The Crossover (The Crossover Series)

This newly announced winner of the 2015 Newbery award took my breath away. Written in a variety of poetic styles, the story flows seamlessly from an introduction of the characters to it's all too quick ending. Written in a style sure to appeal to middle grade readers, it fills a much-needed hole in the choices of quality sports fiction for young people. Well done!

What an excellent choice for the Newbery medal! Kwame Alexander takes the reader on a lively ride in a story of twin brothers who love basketball. But it's far more than that - it's the story of the love of a family with deeply held values. The story is told through poetry, totally appropriate to the clever, sharp talking POV character. It's a quick and fast-paced read, but very emotion possible is packed into these pages leaving you laughing one minute and crying the next. A memorable, beautifully told story of life and family.

We liked that this book was written in verse. We also like the intensity of the emotions and the play by plays. We also liked "Da Man" We didn't like the tragedy, it made us sad...we could also have done without the "gross girlfriend stuff."

The book kept us interested. This book would be good for 5th grade an up.
--Chappell 5th graders

For what it is, The Crossover book may be brilliant. It's written in poetic verse, not as a conventional narrative. My son bought it because it was an option on his school's summer reading list and he loves sports novels. But he found the authors's unconventional verse style jarring. Despite the basketball theme, it did not hold his interest.

If your child loves unconventional writing styles and/or poetry, this book might be a good pick. It is not a good pick for more mainstream readers.

I have a complicated relationship with books in verse. I love them conceptually, but I often struggle to become engaged while reading. That was certainly not the case with The Crossover. It's obvious that Alexander respects the form of verse and is not just using it as a device. These pages contain a wide variety of different types of verse to express art, motion, and emotion with remarkable precision. The rhythm of Alexander's words is consistently smooth and natural. It's even appropriately visually appealing! In the pages where style takes over, the often over-done "make the words match the action it is describing" style of poetry makes complete sense in the setting of a basketball court. The beat and flow matches the feel I get from watching a basketball game.

Speaking of, I think this is the first verse book I've read for middle-grade readers which has a male narrator. Even more exciting!

The Crossover is narrated by Josh Bell. His 13-year-old voice feels honest and realistic. Josh and his brother are just beginning puberty and all the hormonal challenges which come with it are present. As an adult, I appreciate being able to recognize these jealousies and mood swings. Yet, these changes are never called out directly. It's obvious that Josh doesn't understand where his anger or jealousy comes from and his parents are respectful to never put blame on his body's changes, though it is implied sometimes. From the eyes of a 13-year-old the injustices of the world are completely relatable.

Upon reflection, there are so many themes tied into The Crossover. But in the moment, I was far too swept up in the story to notice the plethora of challenging themes neatly tied into these verses. Alexander flawlessly uses basketball to provide metaphor throughout the book as a way for Josh and his family to deal with everything being thrown at them. Friendship, family, courage, responsibility, sportsmanship, and loss are all covered neatly within the span of 250 pages. The best part? The poems assume the reader is intelligent. Every time a lesson is ready to be learned, Alexander leaves a blank which allows the reader to use their mind to figure out what the right answer is. But the blank is always set up to ensure you can find the right answer. (Insert basketball pun about setups here)

The Crossover is a delightful and powerful story with something for everyone, regardless of your age level. If you're like me, and a bit hesitant about books written in verse, that's cool. Pick this book up anyway. The verse brings not only Josh and his family, but basketball, alive in a way regular prose would not have been able to. Highly recommended!

I want to hug Kwame's brain. (With permission, of course.)

His writing is lyrical. Honest. Warm. Uncomfortable. Show-not-tell. Everything.

He's getting me and you and our kids and those kids over there to read poetry without even realizing it by picking up his glorious books, and I am grateful for that.

12yo Josh and Jordan are twin brothers who have basketball running through their veins and parents who love them. Told in Josh's point of view, we witness him go through what we all do at that age: so much change. How we are inside, with our family, with our teammates, our decisions, our reactions, our hopes. He felt so real I could not help but hold my breath at times, laugh at others, want to reach out to him like a mother does when her own 12yo is going through something.

This story is so much and the words so beautiful to experience while reading it. They say it's for grades 5-10, but I'd say anyone age 10 and up needs to get their hands on it. You don't have to love basketball or be a boy to relate. It's the perfect mirror and window book: whether or not it's an exact reflection of you, you feel yourself in it. It's simply wonderful. Get a copy for your own family, if you don't have one already.

Not being a teenager and knowing absolutely nothing about basketball, I think it's pretty safe to say I'm not really the target audience for this novel. I love verse novels though and seeing a video of the author reading part of the story had me curious enough to give it a try and I have to say I loved it far more than I expected to and I can see why it's won so many awards!

The story is about twelve-year-old twins who until now have been utterly obsessed with basketball, their father was a professional player who now focuses his energies on training his sons and they're both stars of their school team. It is about so much more than basketball though, it's also about growing up and growing apart, it's about finding your first love and how that changes things, it's about discovering things from your parent's past that you never knew before and it's about learning to deal with an emotional crisis.

Verse novels can be so much fun to read and this is definitely one of the better ones I've come across, the pacing is perfect and the language is clever. I think this will appeal to even the most reluctant reader and I'm handing my copy straight to my 13 year old nephew who I think will love it even more than I did!

Crossover is a novel written in verse that will capture a reader with its rhythms, strong storyline, and engaging characters. The narrator, Josh, is a middle schooler whose life revolves around basketball, school, and his close-knit family. He has a twin brother, JB, and both of them are stars of their school's basketball team, but when JB gets a girlfriend, Josh begins to feel like he and his brother are drifting apart. Josh and JB’s family life is the strongest part of this book; how much they care for, respect, and love each other is evident throughout the novel. The novel is emotionally powerful, and basketball provides a great backdrop for the story. This book is superb for middle school boys, especially reluctant readers. I always recommend it to any kid who says they don’t like poetry, and I haven’t had one of them tell me that they do not like it. I have heard kids say they’ve read it multiple times, often once a year.

