Reading Response
10/6/13
Slam
Walter Dean Myers
Walter Dean Myers is an author who really let's you create a whole new world with his books, especially in "Slam". Walter Dean Myers tells us the story of Greg Harris, an out of this world baller, but a really bad performer in the books. He is at the moment, in danger of failing a few classes, while being the headliner at his school's (Latimer) basketball games. We see Greg really struggle with his work, and not finding a grip, and through his struggles we can see that people don't get better without help.
Greg and his mom went to see his Principal, Mr. Tate, and at that meeting, we learned that Greg was in danger of "Failing this subject, or I was going to fail that subject. And how later on I wouldn't be able to get a good job." Later he says, "He said it slow like maybe he thought I wouldn't get it if he went too fast. I got it alright, I just couldn't do nothing with it." These lines in the book tell me that Greg might feel as if everything's falling on him too fast, how he just couldn't use what was being told to him to an advantage. "Mom came home crying." Said his brother Derek later in the book. I can tell now that although he does bad in school, not much is being done to help him, if those around him only confront him with things, how is Greg supposed to get better? It let's me conclude that, People don't get better without help.
Greg doesn't have any friends at his school, one being because he transferred from Carver, is new, and he's much different. He describes the school as "Having a nice rep for smart kids, mostly smart white kids." He tells us that he feels different, he's obviously not smart, and I don't know what race has to do anything, but he tells us later that he's pretty much the only Black kid there. Greg has no moral support in the school enviornent, and he sure doesn't rely on the teachers, since there the ones failing him, this only lets me further conclude that people don't get better without help.
Greg can't find anyone who will let him work like he wants, people don't have patience with him, people who he believes should have patience with him. Greg goes to get help from his girl Mtisha, who actually does really well in School. The problem is that they're not working together the way he wants them to. "'I looked at the problem again. Then I looked at Mtisha.''I thought you wanted to help me."..."I do," She said, "But I can't help you if you're scared to even try. I'm not going to do it or you. You go on and do it and I'll tell you what you're doing wrong."..."How can I do it when I don't know how?"..."Maybe we can try it another day."' These lines tell me that Greg would like a teacher who can give him a kick in the right direction, a teacher who goes with him step by step, and he's obviously not receiving it. Everyone expects him to know something that he doesn't, and it troubles him. These lines let me conclude that people don't get better without help.
No one will help Greg in the way that he needs to be taught, those around him expect something that he doesn't have. This is the reason why he does poorly, no one will step up help him his way. He won't get better, he needs someone to help him, people don't get better without help.
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