Point of View

Walter Dean Myers tells his novel “Slam!” in the first-person limited-omniscient perspective from the point of view of main character and principal protagonist, Slam. Since the novel is a story about Slam and deals with issues that much of America does not have to contend with (drive-by shootings, for example), it is best told by Slam himself. This allows the reader to experience firsthand the things Slam experiences. The reader gets an intimate glimpse at Slam’s personal life. The novel is further limited-omniscient in perspective, for it allows the reader to learn and see things only as Slam sees and learns them. This adds mystery to whether or not Ice is actually a drug dealer.

Language and Meaning

Walter Dean Myers tells his novel in language that is simple, to the point, and decidedly urban in nature. The language reflects the only high school...