4.5 Stars

Basketball Rule #1
In this game of life
your family is the court
and the ball is your heart.
No matter how good you are,
no matter how down you get,
always leave
your heart
on the court.

The Crossover encompasses so much and does it so well. It touches on family, friends, basketball, life, growing up, and the hardships and changes that come with this. While on the outside it may look like this is too much for a book to take on, Alexander weaves a tale through poetry that is both witty and heartfelt.

I love that Alexander so precisely paralleled life and basketball. They are interconnected in Josh's world. Both Josh's mom and dad play prominent roles in his life and it was refreshing to see strong parents who not only got along with their children but also parented their children. Josh's connection to his dad is an underlying theme throughout his story and one that played heavily on my heart.

Josh is a prodigal basketball star at 12 and alongside his twin brother they are an unstoppable force on the court. I loved the writing in these sections. You can actually hear the staccato beat of the ball against hardwood, against asphalt, as he narrates his moves down the court.

On the court, Josh is confidence, but off it, with the ever-changing canvas of prepubescent life, he is confusion, anger, loss. This comes across so clearly in his narrative. The imagery used while Josh works his way through all this is simply amazing.

I expected The Crossover to be purely about basketball and maybe a few references about the game of life. What I got was something that far exceeded my expectations.

Before I'll express my opinion of the book, I have a confession to make - I do not like free verse. I realize that it is an important genre with many followers and fans, but it is not for me. Therefore, in an attempt to be fair I never review free verse books ( I still periodically give them a try, whenever something highly acclaimed comes along, as I'm trying to find that special "something" that others see in the genre that I can't seem to find). I don't want to give a book a negative mark simply because I don't like this form of poetry, and not based on the merits of the work. I can go further and say something even more terrifying - even HIGHLY praised "Brown Girl Dreaming" did absolutely nothing for me because I just can't seem to embrace the dreaded free verse style...

Now when this is out of the way, I've got to say that "The Crossover" by Alexander Kwame was exactly the book that I picked up because of all the awards and buzz that surrounded it - being 99% sure that it will leave me cold just like the others... I coulnd't have been more wrong!! At this point this small read that packs a punch would be the single free verse creation that I absolutely adored. I did not just enjoy reading it, in some places it made me so emotional - I believe I shed some tears.
This is the first time I see free verse being a perfect fir for a story - perhaps, the lines and the rhythm reminded me of dribbling a ball - short, energetic, choppy, yet having a distinct flow to them...Whatever it was, it worked perfect and sucked me right in with no intention to let me go - and I thoroughly enjoyed it!

I give my high regards to Alexander Kwame for this gem, and urge reluctant free verse readers to try this one out - you won't regret it. For all those who don't understand the genre as a whole (like me) - this would be a perfect opportunity to venture into unusual; you'll be greatly rewarded with this particular find!

I am not usually a fan of novels written in verse. I need a big meaty story if I'm going to enjoy a book, especially a book about sports. I loved The Crossover. I'm a sports fanatic, and this book is filled with tons of well written basketball action that speaks to everything that true basketball fans love about the game. Josh has such a strong narrative voice that I could easily envision him out on the court flying high enough to throw down a crowd pleasing dunk.

The language is dazzling, from Josh's game time raps, and confrontations with his brother, to his powerful conversations with his dad that convey an astounding amount of emotions in just a few spare lines. The author utilizes unique constructions, fonts, and styles that make the text even more dynamic. This is not a standard novel, yet it will serve as a welcome introduction to reading novels in verse for many young readers.

Perhaps my favorite aspect of this book is its unflinching look at family. This is a real family facing real problems that will serve to impact all their lives. None of them are perfect, but they stand by each other and love each other unflinchingly, even when they are confronted with the worst possible outcomes. Throw into all this two boys coming of age, growing apart, and discovering their own paths through love and grief. This is a powerful book and an enthusiastic recommend for young readers ages 10 and up.

I read the first three pages of this book, and I knew my reluctant reader, a 13 year old 8th grade boy, would love this book. I asked him to read just to page 9. He said “Wow, Mom, this is really good! Is this guy a rapper?”

I have been working on reading all of the Newbery winning books this year. Poetry is not normally my thing, but this book touched me deeply. Though a fast read, I can say it is easily one of my favorite Newbery winners.

Winner of the 2015 Newbery Award for Distinguished Contribution to Children’s Literature.

A novel in verse, very creative, with slowly revealed depths that take the reader from the emotionally simple focus of a talented 7th grade basketball player on the excitement and art of his sport to dealing with the problems he creates in his family. Josh is one of two twin brothers who are the sons of a retired professional basketball star and who are themselves young prodigies. But when brother J.B. threatens their partnership by falling in love with a girl in their class, Josh’s jealousy and anger creates a rift between them. His father has a different set of problems, refusing to think about his own health and finances, instead focusing on turning his sons into stars. The boys’ mother, the Assistant Principal at school, tries to hold the family together and keep a balance in their lives beyond basketball.

The poetry is done in different styles, from a bragging explosive hip-hop to quiet introspection to rhythmic dialogue between the brothers. Very impressive. It would be an interesting read-aloud, especially for two people.

For non-sports fans, a “crossover” is a basketball move in which the player with the ball changes directions suddenly. Josh has a great crossover move, but his emotional “crossovers” are the real center of the book.

Josh and his twin brother, Jordan, are lightning on the basketball court. The sons of a basketball player whose pro career was derailed by an injury and the assistant principal of their school, they have a strong family background that emphasizes teamwork and schoolwork.

