Book Review: Slam

After reading Not My Daughter, I tried to find a book that discussed teenage pregnancy from a male perspective. This was certainly difficult because most novels about teen pregnancy either do not include the boy in the mix or write him off as a dead-beat dad and do not write him into the story. It took me a while but I finally stumbled upon Nick Hornby's Slam which is exactly what I was looking for.

Slam is about a 16 year old boy named Sam who has never had a girlfriend until he meets Alicia. She is beautiful, smart, funny and is interested in Sam. Soon after they begin dating, Sam and Alicia have unprotected sex and Alicia becomes pregnant. While Sam is asleep, he dreams that he is in the future and can see the life that he will have as a teenage father. He discovers that he will have to give up his skateboarding and possibly leave his mother's house in order to live with Alicia and their baby. When he awakes form his dream, he decides to run away from his problems. This plan does not go as expected and he has to resort to plan B: go home and face being a teen father.

I think that this book is priceless! Not only does it discuss teen pregnancy from the father's point of view, but it is humorous, easy to read and has the perfect message: don't get pregnant, but if you do make sure that you take responsibility. Sam battles with a lot of issues from his parent's divorce and the stigma that his mother must endure as being a teen mom herself to love (or lack thereof) for the mother of his child. Sam is funny and introspective which makes the reader listen to him. This is important because the novel is geared towards young adults and as we all know it is hard to make teens listen to what adults believe is right for them. However, I think that this novel will be different because Sam is an incredibly likable character with which teens can relate. When the novel was first published, 800 copies were distributed for free around Southampton, England with an inscription asking the reader to read it, discuss it, and pass it on. Overall, I think that this is an excellent book that is incredibly well-written with a wonderful message that is lacking from our society.

-DLP