Slam

Navigating teenage parenthood is the central theme of Slam, and the novel examines the issue from the brutal honesty of the teenage male perspective. It is a somewhat stereotyped depiction of a teenage boy’s reaction to finding out his girlfriend is pregnant, but Sam manages to rise above these stereotypes through a period of self-reflection and inner growth. Sam’s very existence is the result of teenage parenthood, as his own mother had him when she was 16. Sam carries this legacy with him everywhere he goes, and often feels judged by others for being the child of a teenage mother: “If somebody knows about the history of my family, then it’s all they can see, and it’s all they can hear” (47). Sam’s own battle with shame and regret about his own son’s existence is something he continues to grapple with even as he narrates the experiences two years later.

Before Sam is even aware that Alicia is pregnant, he is repulsed by the idea of having a serious relationship. Alicia seems to never want to do anything but watch TV and have sex, and her parents judge Sam harshly for his family history. Sam also finds that he is giving up his other pursuits and passions, like skating, to spend time with Alicia: “If having sex regularly meant listening to Alicia’s dad being snobby, and giving up skating, and never seeing mates, then I wasn’t sure how much I wanted it. I wanted a girlfriend who’d sleep with me, but I wanted a life as well” (72). After Sam finds out that Alicia is pregnant, not only does he swear off sex completely for several months, but he also runs away in an effort to escape his predicament. Sam and Alicia’s relationship lacks trust and consistency, and much of this is due to the fact that they were never more than a passing fancy for one another. Sam soon learns that the consequences of one small mistake can be astronomical, and when Alicia announces that she is keeping the pregnancy, he realizes he has no option but to go along with whatever comes next.

Sam takes several months to develop confidence and start to see himself as a father, as he worries that he will fail and do more damage than good for his son. Alicia, on the other hand, is terrified but also willing to endure whatever sacrifices may come along with having a child. She demonstrates strength and bravery throughout her pregnancy, as well as patience for Sam’s panic. She repeatedly defends Sam to her parents. Alicia thus acts as Sam’s rock during this trying time, and together they get through it and find a way to exist as friends and co-parents. When Sam researches teenage pregnancy rates, he notes, “I learned that Britain had the worst teenage pregnancy rates in Europe, which by the way means we have the highest. It took me a while to realize that” (282). The reactions of Sam’s and Alicia’s parents reflect the widespread stigmatization of teenage pregnancy. They urge Alicia to have an abortion, and when that fails they repeatedly question Sam’s commitment, even on the day Rufus is born. Sam’s mother, on the other hand, reacts by telling him that he doesn’t need to be tied down by having a son, and Sam criticizes her for implying that men have different obligations than women when it comes to raising children.

Along with coming to terms with being a parent, Sam must also come to terms with society’s stigmatization of teenage parents. He is already well aware of how teenage parents are judged; for most of his life, his mum has refrained from mentioning him when meeting people, afraid of being met with disapproval. Sam feels awkward and embarrassed by the way his friends talk about his younger mum, and he feels ashamed of being the son of a teenage parent. After having his own son, Sam’s views on teenage parenthood shift a little. He continues to view it as less than ideal but sees it as something which can be faced with enough support and courage. Additionally, Sam realizes that teenage parenthood is not as uncommon as it seems: “Having a kid when you’re a teenager isn’t like having green arms. There’s more of us than there are of them” (281).