Josh loves to rhyme, cranking out beats in his head as he plays. Jordan has other things in mind these days, though – namely, a girlfriend. Josh has a hard time with accepting this third party in his and Jordan’s relationship. Throw in their father’s health problems that he refuses to seek help for, and you’ve got a compelling read that will appeal to all readers, male and female, sports fans or not. There’s a flow and pacing to this novel, also written in verse, that just moves the pages on its own. Josh is a likable kid, and readers will see themselves in his shoes as he talks about his fears and frustrations.

My 12 year old son has severe ADHD and has never had the attention span to read a book cover-to-cover. I've purchased hundreds of dollars worth of books over the last few years, all of which sit on his shelves lonely and unread. This book fell into my path (literally off the display) today in B&N, and I flipped through it. The writing style immediately grabbed our attention and I purchased it. My son and I are about a third of the way through this book already!! I'm so grateful to have discovered something that holds my son's attention long enough to garner true interest.

A few reviewers have commented that they view the style as a rap song, and find it difficult to piece together. Here's a suggestion that's working for us - if you've never heard of Slam poetry, a few YouTube videos will familiarize you. I read a few of the passages aloud in the slam style, and it makes the book just flow. Much much easier than trying to rap the whole thing!

As for the content, the main characters are likeable, their situations are typical of sports-loving teenagers, and the story is a real page-turner. My son and I can't wait to find out what happens next! Give it a chance, please. I believe this book is capable of turning my non-reader into a bookworm!

Double Trouble
The story of Two brothers that WERE trouble on the court but HAD trouble off the court

The Crossover by Kwame Alexander is a fantastic book, it makes you feel a variety emotions, when its at the right time, it makes you feel happy or sad, good or bad, it always does that and that's one of the biggest things I like about a book. Also, it has creative poetic language in it, the poetic language helps because it makes the book interesting and unique. Lastly, the book is great for sports lovers as it really describes what goes on in an athlete's mind when they're on the court. I give this book 5/5 stars.

A lot of things happen in this book. In the beginning, identical twins, JB and Josh Bell are living a happy life, they're both amazing at basketball and are headed on a good path. Josh is the one that wants to carry out his career in basketball and follow his father's footsteps, as he was an NBA superstar. But all of a sudden things start going down hill, Josh loses a bet to JB and cuts off Josh's dreadlocks, JB also gets a girlfriend and the brothers relationship is just about broken as they drift further and further apart. Josh's anger boils up. Their dad has an eating disorder and its getting worse until it gets very severe. Can the twins get past their anger and come together again and support each other? Will the dad’s health get any better?

My first reason why The Crossover is a fantastic book is because it makes you feel a variety of emotions throughout the book, whether they are sad, happy, good or bad, the feelings are always there and this is good because if the book doesn't make you feel emotions then it can get bland and boring for the reader.
My first example states, (page 82) “The bad news, Josh, is that neither Duke nor any college accepts cheaters. Since I can't make a decent man out of you perhaps the Air Force or Marines can.” At this point, I felt really bad for Josh because going to Duke was his lifelong dream and it seemed like he was on the path to head there but now he can't.
My second evidence is, (page 215), “Dad. Had. Another. Attack. Now. Don’t. Worry. I’m. Going. Hospital. See. You. Two. At. Game. Vrooooooommmmmmm. Her car starts. JB, what should we do? I ask. He’s no longer listening to music, but his tears are loud enough to dance to.” At this point I was almost in tears, I felt so sad for the Bell family and how their life is just going bad.
These reasons and evidence proves how this book made me feel a variety of emotions.

My second reason why The Crossover is a fantastic book is because it has a lot of poetic language. If a book doesn't have poetic language, it makes me not want to continue with the book, what poetic language does for me is it makes the book pop out from the other ones.
My first evidence states, (page 10), “He has a slammerific shot it's dunkalicious classy supersonic sassy and down right in your face mcNASTY.” This part was very creative because it rhymed like a song and this book also made up their own words.
My second evidence says, (page 11), “ He dribbles fakes then takes the ROCK to the glass, fast and on BLAST But watch out when he shoots or you'll get SCHOOLed, FOOLed, UNCOOLed.” This is also poetic language because again it made its own words up and made all of them rhyme, also this was creative because it used a cool way of using capital letters.
This is why The Crossover is a great book, it has creative poetic language.

My last reason why The Crossover is a fantastic book is that it is a great book for sports lovers, It really describes the moments where he's in a basketball game really well.
My first piece of evidence states, (page 24), “ especially when I take off from center court, my hair like wings, each lock lifting me higher and higher like a 747 ZOOM ZOOM! I throw down so hard, the fiberglass trembles.” This clearly described dunking and it couldn't've described it any better, it also had similes that made it easier to understand if you are not a sports lover.
My second evidence says, (page 26), “I fling a quick chest pass to my twin brother, JB, number twenty-three, a.k.a. The jumper.”
This piece evidence made me picture the scene in my head, the rocking stadium, all the fans, and Josh dribbling the ball down the court and passing it to his twin brother JB.
These reasons are why The Crossover describes the basketball scenes very well.

All of these reasons are why I gave this book a five out of five stars, it is fantastic, it makes you feel emotions, it has poetic language, and finally, it is a great book for sport lovers. After this information I gave you, I hope you read this book, you will not regret it at all.

am always a sucker for verse books. Add in the blurb and I was hooked. I got lucky and it was available from my library while I was browsing through. I did take a couple pages to get into the flow and style with the capitalization and spacing. It'd been so long since I read a verse book! But once I was in, I was a goner. I finished it as quick as I could. I can def. see why it's so highly praised and won awards. The only little thing for me was the ending wasn't as conclusive and satisfying as I'd like. I'm the type to want all the answers on the page. But it's really great, even with my hang up.

From the first page, I was seduced by the energy and rhythm of language before I even had a chance to get sucked into the story or invested in the lives of its characters. (That came soon enough.)

