Slam by Nick Hornby

Slam by Nick Hornby
Originally uploaded by annethelibrarian

Slam by Nick Hornby
G.P. Putnam’s Sons, 2007

I’m admittedly a big fan of Nick Hornby’s writing. I absolutely love High Fidelity (for the record, yes, I love the movie, too), and I’ve re-read several of his other books more than once. I haven’t read too many books about sports or the teens who love them that have really captured me (Dairy Queen would be a major exception), but this one definitely did. Sam is obsessed with skateboarding and with Tony Hawk in particular, and though my skateboarding success is pretty much limited to Tony Hawk’s videogames, Hornby has created a compelling character whose story goes far deeper. Sam is absolutely realistic and his interactions with his friends and family are completely believable. He’s funny at the same moment he’s facing the most desperate time of his life, as his ex-girlfriend tells him she’s pregnant. All this sounds like a typical Problem Novel, but Hornby’s skill makes it so much more. I heartily recommend this book.

previously posted about here

also noted:
Dawn of the Read
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Reading Rants!

This book has been nominated for the Young Adult Fiction category of the 2007 Cybil Awards.

ARC provided by the publisher