Slam by Nick Hornby
G.P. Putnam's Sons, New York: 2007
ISBN: 1594484716

Plot Summary:
Sam Jones is a happy-go-lucky 16-year-old harboring a minor obsession with the pro skateboarder, Tony Hawk. He's read Hawk's autobiography countless times and talks to his poster when he needs advice. Because he has the autobiography memorized, Sam can answer his own questions with snippets taken from the book, usually to humorous effect.

Sam's life changes when he meets the beautiful Alicia at a party his single mother has dragged him to. After a rocky start, the two hit it off and start sleeping together on their first date. A few months later they are bored of each other and break up. Then Alicia finds out she is pregnant and has every intention of keeping the baby. Sam freaks out and runs away, then freaks out again and comes back. Sam is especially frightened of telling his mother, because she had him when she was only 16 and is constantly warning him about having a baby too young.

But life goes on and Sam moves in with Alicia after the baby is born. Then he moves out again because they can't live together. At 18, they both attend college sporadically, and are just taking things one day at a time.

Critical Evaluation:
For a book about teen aged pregnancy, it was extremely funny, honest, and touching. Something in every chapter made me laugh out loud. Hornby does an excellent job of giving the male's perspective on teen pregnancy. Sam is at once frightened, disappointed, proud, overjoyed, and overwhelmed. The writing is excellent, and I really felt everything Sam was going through. When I started reading the book and realized it was about a skater, I almost put it down. I'm glad I didn't.

Reader’s Annotation:
16-year-old Sam just found out his ex-girlfriend is pregnant, and only Tony Hawk can get him through this.

Information about the Author:
Nick Hornby is the author of several books for adults, including High Fidelity and About a Boy. He has won the American Academy of Arts and Letters' E. M. Forster Award, and the Orange Word International Writers' London Award 2003.

Genre: realistic fiction

Curriculum Ties: health education

Booktalking Ideas:
I would start by introducing Sam and his obsession with Tony Hawk. Then I would introduce Alicia and what happens in their relationship and the range of emotions that Sam feels throughout Alicia's pregnancy and after.

Reading Level/Interest Age:
This book is very smartly written, I would recommend it for ages 16 and up in order for the reader to grasp all the humor.

Challenge Issues:
This book would be challenged for its depiction of teen pregnancy and some mild language. I would explain the library's selection policy and give the challenger a complaint form to fill out.

Why I chose this book:
I am a big fan of Nick Hornby, so when I was browsing the YA stacks, I immediately grabbed this book. It's a great introduction for teens to his writing.