I was hooked... as in, hook shot... as in, a powerhouse explosion... nothing but net.

Like many twins, 12 year old Josh Bell and his brother JB have always shared a strong bond. We see it both on the court and within their loving, close-knit family. When a "pulchritudinous" girl comes between the brothers and the declining health of their dad becomes a frightening reality, Josh's once-stable world spirals out of control.

The Crossover is about so much more than basketball. Rich in relationship dynamics, this is a multi-layered story about family, friendship, adolescence... and, true to the game which is its lifeline, it's also poetry in motion. Heart-racing, trash-talking swagger is counterbalanced with softer, introspective moments of uncertainty – a boy just trying to make sense of his life. Like his main character, Kwame Alexander puts it ALL out there.

It's wonderful to hear about reluctant readers, boys mostly, being engaged and transformed by this book. But honestly, this is a story that all readers will be able to connect with. Case in point: my 11 year old daughter who has no interest in team sports whatsoever. She loved it as much as I did.

The book The Crossover was written by Kwame Alexander is an inspiring, warm hearted, fantastic read for all ages. This book reminded me of when I fell in love with my favorite sport, and I believe every athlete should read it. The story is told in verses rather than novel like texts, and shares the life of African-American twin brothers whose passion for basketball takes different paths as they enter middle school and other conflicts in their lives. Josh Bell, nicknamed Filthy McNasty by his father is the narrator of the book. Jordan Bell, also known as JB, is Filthy McNasty’s twin brother. The boy’s father, Chuck “Da Man,” is a former professional basketball player and is relatively close to both of the boys. The boys are actively involved in basketball but Josh more than JB wishes to pursue the game at the level his father once did. JB is talented in basketball but he would pursue spending his free time with his new girlfriend. Unfortunately, this change did not sit well with Josh, and demands that JB should get his priorities straight. Josh eventually takes his anger onto the court. He deliberately throws a solid pass to his brother’s face, which almost breaks JB’s nose. This leads to Josh being suspended from playing basketball, creating more distance away from his brother. Meanwhile, at a very young age Chuck’s health starts to decline. And as time goes on, his years of neglecting treatment results in a severe heart attack and eventually passing away. A part of Josh seems to have died with his father. There seems to be no joy left in his life. In time, however, Josh becomes aware that he and his brother still have each other. JB feels similarly and the relationship between the twins begins to grow once again.
Alexander’s poetic style caries throughout the book. Some of the poems are traditional prose poems, while at other times the passages are more in the style of rap. His raps are utilized when Josh takes action on the basketball court. These raps enhance Josh’s passion for this sport and imagines that he can ultimately achieve anything in the world he lives in. Therefore this book would be a great resource for physical education students. This book is not only a sport related book, but it explores empathy and passion, and that’s what I want my students to experience. As a PE teacher it can be difficult to find coming of age readings that pertain to sports. And it is important as an educator to keep their classroom appealing to all students and not only those who love to play basketball. Students can relate to this story because sports are a way to express yourself. And I believe all sports have their own poetry that lay within each playing field. Every student has at least one passion, and this book is a clear indicator how to express that love into something amazing.

Just like lyrics to a song...

Crossover is a story written by Kwame Alexander. It was published in 2014 by the publishing company HMH Books for Young Readers. Crossover is the story of two twin 13 year old boys named Josh and Jordan Bell who love to play basketball. They learned how to play from their professional basketball player father Chuck Bell otherwise known as “Da Man”. Crossover is written as free verse poetry, but also has some elements of jazz, hip hop, rap, and concrete verse in the novel as well. Crossover tells the story about two brothers who are in junior high and love playing basketball together. However, this story is more than just a basketball story. It is a story about life, love, happiness, growing up, growing apart and death. The language of the story is very lyrical and almost sings off the page when you are reading it. The characters are all very easily relatable and does a really good job getting the reader to attach to them emotionally. Young adult readers who enjoyed reading other free verse poems like Crank by Elle Hopkins will love Crossover. I would recommend this to young adults ages 12 and above.

Crossover is the rare Newbery Award winner that will be as popular with tweens and teens as it is with adults. Like all of the great sports novels, Crossover is about much more than twins who are both basketball superstars. It is a touching and memorable story of family, the bonds of brothers and difficult life transitions. Josh Bell is almost an every-teen except for his basketball talent. He has friends, and is semi-social, but is not particularly popular. He loves his family, tries hard in school and dreams of going to Duke. His best friend is his twin brother, Jordan. Josh even wants them to go to Duke together. But, middle school is a huge time of change. Josh is shocked and hurt when he sees Jordan developing different interests and priorities from his. Kwame Alexander believes poetry can change the world and Crossover is a strong testament to his theory. This novel in verse reads like a novel. His shape verse and concrete poems are stunning. His word choice is powerful and thrilling. Even though the verses are short, and the story is short, Josh is a well developed character. Josh is someone every teen will understand. They will identify with his feelings of insecurity and betrayal. They will cheer for him in his games and his personal life. They may even write him a poem or two.

LOVE! This unique, creative book, written in verse, tells a beautiful story. Through spare descriptions & conversations we feel the heart & hurts of junior high basketball star Josh as he deals with various struggles & disappointments concerning his twin brother Jordan, his mother (who is the administrator of his school), and his former-pro-basketball-player father. The significance of the title: a crossover is a basketball move which later takes on a deeper meaning as a poignant metaphor. A clean read perfect for sports-loving junior high boys. Brought tears to my eyes. Touching & timely. Newbery Medal Winner.

Once you start you won't be able to stop.

Josh is serious. About basketball. About family. About his hair. He's a 12 year-old basketball star, son of an international sports icon, and in a constant friendly competition with his twin brother, Jordan. But Josh's life isn't all swish and net. He gets nervous before games. His dad won't go to the doctor. His brother is suddenly ignoring him for a girl.

