Characters
Greg “Slam” Harris: “Slam is very good at basketball but has a bad temper and doesn't like when his teachers and parents tell him to get his grades up so he can continue to play basketball. He wants to play in the NBA.
Ice: Slam's best friend, he is also very good at basketball. He wants to live “big”. Begins to deal drugs and it results in his friendship with Slam ending.
Ducky: Plays basketball for Latimer. Becomes Slam friend at Latimer.
Mtisha: Slam's girlfriend and Ice's friend, believes Ice is selling drugs, cares for Slam.
Mr. Goldstein: The assistant coach at Latimer. Has a an alright relationship with Slam. Helps slam mentally and tells him how to deal with the head coach and reminds him about his grades.
Conflicts:
Person vs. Self
Slam vs. Self – Slam has to get his grades up.
Person vs. Person
Slam vs. Ice – They get into a fight after Slam finds Ice is selling drugs.
Person vs. Society
Slam vs. Society – Slam's friends and family get on his case about getting his grades up and he hates it.
Setting
The story is based in the ghettos of Harlem. The story takes place in the streets, the basketball courts, and the high school Latimer.
Point of View
First Person
" But in a way I knew what she meant about me not falling in love with her, because I knew she was going to college"
"So when Mr. Tate, the principal at my new school, started talking about me laying low for the season until I got my grades together I was like seriously turned out"
"But if Mtisha was peeping something strange about Ice I knew I should check it out. I knew it and didn't want to do it. I was scared again."
Plot line
Exposition
Slam is a 17 year old who lives in the ghettos of Harlem. He changed schools, moving from Carver to Latimer, a better school academically. He is a very good basketball player but has trouble keeping his grades up. He hangs out with two of his friends from Carver, Ice and Mtisha. One day Mtisha tells him that she thinks Ice is dealing drugs and asks him to check it out. He doesn't and keeps it to himself. The basketball season is about to begin and he tries out for the team.
Rising Action
Slam is a 17 year old who lives in the ghettos of Harlem. He changed schools, moving from Carver to Latimer, a better school academically. He is a very good basketball player but has trouble keeping his grades up. He hangs out with two of his friends from Carver, Ice and Mtisha. One day Mtisha tells him that she thinks Ice is dealing drugs and asks him to check it out. He doesn't and keeps it to himself. The basketball season is about to begin and he tries out for the team. He makes the team and the coach thinks he is a showboat and doesn't want to play as a team. During the season the coach doesn't play him but he begins to see more time. As the season goes on Slam begins to fight with some of his teammates. The season goes on and the team does excellent.
Climax
They finally go to the state championship. They are in the championship and this time they have to play Carver, Slam's old school. Slam finally gets to start and is put up against his best friend Ice.
Falling Action
As the game goes on Latimer is winning. Slam begins to realize that he can't defeat a team or Carver on his own and he begins to use his team. Latimer finally defeats Carver. After the game Ice invites Slam to an after party at his house. Slam goes with his girlfriend Mtisha. At the party Ice leaves for a bit and Slam follows him to the roof. He realizes that Ice has been dealing drugs. They get into a fight and end their friendship.
Resolution
Slam continues to play basketball and realizes that he needs a team to win games. He also begins to get along with his coach.
Theme
Even though you go through hard times and situations you need to keep on the right path and reach your goals no matter what.
Recommendations
I would recommend this book to anyone who likes good books and likes reading books that deal with real life situations.
Walter Dean Myers was born in Harlem. As a kid in high school we was a good writer but was bound to dropout. One of his teachers knew this and told him to keep writing no matter what. Years later he remembered what his teacher had told him and he began to write again. He writes books for young adults.