Slam! by Walter Dean Myers | Teen Ink

Slam! by Walter Dean Myers MAG

April 29, 2008
By Anonymous

Walter Dean Myers brings you into the world of Harlem and the struggles of life with his Coretta Scott King Award-winning book, Slam!

Gregory “Slam” Harris is a talented basketball player with big dreams, but he has lots of obstacles to overcome. He also has many choices to make in his life. With the help of his girlfriend, Matisha, his teachers, and his family, Slam just might make it.

Slam lives for basketball and wants to play college ball, but his grades are slipping and his parents do not have enough money to send him to a good school. Although Slam thinks everyone is trying to bring him down, he is determined to show that he is capable of great achievements. Slam wants to prove to all that he can make something of himself and make them all proud. He wants people to know his name and what he is known for, which is basketball. Like Slam says, “Basketball is my life.”

Slam reminds me of myself when he finds out that if he doesn’t bring his grades up, he will have to stop playing basketball. I can relate to this because when my grades were slipping in school, my mother told me that if I didn’t improve soon, I wouldn’t be able to play either.

Myers shows the will power of a young man who will not give up on what he loves most. Slam learns that in order to get what he wants in life, he must let go of some things from his past, like some of his friends including his best friend, Ice, who deals drugs. Slam realizes that he wants to make it out of Harlem one day.



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This article has 62 comments.


jayho said...
on Oct. 24 2015 at 10:39 pm
jayho,
0 articles 0 photos 1 comment
what song you guys know that relate on this book

dee rose said...
on Dec. 21 2012 at 2:08 pm
can anyone help me with my book project?  

#1Pea said...
on Nov. 8 2012 at 3:40 pm
What a great story. I really like how Slam seems so real. He is also a good guy and we get to see his struggles through tough decisions and even his mistakes.

DuBomber said...
on Dec. 7 2011 at 6:42 pm
OMFG i did this for my Book Project and dang i freaking love this book

on Dec. 6 2011 at 9:57 am
titansgo8_28_31, Nashville, Tennessee
0 articles 0 photos 3 comments

Favorite Quote:
don't talk about it, be about it

thats wat i was going to say 

on Dec. 6 2011 at 9:51 am
titansgo8_28_31, Nashville, Tennessee
0 articles 0 photos 3 comments

Favorite Quote:
don't talk about it, be about it

no , she kinda does'nt sond like an idiot she is just expressing her feelings about the book and personaly i think its good.

on Dec. 6 2011 at 9:33 am

i think u stupid dis book is offffffff da chain

 


on Dec. 6 2011 at 9:28 am

yeah it helped me with my 10th grade book report

 


on Dec. 6 2011 at 9:17 am
i agree with 2_Swagged_2 and vorrio30

The nameless said...
on Dec. 5 2011 at 12:00 pm
Wow you do know that the book isen't about his real life, correct?

The nameless said...
on Dec. 5 2011 at 11:57 am
!!Troll face!!

The nameless said...
on Dec. 5 2011 at 11:56 am
This book was pretty good but I think the author could have put in some better details.

nameless said...
on Dec. 5 2011 at 11:52 am
Bro, you sound like a idiot reading this made me want to punch something.

on Nov. 3 2011 at 11:32 am
MoRgAnLiCiOuS, Bamberg, South Carolina
0 articles 0 photos 1 comment

Favorite Quote:
"Believe in what u see and not what you here."

This is a good book because it tells how u can succed if u dont give up

vorrio30 said...
on Oct. 28 2011 at 12:34 pm
Slam vs Ice dat matchup was so dope yo. I love this book and everything bout it yo. #Salute

on Oct. 7 2011 at 9:36 am
this seems like a good book because I like basketball

hbp1994 said...
on Oct. 3 2011 at 8:40 am
hbp1994, Pell City, Alabama
0 articles 0 photos 3 comments
walter dean meyers is a personal favorite author of mine and i have read most of his books!

matt08074 said...
on Sep. 14 2011 at 6:18 pm
where dose slam live and in what time period

jallia said...
on Sep. 13 2011 at 7:45 am
yaall lamee this boook trashh

jallia said...
on Sep. 13 2011 at 7:43 am
stfu!!