When Josh loses a bet with his brother he ends up losing more than a few dread-locks. He loses his vision and his confidence. Josh has to find a way back to his brother's side while managing the stress from his mom and dad's fights and the pressure of the upcoming basketball tournaments.

Told in striking verse, THE CROSSOVER never gets boring. Let's be honest, here: I don't like sports. I don't play sports, I don't like watching sports, I don't talk about sports, and I know almost nothing. About. Sports. But that didn't stop me from reading this entire book in one sitting. I was hooked. I was a rough, orange ball spinning around on Josh Bell's fingertip, following his every move. I couldn't stop reading. The prose is twisty, windy, rhythmic and addicting. It mirrors Josh's thoughts, his frame of mind, his emotions and needs and it's like a rollercoaster that you don't want to get off.

There wasn't anything I wanted more from this book. It was a great story, told in a perfect way, and it ended with just the right amount of drama and emotion. I would highly recommend THE CROSSOVER to any and all sports fans, to middle grade students looking for a fast read, and to those looking for something new and interesting that's outside of your comfort zone.

Double Trouble
The story of Two brothers that WERE trouble on the court but HAD trouble off the court

The Crossover by Kwame Alexander is a fantastic book, it makes you feel a variety emotions, when its at the right time, it makes you feel happy or sad, good or bad, it always does that and that's one of the biggest things I like about a book. Also, it has creative poetic language in it, the poetic language helps because it makes the book interesting and unique. Lastly, the book is great for sports lovers as it really describes what goes on in an athlete's mind when they're on the court. I give this book 5/5 stars.

A lot of things happen in this book. In the beginning, identical twins, JB and Josh Bell are living a happy life, they're both amazing at basketball and are headed on a good path. Josh is the one that wants to carry out his career in basketball and follow his father's footsteps, as he was an NBA superstar. But all of a sudden things start going down hill, Josh loses a bet to JB and cuts off Josh's dreadlocks, JB also gets a girlfriend and the brothers relationship is just about broken as they drift further and further apart. Josh's anger boils up. Their dad has an eating disorder and its getting worse until it gets very severe. Can the twins get past their anger and come together again and support each other? Will the dad’s health get any better?

My first reason why The Crossover is a fantastic book is because it makes you feel a variety of emotions throughout the book, whether they are sad, happy, good or bad, the feelings are always there and this is good because if the book doesn't make you feel emotions then it can get bland and boring for the reader.
My first example states, (page 82) “The bad news, Josh, is that neither Duke nor any college accepts cheaters. Since I can't make a decent man out of you perhaps the Air Force or Marines can.” At this point, I felt really bad for Josh because going to Duke was his lifelong dream and it seemed like he was on the path to head there but now he can't.
My second evidence is, (page 215), “Dad. Had. Another. Attack. Now. Don’t. Worry. I’m. Going. Hospital. See. You. Two. At. Game. Vrooooooommmmmmm. Her car starts. JB, what should we do? I ask. He’s no longer listening to music, but his tears are loud enough to dance to.” At this point I was almost in tears, I felt so sad for the Bell family and how their life is just going bad.
These reasons and evidence proves how this book made me feel a variety of emotions.

My second reason why The Crossover is a fantastic book is because it has a lot of poetic language. If a book doesn't have poetic language, it makes me not want to continue with the book, what poetic language does for me is it makes the book pop out from the other ones.
My first evidence states, (page 10), “He has a slammerific shot it's dunkalicious classy supersonic sassy and down right in your face mcNASTY.” This part was very creative because it rhymed like a song and this book also made up their own words.
My second evidence says, (page 11), “ He dribbles fakes then takes the ROCK to the glass, fast and on BLAST But watch out when he shoots or you'll get SCHOOLed, FOOLed, UNCOOLed.” This is also poetic language because again it made its own words up and made all of them rhyme, also this was creative because it used a cool way of using capital letters.
This is why The Crossover is a great book, it has creative poetic language.

My last reason why The Crossover is a fantastic book is that it is a great book for sports lovers, It really describes the moments where he's in a basketball game really well.
My first piece of evidence states, (page 24), “ especially when I take off from center court, my hair like wings, each lock lifting me higher and higher like a 747 ZOOM ZOOM! I throw down so hard, the fiberglass trembles.” This clearly described dunking and it couldn't've described it any better, it also had similes that made it easier to understand if you are not a sports lover.
My second evidence says, (page 26), “I fling a quick chest pass to my twin brother, JB, number twenty-three, a.k.a. The jumper.”
This piece evidence made me picture the scene in my head, the rocking stadium, all the fans, and Josh dribbling the ball down the court and passing it to his twin brother JB.
These reasons are why The Crossover describes the basketball scenes very well.

All of these reasons are why I gave this book a five out of five stars, it is fantastic, it makes you feel emotions, it has poetic language, and finally, it is a great book for sport lovers. After this information I gave you, I hope you read this book, you will not regret it at all.

am always a sucker for verse books. Add in the blurb and I was hooked. I got lucky and it was available from my library while I was browsing through. I did take a couple pages to get into the flow and style with the capitalization and spacing. It'd been so long since I read a verse book! But once I was in, I was a goner. I finished it as quick as I could. I can def. see why it's so highly praised and won awards. The only little thing for me was the ending wasn't as conclusive and satisfying as I'd like. I'm the type to want all the answers on the page. But it's really great, even with my hang up.

From the first page, I was seduced by the energy and rhythm of language before I even had a chance to get sucked into the story or invested in the lives of its characters. (That came soon enough.)

I was hooked... as in, hook shot... as in, a powerhouse explosion... nothing but net.

Like many twins, 12 year old Josh Bell and his brother JB have always shared a strong bond. We see it both on the court and within their loving, close-knit family. When a "pulchritudinous" girl comes between the brothers and the declining health of their dad becomes a frightening reality, Josh's once-stable world spirals out of control.

