With the last post I discussed Garvey’s Choice by Nikki Grimes, a novel-in-verse offering for middle grade readers. Kwame Alexander, a multi-award winner author and educator, also wrote a novel-in-verse for middle grade readers. The Crossover is a fast-paced novel, the poetry set to rap and hip-hop reminiscent beat and tackles the love of basketball, family conflicts, and family issues.
Josh Bell, and his twin brother, Jordan, are talented basketball players. Their father was a young basketball star who made a cool million playing in Italy before an injury forced him to retire – but only because he refuses to go see doctors for anything since his father died of a heart attack while in a doctor’s care. Their mother is the assistant principal at their school and holds a Doctorate in education.
The boys seemed to be on a fast track to a good life – killing it on the basketball court and heading toward a championship game, doing well in school, having a blast with their friends. And then a new girl enters the school and steals Jordan away from Josh. Josh doesn’t know how to handle being alone as his twin spends all his free time with the new girlfriend.
I don’t think I’ll ever get used to
walking home from school alone
playing Madden alone
listening to Lil Wayne alone
going to the library alone
shooting free throws alone
watching ESPN alone
eating doughnuts alone
saying my prayers alone (p 213)
Not only is Josh missing his brother, but his father is admitted to the hospital and the championship game is a few days away.
The Crossover is filled with fun and humor, and pain and insecurity and fear and grief. The poetic forms and the layout of some of the pages – like this one:
make the book a fast read. The characters are realistic, and their emotions are very poignant and honestly offered to anyone facing serious issues in their family and trying to navigate school despite the negative situations in their life. Kirkus Reviews said, “This novel in verse is rich in character and relationships. Most interesting is the family dynamic that informs so much of the narrative, which always reveals, never tells. While Josh relates the story, readers get a full picture of major and minor players. The basketball action provides energy and rhythm for a moving story. Poet Alexander deftly reveals the power of the format to pack an emotional punch.” (2014)
Alexander, Kwame (2014). The Crossover. New York: Houghton Mifflin Harcort Publishing.
Ingram (2014). “Book Review – The Crossover”. Retrieved on September 12, 2018 from https://ipage.ingramcontent.com/ipage/servlet/ibg.common.titledetail.pd1000?ttl_id=25014332
Ingram (2014). “Digital Image – The Crossover”. Retrieved on September 12, 2018 from https://ipage.ingramcontent.com/ipage/servlet/ibg.common.titledetail.pd1000?ttl_id=25014332
Ramblings of Jhenry 