Slam by Nick Hornby (2007, Hardcover)

Synopsis
Famed British novelist Nick Hornby's first foray into the young adult genre follows skating-obsessed 15-year-old Sam as he navigates school, a new girlfriend, and new skate tricks. But when something happens that promises to transform his life forever, Sam finds himself terrified, confused, and in search of an out. Through it all, Sam turns to his hero, pro-skater Tony Hawk, for advice, solace, and reassurance as his life veers into serious, grown-up territory that even adults fail at. Both a 2007 Kirkus Reviews Best Young-Adult Book and a School Library Journal Best Book.

Famed British novelist Nick Hornby’s first foray into the young adult genre follows skating-obsessed 15-year-old Sam as he navigates school, a new girlfriend, and new skate tricks. But when something happens that promises to transform his life forever, Sam finds himself terrified, confused, and in search of an out. Through it all, Sam turns to his hero, pro-skater Tony Hawk, for advice, solace, and reassurance as his life veers into serious, grown-up territory that even adults fail at.

Famed British novelist Nick Hornby’s first foray into the young adult genre follows skating-obsessed 15-year-old Sam, whose life is going swimmingly until the unthinkable happens. Through it all, Sam turns to his hero, pro-skater Tony Hawk, for advice, solace, and reassurance as his world goes from perfection to serious, grown-up endeavors that even adults fail at.

Key Details
Author:	Nick Hornby
Language:	English
Publisher:	Putnam Pub. Group
Format:	Hardcover
ISBN-10:	0399250484
ISBN-13:	9780399250484

Size
Length:	309 pages
Thickness:	1.2 in
Weight:	14.4 oz

Publisher's Note
At the age of fifteen, Sam Jones's girlfriend gets pregnant and Sam's life of skateboarding and daydreaming about Tony Hawk changes drastically.

Just when everything is coming together for Sam, his girlfriend Alicia drops a bombshell. Make that ex-girlfriend-- because by the time she tells him she's pregnant, they've already called it quits. Sam does not want to be a teenage dad. His mom had him at sixteen and has made it very clear how having a baby so young interrupted her life. There's only one person Sam can turn to--his hero, skating legend Tony Hawk. Sam believes the answers to life's hurdles can be found in Hawk's autobiography.But even Tony Hawk isn't offering answers this time--or is he? Inexplicably, Sam finds himself whizzed into the future, for a quick glimpse of what will be . . . or what could be. In this wonderfully witty, poignant story about a teenage boy unexpectedly thrust into fatherhood, it's up to Sam to make the right decisions so the bad things that could happen, well, don't.

Industry Reviews
"SLAM slides by on its author's enormous charm, however, and on its exploration of some hard-won truths, including this encompassing definition of what adult love really is: a project 'full of worry and work and forgiving people and putting up with things and stuff like that.'"
(11/11/2007)

"Hornby's...YA debut features witty dialogue, a winning if flawed hero and wry insights into the male psyche, making this book a sure bet for Hornby fans of any age."
(10/08/2007)

"The characters are given the opportunity to grow with charm and wit while facing the challenges of young adulthood."
(10/01/2007)

"[F]unny, strong and disturbing, a must read for older boys."
(09/15/2007)

"Sam's voice is believable--he's got a good heart but an understandable degree of selfishness and confusion...."
(12/01/2007)