The Crossover is about so much more than basketball. Rich in relationship dynamics, this is a multi-layered story about family, friendship, adolescence... and, true to the game which is its lifeline, it's also poetry in motion. Heart-racing, trash-talking swagger is counterbalanced with softer, introspective moments of uncertainty – a boy just trying to make sense of his life. Like his main character, Kwame Alexander puts it ALL out there.

It's wonderful to hear about reluctant readers, boys mostly, being engaged and transformed by this book. But honestly, this is a story that all readers will be able to connect with. Case in point: my 11 year old daughter who has no interest in team sports whatsoever. She loved it as much as I did.

The book The Crossover was written by Kwame Alexander is an inspiring, warm hearted, fantastic read for all ages. This book reminded me of when I fell in love with my favorite sport, and I believe every athlete should read it. The story is told in verses rather than novel like texts, and shares the life of African-American twin brothers whose passion for basketball takes different paths as they enter middle school and other conflicts in their lives. Josh Bell, nicknamed Filthy McNasty by his father is the narrator of the book. Jordan Bell, also known as JB, is Filthy McNasty’s twin brother. The boy’s father, Chuck “Da Man,” is a former professional basketball player and is relatively close to both of the boys. The boys are actively involved in basketball but Josh more than JB wishes to pursue the game at the level his father once did. JB is talented in basketball but he would pursue spending his free time with his new girlfriend. Unfortunately, this change did not sit well with Josh, and demands that JB should get his priorities straight. Josh eventually takes his anger onto the court. He deliberately throws a solid pass to his brother’s face, which almost breaks JB’s nose. This leads to Josh being suspended from playing basketball, creating more distance away from his brother. Meanwhile, at a very young age Chuck’s health starts to decline. And as time goes on, his years of neglecting treatment results in a severe heart attack and eventually passing away. A part of Josh seems to have died with his father. There seems to be no joy left in his life. In time, however, Josh becomes aware that he and his brother still have each other. JB feels similarly and the relationship between the twins begins to grow once again.
Alexander’s poetic style caries throughout the book. Some of the poems are traditional prose poems, while at other times the passages are more in the style of rap. His raps are utilized when Josh takes action on the basketball court. These raps enhance Josh’s passion for this sport and imagines that he can ultimately achieve anything in the world he lives in. Therefore this book would be a great resource for physical education students. This book is not only a sport related book, but it explores empathy and passion, and that’s what I want my students to experience. As a PE teacher it can be difficult to find coming of age readings that pertain to sports. And it is important as an educator to keep their classroom appealing to all students and not only those who love to play basketball. Students can relate to this story because sports are a way to express yourself. And I believe all sports have their own poetry that lay within each playing field. Every student has at least one passion, and this book is a clear indicator how to express that love into something amazing.

Just like lyrics to a song...

Crossover is a story written by Kwame Alexander. It was published in 2014 by the publishing company HMH Books for Young Readers. Crossover is the story of two twin 13 year old boys named Josh and Jordan Bell who love to play basketball. They learned how to play from their professional basketball player father Chuck Bell otherwise known as “Da Man”. Crossover is written as free verse poetry, but also has some elements of jazz, hip hop, rap, and concrete verse in the novel as well. Crossover tells the story about two brothers who are in junior high and love playing basketball together. However, this story is more than just a basketball story. It is a story about life, love, happiness, growing up, growing apart and death. The language of the story is very lyrical and almost sings off the page when you are reading it. The characters are all very easily relatable and does a really good job getting the reader to attach to them emotionally. Young adult readers who enjoyed reading other free verse poems like Crank by Elle Hopkins will love Crossover. I would recommend this to young adults ages 12 and above.

Crossover is the rare Newbery Award winner that will be as popular with tweens and teens as it is with adults. Like all of the great sports novels, Crossover is about much more than twins who are both basketball superstars. It is a touching and memorable story of family, the bonds of brothers and difficult life transitions. Josh Bell is almost an every-teen except for his basketball talent. He has friends, and is semi-social, but is not particularly popular. He loves his family, tries hard in school and dreams of going to Duke. His best friend is his twin brother, Jordan. Josh even wants them to go to Duke together. But, middle school is a huge time of change. Josh is shocked and hurt when he sees Jordan developing different interests and priorities from his. Kwame Alexander believes poetry can change the world and Crossover is a strong testament to his theory. This novel in verse reads like a novel. His shape verse and concrete poems are stunning. His word choice is powerful and thrilling. Even though the verses are short, and the story is short, Josh is a well developed character. Josh is someone every teen will understand. They will identify with his feelings of insecurity and betrayal. They will cheer for him in his games and his personal life. They may even write him a poem or two.

LOVE! This unique, creative book, written in verse, tells a beautiful story. Through spare descriptions & conversations we feel the heart & hurts of junior high basketball star Josh as he deals with various struggles & disappointments concerning his twin brother Jordan, his mother (who is the administrator of his school), and his former-pro-basketball-player father. The significance of the title: a crossover is a basketball move which later takes on a deeper meaning as a poignant metaphor. A clean read perfect for sports-loving junior high boys. Brought tears to my eyes. Touching & timely. Newbery Medal Winner.

Once you start you won't be able to stop.

Josh is serious. About basketball. About family. About his hair. He's a 12 year-old basketball star, son of an international sports icon, and in a constant friendly competition with his twin brother, Jordan. But Josh's life isn't all swish and net. He gets nervous before games. His dad won't go to the doctor. His brother is suddenly ignoring him for a girl.

When Josh loses a bet with his brother he ends up losing more than a few dread-locks. He loses his vision and his confidence. Josh has to find a way back to his brother's side while managing the stress from his mom and dad's fights and the pressure of the upcoming basketball tournaments.

