The son of moms and pops, and the older brother of derek, slam has a major crush on. August 12, 1937 july 1, 2014 was a writer of childrens books best known for young adult literature. The novel slam by walter dean myers is a story about an african american teenage athlete by the name of slam. Throughout the book, many conflicts arise that the main character slam has to deal with and overcome.
The story is about the life, challenges, and growth of greg harris. This engaging historical novel is based on the true story of the meteoric rise of an immensely talented young black dancer, william henry lane, who influenced todays tap. Begins to deal drugs and it results in his friendship with slam ending. Sam just asks, and then thinks about what tony would do. Our sixteenyearold leading guy is just like any other high school kid. Slam also struggles with this throughout the book because he often. Quotes showing 12 of 2 cutting people out of your life is easy, keeping them in is hard. Characters walter dean myers born walter milton myers. Slam has teachers and family around who are concerned for him and his future, and these individuals push and challenge. The scene is in a tally down portion of town in a large metropolis that was unginven. Greg is so good in basketball he earned the nickname slam. National ambassador for young peoples literature, serving in and after his. The novel slam by walter dean myers is a story about an african american teenage athlete by the name of greg.
He was born in martinsburg, west virginia, but was raised in harlem, new york city. Because walter dean myers does an outstanding job of creating characters with whom most adolescents could connect, slam is an excellent novel for adolescents. Slams best friend, he is also very good at basketball. Jun 07, 2012 walter dean myers does a good job of bringing up all the challenges that greg has to face. The only difference between on the court and off it is that everybody is in the game off the court. The novel slam by walter dean myers has several themes. A tough childhood led him to writing and his school teachers would encourage him in this habit as a way to. What is the summary on slam by walter dean myers answers. Hes quick enough to handle the point guard slot and, as his tag implies, he can slam dunk at will.
Greg slam harris is justly proud of his game, but he realizes that nba daydreams dont cut it in the classrooms of his new south bronx magnet school and that the tough talk that serves him so well on the street only. So when he is faced with several problems, he focuses and the maturity is seen in him as a young adultnot a. What is the theme of the book slam by walter dean myers. Greg is a highschool student and a star basketball player at his highschool. Start a free 30day trial today and get your first audiobook free. Slam by walter dean myers research essay graduateway. He loves to skateboard and rides the rails every chance he gets.
This past semester i read the book slam by walter dean myers. By walter dean myers quotes a pros summary my critique you still dont get it do you. In the book, slam, by walter dean myers, the character mtisha plays slams girlfriend. Slam s going oneonone with his future, and its a showdown he cant afford to lose. She likes slam but values being treated right, so throughout the book she makes sure slam is always proper and nice to her. School library journal myers reinforces his standing as a preeminent young adult author. Plot coach cal and lonnies team participates in the citywide tournament of champions. The conflict in the story isnt as interesting as other books ive read but it is definitely different. Theme a major theme of the book slam is coming of age.
Slam s girlfriend and ices friend, believes ice is selling drugs, cares for slam. Author illustrator study walter dean myers writes predominately children and young adult literature. A seventeenyearold basketball star must learn to work with others both on and off the court. With all the hard work and belief in their talents, they succeed in winning a series of games in the preliminary rounds and make it to the finals.
Walter dean myers novel slam is a coming of age novel about an inner city youth who must deal with reality and his future, when all he can see is his the here and now, which revolves around his ingenious basketball skills. A novel 2015 walter dean myerss last novel, delivers a gripping story based on the life of a real dancer known as master juba, who lived in the nineteenth century. Narrator thomas penny vividly captures both the internal and external challenges slam faces while chasing his dream from the streets, to the classrooms, to the hardwood floors. Slam is a highschool student and a basketball player. Growing up in the ghetto, he does not have the proper guidance to steer his life in the right direction but he has tons of. The style of writing that walter dean myers uses is probably. However, the story and the main character were different than i thought and it caught my attention from the very first chapter. August 12, july 1, was an american writer of childrens books best known for young adult literature. Slam is very good at basketball but has a bad temper and doesnt like when his teachers and parents tell him to get his grades up so he can continue to play basketball. Sams gal pal and baby momma wants to be a model until she gets knocked up. Walter dean myers, author winning children book author. What are the main characters in slam by walter dean myers. Mtisha is a dark skinned, dark haired, pretty woman. He is the narrator for the story, writing it in the form of a screenplay interspersed with his journal entries.
