Slam dunk!

by Sharon Robinson

At Harlem's Langston Hughes Middle School, eleven-year-old Elijah "Jumper" Breeze and his friends compete against Nia and her girlfriends on the basketball court, in a video dance tournament, and for a Student Council seat, and, meanwhile, several of the students face issues with their fathers.

Genres: Sports, Fiction, Basketball

151 pages

First published September 1, 2007

Reviews

[Samuel M · Rating 3 out of 5]

the main character is "Jumper" Elijah. He moved from the suburbs in Connecticut to an urban community of Harlem. this book is about jumper that likes to play basketball. I dont like the part his father died.

[King Evans · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought this book was awesome but needs more action. I like when this author had the the characters playing basketball and competing in a student council competition. When the characters were playing basketball and making statements aabout the student council competition, I could actually picture this in my head. I recommend this book to people who loves to watch or play sports and who loves competing with other people.

[Emma Phillips · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book talks a lot about teamwork and how it is so important. The main characters battle it out on and off the basketball court in more ways than one. I think that young student-athletes would probably really enjoy the book and they would likely learn a thing or two from the storyline.

[Chasity]

I don't know

[Kyle M · Rating 3 out of 5]

decent

[Om Tailor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Elijah Jumper Breeze has been through a rough summer. After his dad had died from a heart attack which was unexpected. Jumper and his mom moved from the suburbs to in Connecticut to the urban community, Harlem to live with his grandmother. So he didn't really know anyone but he made new friends from school. He also joined a baseball camp and learned a new sport, also learned he learned how to stand up again a bully named Marcus. Just because there was a bully in the camp doesn't mean Jumper will quit, he stood up against Marcus and moved on. Later on in sixth grade he and his friend, Nia, make a fundraiser to repair the schools damaged basketball court by playing boys versus girls and Marcus was joining their school because he was kicked out for bullying. Then before they could solve all these problems, the school announces elections for class officers, both Nia and Jumper run for class officer.

My favorite part of the book was when Nia and Jumper decided to make a fundraiser to repair the school's basketball court. This was a great part in the book because they were sixth graders trying to repair a basketball court which can cost lots of money. Also how Jumper reacted when Nia said, Marcus, her brother is coming to their school to also help out with the gym since he had gotten kicked out of his school.

[James · Rating 1 out of 5]

The book Slam Dunk by Sharon Robinson tells the story of a boy(Jumper) who moved from rural Connecticut to inner city New York. The book is about Jumper trying to organize a basketball team for the school he recently moved to and him trying to fix the gym floor so they could have a gym to play in.The book also depicts Jumper's campaign for class president and the troubles he has while trying to run for class president. Lastly the book addresses the difficulty of fitting in while having fun at the same time.
This book did not do many things right. This book is lingering around 150 pages and it lost me from the start. They tried to jump from person to person and didn't do it correctly. The ending was abrupt and also very predictable. I knew it was going to end like it did from the start of the second to last chapter. The book needed at least two more chapters to wrap it up. I would not recommend this book to ANYONE!
I give this book one star because the ending was abrupt and the whole story was all over the place. Also this book just didn't catch on to me. The only reason that I can think someone would like this book is if they really liked simple books with not a lot of detail. This book is just bad and you shouldn't read it because it's a waste of a read.

[02JulianB · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book Slam dunk by Sharon robinson was a really quick read that i really enjoyed because its a sport that im really interested in. When Elijah which is what his teacher had called him, but he went by jumper with most of his friends,had just barely moved to Harlem, New York because his father had died, and his mom was tired of living in the suburbs he cought the attention very fastly because at his age he was already 6'2 in the sixth grade and everyone was amazed at what he could do, dunk, dribble, shoot, pass, you name it he could do it, except fly like michael jordan.

To me this book was really good, for a 160 paged book this book really caught my attention because of the way its written. Its written with such a passion for the sport of basketball, and as if he didnt play basketball he would die even though thats not possible for most people. Jumper had this attitude towards people like as if they were on his court he was the king and he ever back down to them and he was new! but he never ever got punked by some kid he was usually the who was punking them for trying to punk him.

[Jacqueline · Rating 3 out of 5]

Slam Dunk!reminds me of an urban High School Musical, except there was a dance contest, not a musical revue. A high stakes basketball game and a competitive election give the story a fast moving plot and tension. The characters are amiable middle schoolers with some personal problems, but basically very nice kids who care about doing well in school and in life. I like the fact that Jumper, the main character, and his friends are all nice role models. I also like the fact that the story is set in a middle class neighborhood in Harlem, not an upper class school district where the attainment of latest fashion is the latest crisis for the characters. But it still has a very High School Musical feel to me. I found it pleasant rather than compelling personally. But I would definitely recommend it to my students because I think they would identify with the characters and find it to be an easy read.

