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 today. Chapters 15, chapters 610, chapters 1115, chapters 1621 here are links to our lists for other works by. Greg lives in the ghettos of new york with his younger brother and mother. Slam is a corretta scott king author award winner and was voted the alas best book for young adults. It takes place in innercity harlem in new york, and its all about the life of greg slam. School library journal myers reinforces his standing as a preeminent young adult author. The story revolves around the efforts of seventeen yearold greg slam harris to play basketball, while maintaining his academics and his personal life.
Worksheets and literature unit by walter dean myers grades 59 daily reading journal go beyond a simple book report. An exciting, eyecatching repackage of acclaimed author walter dean myers bestselling paperbacks, to coincide with the publication of sunrise over falluja in hardcover. Mtisha is a dark skinned, dark haired, pretty woman. Slam, by walter dean myers, was a very good book that i would rate 5 stars. Author walter dean myers is the 2019 childrens literature legacy award winner.
A love of basketball isnt necessary to enjoy this gritty, feelingly told tale, but it would certainly help. Narrator thomas penny vividly captures both the internal and external challenges slam. The reason he switched school was to have things more challenging and most of the people in this school were white. He is the critically acclaimed new york times bestselling author an awardwinning body of work which includes, somewhere in the darkness, slam. The scene is in a tally down portion of town in a large metropolis that was unginven. Walter dean myers is the 2012 20 national ambassador for young peoples literature. When myers writes about slam playing basketball he is very descriptive and the reader can feel what slam. 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.
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. Get an answer for what is a significant scene from the book slam. Point signature scholastic book by walter dean myers. He was born in martinsburg, west virginia, but was raised in harlem, new york city.
In the book, slam, by walter dean myers, the character mtisha plays slam s girlfriend. Slam, by walter dean myers is an amazing book that talks about a kid from the streets who can do it all on the basketball court. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. The setting is in a run down part of town in a big city that was unginven. Slam s going oneonone with his future, and its a showdown he cant afford to lose. The only difference between on the court and off it is that everybody is in the game off the court. He is a superstar high school basketball player who fights the. Slam by walter dean myers research essay graduateway. The neighborhood where the main character lives has the usual set of problems that go with urban poverty. 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. So when he is faced with several problems, he focuses and the maturity is seen in him as a young adultnot a.
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. Another theme in the novel, slam, by walter dean myers, is keeping your priorities straight is the key to happiness. Jun 07, 2012 walter dean myers does a good job of bringing up all the challenges that greg has to face. Plot summary few other black kids attend latimer high, but greg slam harris knows he.
What is the theme of the book slam by walter dean myers. It all ties in smoothly with gregs basketball life and his dream of making it into the nba. The book slam by walter dean myers is about a high school boy named greg who has trouble succeeding both in school and out. What is the main conflict in slam by walter dean myers answers. A seventeenyearold basketball star must learn to work with others both on and off the court. Greg is so good in basketball he earned the nickname slam.
Myers the glory field uses contemporary urban black locutions to relay his narrators view of the mean streets of harlem, as well as describe some heartthumping hoop action in a novel that, like most good sports stories, is about more than just sports. What is the summary on slam by walter dean myers answers. Bad boy by walter dean myers digital book trailer duration. The novel slam by walter dean myers is a story about an african american teenage athlete by the name of greg. Hes seen ballplayers come and go, and he knows he could be one of the lucky ones. Seventeenyearold greg slam harris can do it all on the baske. The conflict in the story isnt as interesting as other books ive read but it is definitely different.
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. The book was about a 17 year old named greg harris who was from the streets of ny and he had just transfered schools. On the basketball court 17 year old greg slam harris is in control. Slam also struggles with this throughout the book because he often mistakes putting. Few writers can match myers for taut, savvy basketball action, and in those scenes hes at the.
Slam also struggles with this throughout the book because he often mistakes putting basketball before school and the relationships in his life. Dec 27, 2015 walter dean myers is the 2012 20 national ambassador for young peoples literature. Theme a major theme of the book slam is coming of age. Walter dean myers is the critically acclaimed new york times bestselling author of more than eighty books for children and young adults, including sunrise over fallujah, fallen angels, monster, somewhere in the darkness, slam. Hes quick enough to handle the point guard slot and, as his tag implies, he can slam. Slam lives in harlem and attends the prestigious magnet school latimer in the south bronx. Hes quick enough to handle the point guard slot and, as his tag implies, he can slam dunk at will. Slam is going to a school with mainly white kids on. This book was about an african american kid from the ghetto of new york.
August 12, 1937 july 1, 2014 was a writer of childrens books best known for young adult literature. An exciting, eyecatching repackage of acclaimed author walter dean myers bestselling paperbacks, to coincide with the publication of. With an urban, teenage voice, walter dean myers earnestly reflects the hopes and desires shared by many budding hoop dreamers. Walter dean myers books, author biography, and reading level. This past semester i read the book slam by walter dean myers. I am a product of harlem and of the values, color, toughness, and caring that i found there as a child.
His nickname is slam because of his skill on the basketball court. Mar 12, 2020 walter dean myers is the 2012 20 national ambassador for young peoples literature. Seventeenyearold greg slam harris can do it all on the basketball court. It takes place in innercity harlem in new york, and its all about the life of greg slam harris on and off the court. Walter dean myers, author winning children book author. Problems which involve school, his family,and girls end up messing with his dream of making it to the nba. And when his teachers jam his troubles in his face, he blows up. He was born in martinsburg, west virginia, but was raised.
When myers writes about slam playing basketball he is very descriptive and the reader can feel what slam is feeling. Greg is great at basketball but doesnt think about offcourt things much. Gregory slam harris is a talented basketball player with. Plot summary few other black kids attend latimer high, but greg slam harris knows he can prove himself on the basketball court at his new school. The story revolves around the efforts of seventeen yearold greg slam harris to play basketball, while. Greg is a highschool student and a star basketball player at his highschool. She likes slam but values being treated right, so throughout the book she makes sure slam is always proper and nice to her. Myers the glory field uses contemporary urban black locutions to relay his narrators vie. Then discuss the different roads and places that slam went to in the book, see if you can find them on the map. 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. He is the critically acclaimed new york times bestselling author an. Get an answer for what is the setting in the book slam. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read slam. See the progress your students make while they are reading.
The boys name was greg harris, but everyone calls him slam. Walter dean myers was born on august 12, 1937 in martinsburg, west virginia but moved to harlem with his foster parents at age three. The style of writing that walter dean myers uses is probably. Walter dean myers does a good job of bringing up all the challenges that greg has to face.
What are some good quotes in slam by walter dean myers. Walter dean myers also writes poetry, which is apparent with his descriptive ways in the book. An exciting, eyecatching repackage of acclaimed author walter dean myers b. Walter dean myers brings you into the world of harlem and the struggles of life with his coretta scott king awardwinning book, slam. There are drug dealers and crime and such and slam, the main character, has to make his way.
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