Totally awesome book deals well with the subject of teen pregnancy. It doesn't gloss over the important social, familial, and psychological issues that go along with it. The characters are believable and lovable. Great for 15+!
Slam
(2007, Fiction - Contemporary Fiction, Written by Nick Hornby)
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Is it age appropriate?
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Is it any good?
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Common Sense says
A frank, insightful look at teen pregnancy.
Why We Rated This 
for Ages 14–17
The good stuff
What to watch out for
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Violence:
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Sex:
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Language:
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Consumerism:
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Drinking, drugs, & smoking:
What Parents Need to Know
This review of Slam was written by Matt Berman
Parents need to know that this is a book about teenage pregnancy, which means that teens (in this case, 15-year-olds) have sex -- and the girl gets pregnant. None of it is described, but there are discussions about condom use, abortion (the girl refuses), and other sexual references. There's also some swearing, and numerous products are mentioned.
Families Can Talk About
Talk to your kids about the media in their life. We have more tools and tips that can help
- Families can talk about the issues this story raises. Why do adults insist that teens shouldn't have sex? How will the baby affect the lives of the two teens in the future? Is the level of support and understanding they receive from their families realistic? Given Sam's family history, was this inevitable? Whose fault is it? Why did Alicia want to have -- and keep -- the baby? Should her parents or Sam have insisted she give it up for adoption? Why or why not?
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More on Slam
Book Summary
Fifteen-year-old Sam is an ordinary, nice kid. He gets along pretty well with his single mom, who had him when she was 16. He does OK in school, and has a few not-very-close friends. He likes to skateboard, and idolizes Tony Hawk, whose poster he talks to about his troubles, and gets answers that are quotes from Hawk's autobiography, which Sam has memorized.
When he meets a pretty girl, Alicia, who wants to have sex with him, he is naturally thrilled, and they start a passionate relationship. They are careful and use condoms. After awhile the passion cools, and they split up. Soon after, Alicia discovers she is pregnant, and she is determined to have and keep the baby. So begins a journey for which neither of them is ready.
Is It Any Good?
The jacket copy says, "Nick Hornby has made a career writing about men who act like boys. Now he gives us a boy who acts like a man." That's about as perfect a description as you can get about where Hornby's first book for teens falls in his oeuvre so far. The book is filled with his characteristic wit, incisive insight, and appealingly quirky characters -- especially Sam, who thinks Tony Hawk is a god, and who gets all the advice he needs by talking to Hawk's poster.
It may seem odd to say about a book on this theme, but with the author's touches of magic realism, humor, and warmhearted respect for his characters, this is a delightful read. Adult authors often stumble when they try to tackle writing a kids' book. But given the kinds of books Hornby has been writing, perhaps it should be no surprise that his first YA novel is so well done.
Publisher’s Details
Publisher: G.P. Putnam's Sons, Publication date: 10/16/2007
Number of pages: 304, Price: $19.99 (hardcover)
Read Aloud: 14, Read Alone: 14
Number of pages: 304, Price: $19.99 (hardcover)
Read Aloud: 14, Read Alone: 14
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I rate this title on for age 0 and give it
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I rate this title pause for age 0 and give it
Thought Provoking....
Obviously this book deals with teen sex and the issues that pertain to it, but overall, it was a great book. Nick Hornby shows readers the physcological, social, and economical effects of teen pregnancy in a new way; throught the eyes of the father.
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