Slamdown Town (Slamdown Town Book 1)

by Maxwell Nicoll, Matthew Smith

Overview

A boy’s wish to be a star wrestler is granted in Maxwell Nicoll and Matthew Smith’s Slamdown Town, an illustrated wacky middle-grade fantasy.

Ollie and his older brother, Hollis, have wrestling in their blood: Their mom was a pro whose dreams of stardom were dashed by a devious opponent. Now she’s an overworked, underpaid ref at Slamdown Town, the local arena. Ollie’s goal in life is to win the golden championship belt for his mom—immediately followed by his other goal: to hang his bully of a brother from the roof by his tightie-whities.

But there’s one problem: Ollie inherited their estranged dad’s puny frame, while Hollis got their mom’s brawn. Thus Ollie has resigned himself to a fate of wrestling mediocrity and wet willies . . . until the day Hollis gifts him a piece of stale gum and forces him to chew it. Ollie soon discovers that the gum—bought on eBay and formerly chewed by a wrestling legend—has an unusual side effect: the ability to physically transform Ollie into a pro wrestler.

As Big Chew, Ollie’s finally able to put Hollis in his place and be a star. But when trouble befalls his family, being Big Chew gets a lot more complicated. In the end, Ollie knows he can’t have it all; and it’s only when he asks himself who he really is that he learns what it means to be a champion.

Slamdown Town series:
Slamdown Town (#1)
Slamdown Town: Ragtag Team (#2)

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781419745997
Publisher:	Amulet Paperbacks
Publication date:	01/19/2021
Series:	Slamdown Town
Pages:	328
Product dimensions:	5.40(w) x 7.90(h) x 1.00(d)
Age Range:	8 - 12 Years

About the Author

Maxwell Nicoll and Matthew Smith are writing partners, screenwriters, and graduates of the School of Visual Arts.

Interviews

Mineola, NY and Brooklyn, NY

Editorial Reviews

"Hilarious caricatures and wild, exciting wrestling action. . . . A surprise ending adds extra crunch to the climax." —Booklist

From the Publisher

"Hilarious caricatures and wild, exciting wrestling action. . . . A surprise ending adds extra crunch to the climax."

Booklist

"Hilarious caricatures and wild, exciting wrestling action. . . . A surprise ending adds extra crunch to the climax."

Booklist

"A tale that carries all of its themes and life lessons on its sleeve. . . A surprise ending adds extra crunch to the climax."

Booklist Review

11/01/2020

Gr 3–6—Ollie is a small, white kid who has wrestling in his blood. His mother was once a pro wrestler who was on her way to stardom when Werewrestler (actual name), cheated and stole a major victory from her. Because of this fateful event, she is now an overworked, underpaid referee at Slamdown Town, the local wrestling arena. His mother is, for lack of other words, miserable, and Ollie can relate. Being a sixth grader isn't going very well. He daydreams too much, and his big brother, Hollis, tortures him regularly. Ollie wishes he could hang Hollis from the roof by his tighty-whities. His whole world changes when Ollie discovers a piece of gum that, when chewed, transforms him into a towering, muscle-bound, lean, mean, wrestling machine. Entering the ring as "Big Chew," Ollie's only mission is to defeat the Werewrestler in his mother's honor. Despite the description of captivating costumes and amazing signature moves, this narrative is somewhat lacking. The plot lines are not very believable or logical. VERDICT Readers who don't mind formulaic text might stick with this one. However, with its length, the reluctant reader will likely lose interest quickly. Not recommended.—Amy Caldera, Dripping Springs M.S., TX

School Library Journal

2019-09-29
An 11-year-old wrestling fanatic transforms from scrawny to brawny in this series-launching debut.

Despite his small frame, Ollie has wrestling in his blood. Though she now works as a referee, his mother reigned as the local scene's undisputed champion until the dastardly Werewrestler stole an underhanded victory. Ever since, Slamdown Town Arena has struggled to stay afloat—and Ollie can relate. When he isn't daydreaming the sixth grade away, he's either grappling with big brother Hollis or struggling to keep pace with Tamiko, his brainiac best friend (Japanese American, she's the book's only significant person of color). Everything changes when Ollie discovers a piece of magic gum that turns him into a towering, muscle-bound contender. Eager to vanquish the Werewrestler, Ollie enters the ring as "Big Chew." His episodic matches pair with studying online instructional videos that explain the importance of captivating costumes, titillating trash talk, and sensational signature moves. Despite its larger-than-life personalities, this third-person narrative lacks compelling character: Attempts to lay the verbal smackdown fall flat ("moody music"?), and action sequences seem somewhat illogical (a leg drop into a bear hug?). Ollie earns a title shot, but along the way, his career takes its toll: His grades slip, he loses his dog-walking job, his friendship with Tamiko collapses, and Slamdown Town faces financial ruin. Can Ollie save the squared circle and repair his personal life without breaking kayfabe?

Not a curtain-jerker—but more a formulaic midcard than a marquee match. (Fiction. 8-12)

Kirkus Reviews