SLAM!

SLAM!

by: Walter Dean Myers

High school student Greg Harris, also known as Slam, struggles with family, culture, and talent. Slam is a great basketball player, and basketball is his top priority; however, he has difficulty being a team player and is searching for his place in school and in his family. He has transferred from Carver, a black and poor school, to Latimer, a white, upper class, high school. As basketball season approaches, Slam thinks his life will improve. However, between failing math and fighting with his coach, Slam cannot seem to keep his game together on or off the court. On the court, he argues with the coach, a superstar attitude, teammate issues, and more. Off the court, he is trying to cope with a dying grandmother, a best friend who is possibly dealing drugs, a love interest, and an alcoholic father. With the help of family, friends, and an assistant coach, Slam begins to get the big picture.

I like this book it talks about a young man that faces problems that some teams face every day of their lives too. It also talks about what he does to solve his problems and gives ideas to other kids on how to solve theirs. The book sends a good central message that life isn't always perfect, but if you work your hardest to make things work, good things will happen.

summary of the book: http://faculty.salisbury.edu/~elbond/slam.htm

about the author: http://www.walterdeanmyers.net/