“If you can’t watch your brother’s back without dissing him, then you need to seriously check out your relationship” (Slam!, Pg 28)

Slam is an award-winning novel by Walter Dean Myers. It follows the life of Greg “Slam” Harris, a 17 year old high school senior who can slam on the basketball court but has to deal with keeping his grades up, living in the ‘hood and a friend, Ice, who might be dealing.

Mtisha asks Slam to keep an eye on Ice: “If you can’t watch your brother’s back without dissing him, then you need to seriously check out your relationship” (Pg 28.) Slam isn’t quite sure what to do. On one hand, his growing relationship with Mtisha is important to him. (His heart is sending out ”serious love signals.”) On the other hand, Slam doesn’t want to disrespect Ice by accusing him of dealing. (”Suppose you’re wrong… Then I’m dissing him for nothing.”) It’s a difficult situation to be in,  but it’s a problem that won Walter Dean Myers an award.

I predict that Ice really is dealing drugs. It is an award winning novel after all. There needs to be a dramatic climax that we’re building towards and this is the classic story of the hero falling from grace. What will Slam do when he discovers Ice has joined the Dark Side similar to Anakin when he becomes Darth Vader? Slam and Ice are certainly no strangers to the ‘hood: “we had seen too many guys get messed up.” Although Slam is good at basketball, in his opinion, Ice is better. Since Slam thinks that Ice wasn’t going to give up a future in basketball “to deal on no corner,” then I bet that when Ice eventually falls, the climax will be even more exciting because of how far Ice has to fall.