82 pages • 2 hours read
Walter Dean MyersSlam!
Fiction | Novel | Middle Grade | Published in 1996A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more. For select classroom titles, we also provide Teaching Guides with discussion and quiz questions to prompt student engagement.
Chapters 18-21Chapter Summaries & Analyses
Chapter 18 Summary
Ahead of Latimer’s big game against Carver, Slam goes to school early to watch some of his tapes in the library. The school librarian, Miss Fowell, tells Slam that Mr. Parrish likes Slam’s work, despite the confrontation they had, though she reminds him he has to keep the rest of his life in order. Slam wants to know why all the adults in the world have lectures, and she says that young people hear all the lectures but don’t take the lessons to heart until it’s too late. While reviewing his tapes, Slam watches footage from the Carver-Trinity game and learns from watching Brothers how he should play against Ice. In art class, Slam does a portrait of Mtisha, putting a lot of feeling into the piece.
At the end of the school day, Latimer hosts a pep rally to get people excited for the Carver game. Coach Nipper announces that because Trinity lost the day before, Latimer is in second place in the conference behind Carver. If Latimer wins, they will have the same record as Carver, but because they will have beaten Carver head-to-head, they’ll be conference champions and advance to the city-wide Tournament of Champions. Coach Goldstein lets Slam know the game will be taped and that a dozen college scouts called to ask for the film, and then he tells Slam to put on a show.
Chapter 19 Summary
Slam and Ice greet each other before the game and trade some friendly smack talk. The game gets underway and immediately is very competitive and physical. Latimer starts out slow, and Slam and Ice are going at it. At the end of first half, Carver leads 31-23. In the second half, the game gets even more physical, with Slam and Ice continuing to beat on one another. Slam can see Ice is getting mad and tired, and he continues to give everything he has. With 14 seconds to go, the score is tied. Slam goes up for a shot as the clock is winding down, getting it off just over Ice’s outstretched fingertips. The shot goes in, and Latimer wins. The teams shake hands, and Slam and Ice agree to meet up at a party that night. Slam is glad that the game didn’t come between them. Everyone from Latimer is thrilled to celebrate the victory.
Chapter 20 Summary
Derek and Slam’s dad meet up with Slam outside of the game, excited to celebrate with him. Slam’s mom has gone to visit Grandma Ellie, and she reports at home that Ellie is improving. Slam’s dad, not very knowledgeable about basketball, gives an excited rundown of the game nonetheless. Mtisha calls to tell Slam about the party at Ice’s place, and Slam says he’ll meet her there.
The party is packed with people, and everyone is glad to see Slam. Bianca, Ice’s girlfriend, shows him around, and then Slam, Mtisha, Ice, and Bianca all dance together. Outside, sounds of a fight can be heard. Slam can tell that Bianca is worried, so he says he has to go and find Ice. Slam goes up to the roof and sees Ice talking to a girl standing on the ledge. They think she might jump. She says she’s looking for drugs. Before Slam can dig out some money for her, Ice offers up two drug vials, which she takes. Slam is horrified to see—and to finally have to admit—that Ice is a dealer. Slam angrily shoves Ice, and they start fighting. People arrive to pull them apart, and Slam and Mtisha leave the party. Slams drops Mtisha at home and then goes home himself, too angry to talk to anyone.
Chapter 21 Summary
At school the next day, Slam is cheered and he sees a “CHAMPS” banner hanging up. Even though everyone is happy for Slam, he does not feel great because of what happened with Ice. Slam now thinks of Ice as one of Harlem’s dead, as in someone who has fallen victim to the perils of their neighborhood. Coach Nipper later tells the team that they will need to prepare for February’s Tournament of Champions, where they will have a rematch with Carver, which is automatically in the tournament as the defending champion. At home, Slam talks on the phone to Mtisha, who says Ice claims he is going to give up the drug dealer life. Slam isn’t sure if he should believe Ice, so he wants to see whether his actions match his words.
Mr. Parrish asks Slam to show his film project after school one day, and Slam invites Mtisha to come watch. At practice, Coach Nipper begins calling Slam “Slam” instead of Greg. Practice continues, and as the team prepares for the future, Slam thinks that if he can keep focused, he will be okay.
Chapters 18-21 Analysis
In the last few chapters, Slam recommits to his academics and to basketball. With both of those areas going better than before, Slam realizes he can earn a college scholarship to play basketball. Slam matures in his relationship with Mtisha, and the two end up a stronger couple, comforting and encouraging each other in times of struggle. At the same time, Slam’s learning that Ice has been dealing drugs is a true reminder to him what is at stake—he and Ice are two sides of the same coin, having grown up together in very similar circumstances, both being strong basketball players, but Ice’s choices have led him down a very different path. Slam knows he doesn’t want to end up like that, and so he realizes he has to choose a different way to play the game of life.
Although most of Slam’s personal and athletic challenges have been resolved, there are three major plot points left open-ended. The first is the outcome of the city-wide tournament; the second is whether Ice will give up dealing; and the third is Slam’s entire future. As Slam is learning that his future is wide open and he gets to write it, leaving the ending open as well is likely an intentional decision on the author’s part—it doesn’t matter what happens in the tournament, or whether Ice will give up dealing, as Slam has grown throughout the story to learn that only he is in control of himself and his actions. While that means his future is uncertain, it also makes him excited for what’s to come.
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