Ajemal's text review on Slam
By Ajamel Bakitbek Kizi / Spinebreakers Crew
You never think about being a parent at the age of 16, well I know that’s the last thing I think about. And even if it does cross my mind I only consider the effects on my own life and how it is going to mess things up for me and abortion seems like the only option. Yet those are the same problems that the 16-year-old Sam faces in Slam by Nick Hornby. When you read the book you look at how he takes in the situation and you think: ‘wow, what a jerk.’ But then you realise that you would react in exact the same way. Sam’s mum had him when she was 16, the same age that Sam is now. He is expected to be different, go to college, have a life. But a stunning girl who he falls madly in love with and one nigh with one mistake land him ’16 with a baby.’ The book shows mostly the downs of teenage parenthood, but it also shows the ways you could handle it. Once again it comforts teens telling them they are not alone in this and there is help. Alicia, the mother, is a character you end up being fascinated by. This book is a great read for teens because it is written from a teenage perspective and the readers see things through Sam’s eyes. We dislike Sam in some bits yet sympathize with him in the others; we even end up being proud by him. The book makes it clear that it takes two to tango so it will take to sort it all out. And if you make the mistake get the decency to sort it out, don’t just walk away no matter how much you are temped to. I would definitely recommend this book to my friends, because I enjoyed reading it. An absolute page-turner.