In fact, he even has a poster of tony in his bedroom and talks to it sometimes. Slam worked hard in every game throughout the season, and all his hard work finally payed off for him, because coach finally trusted him in a really tough game. In the book, slam, by walter dean myers, the character mtisha plays slam s girlfriend. He is the captain of his team and dreams of playing professional. Chapters 15, chapters 610, chapters 1115, chapters 1621 here are links to our lists for other works by. Helps slam mentally and tells him how to deal with the head coach and reminds him. You feel as if you were on the court with slam during games and that you can feel the pain that he goes through off the court. Lonnie jackson is a seventeenyear old african american who lives in harlem. Walter dean myers is the 2012 20 national ambassador for young peoples literature. With an urban, teenage voice, walter dean myers earnestly reflects the hopes and desires shared by many budding hoop dreamers. Students must choose either this book or small steps by louis sachar and complete a summer project by the first day of school. Point signature scholastic book by walter dean myers.
Walter dean myers isbn 0590486683 by looking at the cover picture from slam. Greg lives in the ghettos of new york with his younger brother and mother. It all ties in smoothly with gregs basketball life and his dream of making it into the nba. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. Slam lives in harlem and attends the prestigious magnet school latimer in the south bronx.
Another theme in the novel, slam, by walter dean myers, is keeping your priorities straight is the key to happiness. The story revolves around the efforts of seventeen yearold greg slam harris to play basketball, while maintaining his academics and his personal life. Greg is great at basketball but doesnt think about offcourt things much. Steve harmon he is a sixteen year old young black man who has been arrested for acting as the lookout in robbery that goes bad and ends in a murder. Author walter dean myers is the 2019 childrens literature legacy award winner. The narrative line is that slam the chief character is traveling to a new school that is a white school where he one time went to a predominately was black and so is he. Growing up in the ghetto, he does not have the proper guidance to steer his life in the right direction but he has tons of talent. Walter dean myers august 12, 1937 to july 1, 2014 is the winner of the first 2010 coretta scott king virginia hamilton award for lifetime achievement. Slams going oneonone with his future, and its a showdown he cant afford to lose. Greg is the narrator and he is name slam on the basketball court.
In the book, slam, by walter dean myers, one of the main themes is if you work hard at what you love in life, you can be successful at anything you put your mind to. Bad boy by walter dean myers digital book trailer duration. The son of moms and pops, and the older brother of derek, slam has a major crush on mtisha, and is best friends with ice. The late late show with james corden recommended for you. At seventeen years old, greg slam harris is the main character and narrator of the novel slam. I am a product of harlem and of the values, color, toughness, and caring that i found there as a child. Slam is a corretta scott king author award winner and was voted the alas best book for young adults. He struggles with getting a lot of playing time at his new school because the coach thinks he is very cocky and a. Walter dean myers does a good job of bringing up all the challenges that greg has to face.
He is the critically acclaimed new york times bestselling author an awardwinning body of work which includes, somewhere in the darkness, slam. He is the narrator for the story, writing it in the form of a screenplay interspersed with. A harlem teenager learns how to apply the will he has to win at hoops to other parts of his life in this vivid, fluent story from myers toussaint louverture, p. Myers examines several significant themes throughout his novel slam, including friendship, teamwork, education, sports, and making the right choices in life. It takes place in innercity harlem in new york, and its all about the life of greg slam harris on and off the court.
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