Slam!

Meyers, W. (1996). Slam!. New York, NY: Scholastic Press.

Brief Annotation: Slam is the story of Greg, a seventeen year old boy who loves basketball. He is amazingly talented and loves to lay it all out on the court. He does unfortunately have a bad temper and does not do well in school. This story shows his struggle with learning how to do well both on the court and in life, and most importantly addresses the issues he has with his father Ice. Greg becomes a winner in the end becomes “Slam”.

Genre: Sports Novel

Grade Level: Grades 4-8

Readers who will like this: Young boys or girls who really love sports will enjoy this book. Especially boys since the book addresses so many of the struggles that young men go through in order to feel as though they have succeeded. This book acknowledges the many hardships of growing up, especially in poverty. Teachers who have advanced readers in their classes could use this book to bring up some of the issues of poverty and of family dynamics.

Response/Rating (1-4): 2, I feel as though this is probably a great book when you read it as a younger child. The wording and the way it was written was a little difficult for me to understand and really invest in. I enjoy basketball, but I certainly don't love it, so it wasn't my favorite. The writing is unique though and does show some genuine voice and has a heartwarming and encouraging story, so some students may love it.

One question you would ask before a read aloud: “ Have you ever felt invincible while playing a sport?”