Crossover by Kwame Alexander
Winner of the 2015 Newbery and Coretta Scott King Awards
Audience: Grades 5-8
Genre: Contemporary Realistic Fiction
Read Aloud: First page
With a bolt of lightning on my kicks . . .The court is SIZZLING. My sweat is DRIZZLING. Stop all that quivering. Cuz tonight I’m delivering," announces dread-locked, 12-year old Josh Bell. He and his twin brother Jordan are awesome on the court. But Josh has more than basketball in his blood, he's got mad beats, too, that tell his family's story in verse, in this fast and furious middle grade novel of family and brotherhood.
Josh and Jordan must come to grips with growing up on and off the court to realize breaking the rules comes at a terrible price, as their story's heart-stopping climax proves a game-changer for the entire family.
Curriculum Connections:
- Jordan (JB) Bell
- Josh (“Filthy McNasty”) Bell
- Dad: Chuck Bell (“Da Man”), a former professional basketball player
- Mom: Dr. Crystal Stanley-Bell, the assistant principal at the boys’ school (Reggie Lewis Junior High)
2. Several of the poems in this novel lend themselves to readers theater performance, so that students can get a sense of the characters’ voices. The following poems offer text in two parts: plain text and italicized text for two volunteers or two groups to read aloud in turn.
- “Conversation” pp.17-19
- “The game is tied” p. 36
- “Mom doesn’t like us eating out” pp. 41-42
- “The inside of Mom and Dad’s bedroom closet” pp. 44-47
- “Dad Takes Us to Krispy Kreme and Tells Us His Favorite Story (Again)” pp. 63-65
- “Mom calls me into the kitchen” pp. 96-98
- “Phone Conversation (I Sub for JB)” pp. 106-109
- “Suspension” pp. 138-141
- “I run into Dad’s room” pp. 165-167
- “School’s Out” pp. 188-189
- “Santa Claus Stops By” pp. 207-209
- “Questions” pp. 210-211
Some More Things:
Reader Response:
What a great book!!!! That this is a portrait of a successful, close-knit African-American family in the Obama era is an understatement. It is a given that the sons will do their best and that includes going to college. So this book is a great one for role-modeling.
“The Crossover” doesn’t ignore contemporary issues involving race. There is a traffic stop on the way to a game, in which the boys’ father (like many an African-American man) is pulled over for a minor infraction; Josh is warned by his mother about what happens to young black men who let their tempers get the better of them. Alexander doesn’t seem to be pushing a social agenda so much as throwing light upon what is, in the world of children’s literature, a very undertold story.
One of the things that makes it a standout is it's readability. I picture myself reading this to a class of 6th graders (white kids, black kids, ANY kids) and just KNOW they will be all ears.
What the Critics Have to Say:
"The Crossover crosses over as a gift to all ages.
------- Ashley Bryan, Two time Coretta Scott King Award Winner
"This verse novel delivers a real emotional punch before the final buzzer."
------- Publishers Weekly, starred review
"Alexander has crafted a story that vibrates with energy and heart and begs to be read aloud. A SLAM DUNK!"
------- School Library Journal, starred review
About the Author:
Kwame Alexander has written 18 books, owned several publishing companies, written for the stage and television (TLC's "Hip Hop Harry"), recorded a CD, performed at schools and conferences around the world, produced jazz and book festivals, hosted a weekly radio show, worked for the U.S. Government, and taught in a high school. Recently, he led a delegation of writers and artists to Italy (Tuscany), Brazil (Bahia), and Africa (Ghana). Each year, Kwame visits hundreds of schools sharing poetry, conducting workshops, and reading his books.