Teens Read, Review, Recommend

Slam by Nick Hornby

Putnam Juvenile, October 16, 2007 (paperback edition), Teen/Relationships/Social Issues

Nick Hornby is known for his adult novels About a Boy and High Fidelity. Slam is for the YA crowd, but also very appropriate for the willing adult reader, who may occasionally wince while personally remembering just how naïve 15 really was. The subject headings in Amazon have the story dead on: Children: Young Adult, Social Issues-Pregnancy, Babies, Teenage fathers, Humorous Stories. The last subject heading is the most telling; Slam may be voiced by Sam, a teenage father dealing with serious issues such as a pregnant ex-girlfriend around his schoolwork and skating. But it is also funny, from its descriptions of British teen life (such as Sam talking to his Tony Hawk-which talks back) to situational humor arising from Sam’s unexpected visits to the future.

This novel might just be enjoyed best by the YA male reader, as long as he can be convinced it is not simply a morality story but a good read.

By Amanda Stone at the SC State Library