Told in striking verse, THE CROSSOVER never gets boring. Let's be honest, here: I don't like sports. I don't play sports, I don't like watching sports, I don't talk about sports, and I know almost nothing. About. Sports. But that didn't stop me from reading this entire book in one sitting. I was hooked. I was a rough, orange ball spinning around on Josh Bell's fingertip, following his every move. I couldn't stop reading. The prose is twisty, windy, rhythmic and addicting. It mirrors Josh's thoughts, his frame of mind, his emotions and needs and it's like a rollercoaster that you don't want to get off.

There wasn't anything I wanted more from this book. It was a great story, told in a perfect way, and it ended with just the right amount of drama and emotion. I would highly recommend THE CROSSOVER to any and all sports fans, to middle grade students looking for a fast read, and to those looking for something new and interesting that's outside of your comfort zone.

The Crossover is a fun read, employing a poetic, hip-hop writing style to convey the high-energy feel of youth basketball from the perspective of twelve-year-old hoops prodigy, Josh Bell. Josh and his twin brother JB, having grown up with a basketball in their hands thanks to a father who starred in the European league, are not only their team's star players, but also best friends. At least until JB becomes smitten with new girl, Alexis. Can Josh and JB's bond withstand the intrusion of Miss Sweet Tea and their father's deteriorating health? And in the face of these challenges, can their team win the county championship? Grab this book and find out!

I'm generally not big on either novels in verse or stories that center around sports, but Kwame Alexander's The Crossover won me over despite being both. It helps that this is a shorter book for middle-grade readers, but also the author's characters feel very real and the poetic language really brings the basketball games to life. It's well-deserving of its Newbery and other awards.

The Crossover is a novel in verse, and a very well done one at that. Kwame Alexander's writing has heart and soul, rhythm and rhyme, and a great story of life and love to boot. Josh Bell narrates the story of a year in which basketball is important, but family becomes more important. He and his twin brother, Jordan, are the stars of the team but seem to be going separate directions. Josh can only think about winning the championship while Jordan is much more interested in girls, one in particular. Then there's the fact that their dad, a former European League basketball star, may be having health issues.

This is a great read-aloud middle grade book. While it helps to have at least a passing interest in basketball, Alexander's writing pops off the page in such a way that you feel the game the way Josh does. The real heart of the story is not so much the game Josh loves, but the game he is living. Basketball and life are intertwined by the end. There are lessons aplenty in this book, but they aren't the real reason to pick it up and love it. You should pick up Kwame Alexander's The Crossover because he makes the words come to life and has crafted a brilliant novel in verse that a reader of any age can relate to. 5/5 stars for being brilliant, heartfelt, and making you realize just how precious life is.

Wow. I just loved The Crossover by Kwame Alexander! Josh bell, aka Filthy McNasty, loves playing basketball with his twin brother Jordan. He has an amazing crossover and is preparing to lead his team to the championships! His dad, a former pro ball player, is his biggest fan and cheerleader. Things begin to shift when his brother gets a girlfriend. And there’s the constant worry of his dad’s health....
This is an awesome story about family, basketball, and how to navigate the challenges of life as a teenager. I can’t wait to read Rebound!

Although I'm not a big fan of poetry, I love novels in verse. I am always so impressed with how authors can say so much in so few words- words that they have selected so carefully.

Crossover is the story of twin boys, Josh and JB, basketball stars who take after their father. Josh narrates, often writing in a hip hop style that creates a realistic vision of these brothers and their lives.

Josh and JB have always been close, but now that they are getting older, they are finding a few things standing in their way - the most obvious: girls. JB has a girlfriend that is taking up all his free time. While Josh is still focused on basketball, he is having a hard time adjusting to the lack of time he and his brother now spend together.

Their father is the boys' biggest supporter as they pursue their passion for basketball. Yet his own career was cut short due to health problems. As his wife and sons encourage him to watch his diet and address his health issues, he resists, creating stress for the family.

This is a book I want to press into the hands of tween boys who enjoy sports and are looking for a good story. (However, I should also stress that even those teens - or moms like me- who are not sports crazy may find themselves really enjoying Crossover).

Alexander’s powerful words jump off the page, you can hear the rhythm of the verse and you want to move with it, like a spoken word performance. The Crossover is about twin brothers and basketball, family and love and loss. The narration alternates between Josh and Jordan Bell as they crossover in sports, in love, and in heartbreaking loss. We meet one brother, “Josh Bell is my name. But Filthy McNasty is my claim to fame.” And then the other, “Jordan Bell. My twin brother is a baller. The only thing he loves more than basketball is betting.” And the story takes off down the basketball court of life, with fast moves and swishes into the net, suspicions, disappointments, and redemption. I would love to hear this performed on stage by two young actors. Kwame Alexander is a generous author who created his Book-in-a-Day writing and publishing program and takes it out to thousands of students.
CorabelShofner.com

This book is by far the best book I’ve read with my sons since they have learned to read. For a young African American boy who loves basketball and can relate to every sentence from gym shoes to NBA players to the situation at hand addressed in the book, it is a great read. Not only does Kwame make this book so easy to read, there is depth, there is a message, there is enhancement for vocabulary for your child, there are experiences that are real life ones that your child can learn from. I can’t give this book enough praise. But I surely hope there are more books in the works! Our children especially our young boys (who hate to read) - need an author to capture their interest such as this author. Thanks again for making summer reading this year a breeze! My Son got an A on his test for this book.

Read 1/4 of the book waiting in line for Kwame to sign it. Read the rest the next morning before work. (Was late - Just one more page, one more chapter....) Loved it! I laughed I cried. (Really!) Kwame must be a keen observer of family life because he nails the nuances of all the intra-family interactions: father-son (i.e. too many re-tellings of the father's stories to his sons that evokes the usual "not again" responses, which reminded me of my father); mother-son ; husband-wife (wife hiding the salt at the Chinese restaurant); sibling-sibling (too many to cite), junior high school budding romance; I guess just family life in general - it all rings true. I think I learned a lot about basketball, too! The book has so many layers all of which are woven together in a wonderful story. Just read it.