[Jeremy Claudio · Rating 2 out of 5]

"Jump Up For Jumper","A Vote For Jumper Is A Slam Dunk".These are some posters that were made while Jumper was in an election for grade president.This book is about a boy named Elijah known as Jumper who is trying to persuade his security guard for his school to make a boys basketball team but then the girls step in and want a team as well.There was a little contriversy over this because it wasnt gonna be fair if the boys only had a team and not the girls.Jumper will have to go up against one of his close friends whose a girl and is also running for grade president.This election will either bring the two friends together or pull them apart,what do u think happened in this book between the two friends?I have finished this book and I think it was descent.I recommend this book for people who like sports and people that like debates,elections.

[Jadyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this was a good book. It was about these kids that really liked basketball and there school doesn't have a basketball team so they talked to the principal and so he let them start one and the secerity guard was the coach.They needed money to fix the gym so they played each other at the YMCA. It was a close game but the girls won. One of the kids parents ended up helping fix the gym. While everyone is doing the gym thing the kids try for student body president. They have dance compatitions and other things. Two kids tied and they got there gym fixed and now they have a basketball team.

[Jaden · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book had a grandma that was mean .To many kids were out of school playing basketball more then they were in school .There was a coach on the other team that was cheating . There coach would yell at them because they were always later . Jumper was my favorite character he was brave and he stood up for he was and was really good in basketball. My less favorite character was kevin because he had to many personallys . they was a A school like my school that's why I liked this book .they was good students like my school that why I liked the book to. there are a couple of bad kids in there school like there is in this school . this book need more narrative and I would of liked it.

[Debbie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sequel to Safe at Home.

Elijah "Jumper" Breeze is trying to fit in at school and come to terms with the death of his father. When the school starts boys' and girls' basketball teams, Jumper and his friend, Nia, are in all the way. Then, they both decide to run for student council. Can they be competitors AND friends?

While some of the dialogue will be dated before long, there is some great basketball action, featuring both boys and girls.

[Tanner Fuller · Rating 4 out of 5]

This year i read Slam Dunk.The main characters of this story are Jumper and Nia they are best friends get in a little jam they are both running for stundent council aginist eachother.so i don't want to give anything away but there is a great ending.Many things happen in between that are very interesting too.Jumper and Nia work everything out and are still great friends. I recomened this book to all you fifth and sixth graders out there. That's my review on the book Slam Dunk.

[Daniel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just because I'm on pg. 40 now doesn't mean I can't say this book is great! It's so interesting. It's alot like Go Long! or Kickoff!
kids running down the hall to get outside. Exepet Jumper is smarting then Tiki & Ronde. It also gives you more details about the characters. And more of a dramatic story because Jumper's Dad died but don't worry because it's not mentioned much in the book. But it's for kids over 10 so you can understand. But overall it's a good book(:

[Papi Meza · Rating 4 out of 5]

SETTING:This story takes place in the main character's school,Jumper and at the YMCA community center in Harlem New York

MAIN CHARACTER'S:Elijah or Jumper to his friends,Marcus and Nia

PROBLEM:Jumper runs for student body president and so does his good friend Nia. This puts tension in their friendship.

SOLUTION:Neither Jumper or Nia become the president but their friendship becomes intact

[Jericho · Rating 5 out of 5]

there's child named Elijah but he likes to be called jumper because he doesn't like his name.He moved to a school from Connecticut, he has problem with Nia's brother because Nia's brother is grupmy. I like the book because we almost have the same life with basketball. I don't when he never met friends.

[Ben Ba · Rating 3 out of 5]

who would like this book is my brother sekou because he talk about basketball and say how basketball inspired him.the specific reason is that he have done same thing in his school demoracy prep is when he shoot the 3pointer for the lead in the championship.

[Bryce Randall · Rating 4 out of 5]

it was good considering i dont like reading, it was about 2 kids running for student councel in 6th grade. 1 girl vs 1 boy they had a basket ball game fundraiser, but over all it did not have much to do with basketball.

[Fernando · Rating 4 out of 5]

this book is a pretty good book its verry hard to read haves some challenging words and more if try to fucus in the book good you now what the book is trying to tell you about how they became and how it was.

[Christian · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a very good book about basket Ball and there is this boy named jumper and it's just so cool that it talks about a person's view on basketball.This book is very cool book about basketball and I really like this book.

[Elissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

decent book about basketball and friendship. not too heavy on the basketball details.

[Sharon · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. I feel the author had it geared just right for 9-12 year olds. I hope she writes some more similar to this one, because the kids are enjoying Slam Dunk.

[Court · Rating 3 out of 5]

A story about basketball

[Ashton · Rating 2 out of 5]

Boring!

[Shavaun]

it is a good book

[Vanessa Lewis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read this with Quincy. It was pretty good. He enjoyed it. A little hard for him to read but still trying.

[Devonte]

It's a good book

[anthony · Rating 5 out of 5]

its a pretty good book i like it because its about playing basketball.

[Caden Cox]

jumper made friends at summer camp and he's eager to see them at his new middle school. Jumper is looking forward to hitting the books and hitting the court for some serious b-ball. Then his best friend, Kelvin, talks him into running for student council and suddenly life gets a lot more complicated read slam dunk its a really good book