Slam! By Walter Dean Myers. Scholastic Incorporated 1996 Genre: Fiction
Slam! is a book that teaches a lesson. It portrays a teenage boy having trouble in school but not on the basketball court. He is known for being able to slam-dunk therefore he is given the nickname Slam. This story teaches life lessons for any teenager regarding life inside and outside of school. After transferring out of a public school in Brooklyn, the main character Slam moves to a school known for it’s performing and visual arts curriculum. His grades aren’t very good and he is struggling to keep his temper under control. On top of all that, he is losing connections with his best friend Ice.
“Heart thumping hoop action in a novel that, like most good sport stories is more than just sports.” quoted by Publishers Weekly as the book jacket reads.
This sports book is different than any other sports book I have read. It isn’t about some huge fantasy of a kid becoming great, but rather a story a high school kid who is good on the court but struggling in school. It is down to earth and not over the top like other sporting books where kids excel in every aspect of their life and have one minor blip in the road. This book is something anyone can experience. Many high school athletes experience things like friend and grade trouble just like in this book.
“Basketball is my thing. I can hoop. Case closed. I’m six four and I got the moves, the eye and the heart”(1)
This is a great piece of writing. Plain and simple I enjoyed reading it. There were no dull moments and it always kept me thinking. Being and athlete I feel like I can connect to Slam on a personal level. We both love our sports. I have the same passion he has but for football. Football is my sport as basketball is his. While reading the book I could connect with Slams feeling before a big game or after a tough loss. I also felt that I find a lot of the same problems in school and with friends. I’m not struggling as much in school but it is very challenging to balance school and sports sometimes. Also having had a falling out with a friend before I understand how he feels when Ice and him are on the outs. Being a teenager is a tough thing sometimes and I feel this book really captures the essence of being a student athlete.
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I think that you really injoyed this book. I can tell this by the way you connected with that character.
ReplyDeleteYou also made a point thta the writer was down to earth and not writing about a fantasy atthlete that breaks out and makes it to the pro's.
I think you picked a interesting part do describe and was very interesting and keep the read attracted to the book.
i would read this book because it seems interesting and would be a book that i would be connected to.
I think Max truely made a real connection to this book. That made it seem that Max had a very good impression of the book. He kept saying how he is a student athlete and how Slam in the book is too. That made it a little bit easier to understand how the book was because i know Max Personally.
ReplyDeleteWhat max noticed in the writing style is that it wasn't the same as every other sport book. He said it was different because instead of the kid being a perfectionist and having "one blip in the road", he has several. He is good on the court but has a hard time with friends and grades.
Yes, Max did choose a good passage. The reason being is it described Slam all in one sentence. It told how he was a good basketball player and he knew that. But it also showed how Slam is a bit of a show off. How he doesnt care about much else. Nice choice of Passage.
I would consider reading this book. I think Max did a great job with the review and has inspired me to say i would read this. Nice Job Max.
Your buddy,
Tommy G
maxwell your book review was amazing 2 thumbs up and a smiley face. it seems to me that you really enjoyed this book. it might have something to do with your insanely long book review that took me forever to read. i really think that the author could have made up a more creative nick name. i mean come on, slam thats the best they can do. well thats not your fault i guess. i didn't like your quote because it was pretty self expanitory. if a guy is six foot four of course he is good at basketball, what else would he play extreme ping pong. just for the record i would still smoke him at that. but what you should gather from this is that you did a good job.
ReplyDeletehehehe.. hi max,
ReplyDeleteOverall i think mak really enyoyed this book. He liked how he coulde connect and relate to the book because of them both having a passion for sports.
The reviewer noticed that the writing style was full of action, never a dull moment.
i think he picked an interesing passage form the book. I really think ir shows how the writing style is relatable to teens. I could honestly picture one of my friends saying that!!
I mightg consider reading this story. The only reason i wouldnt read it is because i dont really care for basketball. Other than that i think it would be a cool book to read since i love sports also, except i love to swim!!!!! :)
great job M.D.!!!!!
Over all Max really enjoyed reading the book. He especially liked how he could personally relate to it.
ReplyDeleteMax noticed that the writing style is full of action. He said that there was never a dull moment in the book.
I think Max did pick good quote to explain because it gives you the basic idea of what the story is about and it shows Slam's passion for basketball.
I would consider reading the book because the way Max described it, the book seems to be a very interesting book. Also, being a student athlete myself I've also found myself struggling with balancing school and sports, so maybe I could relate to the story as well.