Slam!

Chapters 1-3

Reading Check

1. His grades (Chapter 1)

2. Nick (Chapter 1)

3. She has cancer (Chapter 3)

Short Answer

1. Slam is concerned about his mother, who worries about his grades but has no idea how to resolve the issue and is concerned he will have to transfer back to Carver if his grades do not improve. Slam’s father has difficulty keeping work, and he drinks often when unemployed. He worries about his brother’s future growing up in their neighborhood. Slam’s worries reveal that he feels responsible for his family’s well-being, pointing to his leadership role in the family. (Chapter 1)

2. Slam is proud of his basketball skills. Though he shows up for tryouts late, he brags to his teammates that he is the best of everyone on the team. He easily beats Coach Nipper when the coach challenges him to a one-on-one game. Ducky is excited about Slam’s skills and hopes the team will have a winning season. The other players may be resentful of Slam’s boasting. (Various chapters)

3. Slam’s mother asked his brother to buy food, but he couldn’t leave the house because of a drive-by shooting nearby, where a stray bullet hit a girl. Slam describes the substance use in the neighborhood and how people can become entrapped in that lifestyle. Harlem is a dangerous neighborhood, and Slam wants his brother to live somewhere safe. (Various chapters)

4. Slam and Ice now attend different schools, and it appears that Ice may be selling drugs, which Slam disapproves of. They may have become distant because Ice knows Slam would disapprove of his actions. (Chapter 2)

Chapters 4-6

Reading Check

1. Karen (Chapter 4)

2. Kicky (Chapter 5)

3. Margie (Chapter 6)

Short Answer

1. Slam is proud of his basketball skills and depends on his talent rather than playing for the team’s benefit. Goldstein advises that Slam develop his natural talent while working with his teammates. Coach Nipper yells at Slam in front of his teammates, making him angry and embarrassed. (Chapter 4)

2. Richie Randall is a volunteer tutor who has agreed to help Slam increase his grades in school. Slam, however, is reluctant to get Richie’s help because he believes his mother is trying to use Richie as a surrogate father for Slam. Slam thinks this will cause tension at home. (Chapter 5)

3. Coach Nipper has accused Slam of being a poor teammate. It is likely Nipper likes Slam but believes he must teach him a lesson more important than winning a game. Jimmy reveals that Nipper believes Slam has an attitude problem. Nipper may want to teach Slam that one team member is never more important than the team itself and that Slam should be respectful to his coaches and teammates. (Chapter 5)

Chapters 7-9

Reading Check

1. Mtisha (Chapter 7)

2. Kenny Stith (Chapter 8)

Short Answer

1. Slam films Carl’s Curio Shop while a woman attempts to sell something for a dollar. The shop owner does not buy the item and explains to Slam the woman used to own a successful tailor shop before she became addicted to crack. (Chapter 7)

2. Coach Goldstein advises Slam not to show off during games. Slam suspects Nipper will not allow him to play because he beat him one-on-one. Goldstein advises Slam to put everything he has into his basketball skills because though Nipper may argue with what he says, he cannot deny his raw talent. (Chapter 9)

3. Slam tells Jimmy to play center. Jimmy says he doesn’t have to listen because Slam is not the coach. Slam threatens to hurt Jimmy if he fails to comply. Nick becomes angry with Slam for yelling at Jimmy and threatens Slam. Slam could arguably be responsible for the fight, though his teammates chose not to diffuse the situation when they could have. (Chapter 9)

Chapters 10-13

Reading Check

1. Richie Randall (Chapter 10)

2. Ice (Chapter 10)

3. Basketball (Chapter 11)

Short Answer

1. Margie finds Slam’s footage of his neighborhood like something that should be viewed for her entertainment. Slam is justifiably angry with Margie because of her insensitivity to how Slam and many others live in Harlem. Mtisha advises Slam not to become so easily frustrated and to find a more productive way of dealing with his emotions. (Chapter 10)

2. Slam is intimidated by Mtisha because she is intelligent and likely has a future in college. While Slam is impressed with her, he is embarrassed by his inability to succeed in school and believes Mtisha’s success may prompt her to break up with him. Mtisha attempts to tutor Slam in math, but Slam becomes angry when Mtisha wonders aloud if Slam is afraid of math. (Various chapters)

Chapters 14-17

Reading Check

1. His camera (Chapter 14)

2. Brothers (Chapter 15)

3. Mr. Parrish (Chapter 17)

Short Answer

1. Slam becomes angry with Coach Nipper for his decision and refuses to play when Coach Nipper gives him the opportunity to. He sulks in the locker room after Coach Nipper calls him a “prima donna.” Goldstein eventually convinces Slam to play for himself on the court. (Chapter 16)

2. Slam can play as a team during the Hunter game. He takes the subway home with Nick, and the two laugh, compared to their last game when they fought. Slam acknowledges that his friendships with his new teammates are easier than his friendship with Ice. (Chapter 16)

3. Slam realizes his teachers are tough on him and the other students to maintain high standards in class. Slam is determined to meet that standard to succeed in school. Coach Nipper, likewise, wants Slam to meet his standard of behavior on the court to succeed. (Various chapters)

Chapters 18-21

Reading Check

1. Mtisha (Chapter 18)

2. Ice (Chapter 19)

Short Answer

1. Coach Goldstein advises Slam to put on a show for the conference championship game because the game will be taped, and college scouts will be watching. Formerly, Coach Goldstein advised Slam to stop showing off because he wanted Slam to be part of the team, but as college scouts look for stand-out athletes in the tournament, it is time for Slam to show off his skills. (Chapter 18)

2. At a party, a woman on the roof looks like she will jump if she cannot find drugs. Slam is about to give her money when Ice pulls out two vials for her. Up to this point, Slam has noticed that Ice becomes easily tired on the court, has been asked for drugs by people on the street, has been hanging around people Slam doesn’t know, and has a lot of money and new clothing. All these clues point to Ice’s involvement with drugs. (Various chapters)

3. Harlem’s dead are the individuals who have fallen victim to their environment because of their exposure to the poor choices in the neighborhood. (Chapter 21)