Slam is the story of Sam Jones, an unexceptional but thoroughly likeable English teen whose life is completely upended when his girlfriend Alicia becomes pregnant. Sam is an avid skateboarder and his hero is Tony Hawk, the reigning “rock star” of the sport. Throughout this first-person narrative Sam references Hawk’s autobiography, which he has read “at least fifty times”. The book becomes a bible of sorts to him as he finds himself in a series of achingly difficult situations.
To call
Slam a cautionary tale would be accurate but incomplete. Sam and Alicia’s assignations are deftly handled by the author in a tasteful manner and the aftermath speaks for itself in a way that adolescents will respond to. The reader is rewarded with liberal amounts of grin-inducing wittiness despite the plot’s serious nature.
Romance, dysfunction, and a healthy dose of humor make
Slam an appealing read. Like the best Young Adult books, it delivers with protagonists and situations that are relatable to teens facing adulthood.
For more information about
Slam and Nick Hornby’s other books, visit the author’s
website.