful of opportunities for criticism, i would submit that the slam set is a lot more than a traditional form.
The main character, greg slam harris, has to deal with daily gang violence, drugs, and murders. High school student greg harris, also known as slam, struggles with family, culture, and talent. On the basketball court 17 year old greg slam harris is in control. Slam also struggles with this throughout the book because he often mistakes putting basketball before school and the relationships in his life. The problem is that this year slam is at a new school, and here his new coach and teammates dont give him the respect he thinks he deserves, and his teachers just wont get off his back about his grades. Another theme in the novel, slam, by walter dean myers, is keeping your priorities straight is the key to happiness.
Cliffsnotes study guides are written by real teachers and professors, so no matter what youre studying, cliffsnotes can ease your homework headaches and help you score high on exams. Just when everything is coming together for sam, his girlfriend alicia drops a bombshell. Seventeenyearold greg slam harris can do it all on the basketball court. From award winner telgemeier smile, 2010, a pitchperfect graphic novel portrayal of a middle school musical, adroitly capturing the drama both on and offstage. Greg seems like a realistic character dealing with common real life problems. Slam lives in harlem and attends the prestigious magnet school latimer in the south bronx. Greg is a highschool student and a star basketball player at his highschool. Founded in 1958 by clifton keith hillegass, cliffsnotes is the original company that produced study guides and book summaries. What is the summary of the book slam by walter dean myers.
Greg is great at basketball but doesnt think about offcourt things much. Although the conflict within the story has not really come forth the plot has been really good. First is winning the championship is going to be hard because the two main basketball players are vs. The only difference between on the court and off it is that everybody is in the game off the court. The most thing i liked about this book was the setting it was placed in, in the slam, this book. Should it be regarded as a work of humor or as something darker. The book is filled with his characteristic wit, insight, and appealingly quirky characters especially sam, who thinks tony hawk is a god, and who gets all the advice he needs by talking to hawks poster. Seventhgrader callie marin is overthemoon to be on stage crew again this year for eucalyptus middle schools production of moon over mississippi. Nick hornbys first young adult novel is about a 16yearold who lives for his skateboard, until his girl gets pregnant. Or i suppose i should say its about life, but told through the story of a basketball player. This book as the title would imply is about basketball. Greg loves to play basketball and is called slam because of his ability to slam dunk. Get an answer for what is the setting in the book slam.
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