Slam（ISBN=9781594483455）

　　Eighteen-year-old Hoult, an actor who played a role in the film adaptation of Hornby’s About a Boy (1988), is a terrific choice to narrate the author’s first young adult novel. Fifteen-year-old Sam’s girlfriend gets pregnant. What should he do? He doesn’t want to repeat the mistakes of his mother, who got pregnant as a teen. Distressed Sam talks to his poster of skateboarding legend Tony Hawk, which helps his troubled teenage soul. This moving, bittersweet work is packed with Hornby’s trademark insight and incisive wit. Native Brit Hoult’s voice is charming, and his accent is very pronounced. In fact it may take listeners a few chapters to become accustomed to his cadence and lilt, but once they do, they will be rewarded with a memorable listening experience. The novel is a Booklist Editors’ Choice Books for Youth, 2007, selection. Grades 9-12. --Allison Block

　　The #1 "New York Times" bestseller now in paperback. For 16-year-old Sam, life is about to get extremely complicated. He and his girlfriendamake that ex-girlfrienda Alicia have gotten themselves into a bit of trouble. Sam is suddenly forced to grow up and struggle with the familiar fears and inclinations that haunt us all. Nick Hornbyas poignant and witty novel shows a rare and impressive understanding of human relationships and what it really means to be a man.

　　Nick Hornby was educated at Cambridge and began his career as an English teacher before going on to write the internationally bestselling novels High Fidelity, About a Boy, How to be Good and A Long Way Down. He has written three works of non-fiction: the hugely popular Fever Pitch, 31 Songs and The Complete Polysyllabic Spree. Fever Pitch, High Fidelity and About a Boy have all been made into successful films. Nick has won many awards and is a huge pop-music fan. He lives and works in Highbury, north London. Slam is his first teenage fiction novel.