This winsome novel in verse should appeal to reluctant-reading boys in a big way. Kwame Alexander mixes up the stanzas and styles, giving us the Bell family -- patriarch and ex-hoops great Chuck "Da Man" Bell, his wife Crystal (also a middle school principal), and his twin sons, Jordan "JB" and Josh "Filthy McNasty."

Yeah, they love basketball and most of the poems swish through that net, but there are also pages dedicated to family, to their senses of humor, to JB's first love (with a girl Josh calls "Miss Sweet Tea"), to Dad's declining health, to the boys' in-fighting at home. Alexander embeds some lessons about life, too (mostly inconspicuous), plus some vocabulary words -- words that get their own poems.

You might find it a touch didactic but, overall, it engages and invites the reader into the family in such a way that they won't care about lessons being driven home. They'll be too busy enjoying the book Overall, a winner for sports-loving kids -- even if they're poetry-phobic!

Kwame Alexander has written a children's book about boys, basketball, and poetry. The book is divided into chapters like the four quarters of a basketball game with overtime and warm up.

Each chapter and every page is written uniquely as no two pages are alike. While some readers like myself prefer prose style, the poetic writing is suitable for the subject matter.

In six parts, we learn about a high school basketball player, his identical twin brother, his player father, and their mother. We also get to know Josh best of all as he deals with his family, basketball, and girls. Young readers especially boys and even girls might enjoy the poetic styles of the author in telling this story.

My biggest upset with the book comes with the book's ending. While it is realistic, it is also depressing for an adult reader like myself so what about younger readers. Still the book should do well among young readers. It is an easy read overall. The author sure loves to play with words and it is obvious in how he writes his poetry.

Basketball Rule #5

When
you stop
playing
your game
you’ve already
lost.

This book is a slam dunk! Novels in verse are amazing because every word and turn and phrase is poetry, yet the story reads like prose. Kwame Alexander’s <i>Crossover <i> is a basketball game in a book. Each chapter takes you to places on the court and you feel the action even in the moments where there isn’t any. I especially liked the Basketball Rule chapters. I don’t know the game very well, but I know life and this book is as much about life as basketball! The twin brothers, Josh and Jordan, are great characters and the dad, Da Man, is the best dad. I love his lines and his advice to his boys, “Boys, your talent will help you win games, Dad says,
but your intelligence, that will help you win at life.”

This book shoots and scores for anyone who reads it. I'm guessing if you're a boy and you love basketball it's completely perfect, however, I'm a girl and I don't know the game all that well, and I still loved it!

I just finished it and I’m all fired up about it! Also, it's $1.99 on iTunes Books and the store right now.

What a wonderful book! I have to say, I never planned on reading this book, but the author is coming to our area for a book read. I thought I should be somewhat aware of his writing. After reading this, I am so disappointed that I waited so long. I was so engrossed reading the book, I was almost late for work. It's not a long book, but you find yourself falling into the story very quickly.
Honestly, when I first picked up this book, I turned my nose up to the style of how it's written. I am not a fan of poetry in writing or in "motion", but Alexander does a great job of the spoken word on paper. Kudos Mr. Alexander of writing a beautiful story of family, love, passion for the sport and the realism of lost.

“In this game of life, your family is the court and the ball is your heart. No matter how good you are, no matter how down you get, always leave your heart on the court,” Josh Bell states in his fourth of the ten major basketball tips that are based off his life as a pro. Jordan Bell - who is his brother - goes through it all with Josh and his family during the up’s and down’s they have as an influential family in the world of sports. All Josh is trying to accomplish is to be a star player just like his father, Chuck Bell, and to achieve that goal, he must go through the stressful experiences. Josh really emphasizes that without his family, he probably wouldn't be as good as a basketball player as he is now. Whereas in the entire story, it is preached through Josh's eyes and how he handles the life of being a student athlete. He showed us how he handled the worst situation in his life by fighting through it with strength. Loss is really hard to come by, the stress, grief, and overcoming your loss without that special “someone”. Loss is definitely something you can't get through yourself and in Josh's perspective he has his whole family by his side.
Now most books have an aim of interest for certain readers and this book leans more towards the sports players, anyone up for suspense, or what it’s like in the life of a student athlete. But you're probably also thinking this book is for an overall age group because it’s just based off of basketball, but no. There are a few scenes in the story that are very inappropriate for littler ages (grades 2-6). This makes the book fall into a comfortable age group of about grade’s eight and up. The author, Kwame Alexander, has been awarded many significant things for his novels because of his unique way of writing(with poem form). Crossover, the book earned the 2015 Newbery Medal which is one of the most prestigious medals that can be awarded to a book. Crossover has also been awarded the 2015 Coretta Scott King Honor Award. This book has definitely earned every award that it has been given. And the author Kwame Alexander has definitely taught many young adults about many inspiring things.

I loved "The Crossover" by Kwame Alexander. It was a great, creatively crafted, genuine good read contained in 240 pages. It is a story about twin brothers Jordan and Josh. I enjoyed the journey of life, love, loss, truth, basketball, family, and growth that the twins are on. The book has the rhythm of a novel and the rhyme of poetry which crossover...no pun intended. In my opinion, the primary audience for this book will be youth in Grades 4 to 7, poetry lovers, and the Authors' fan base. Any parent or teacher who reads this book will find it enjoyable and refreshing. I was surprised that the issue of health, wellness, and death were tackled...which is something that the youth should be aware of since poor eating habits, lack of exercise due to social media and electronic games, and hereditary health conditions are rampant in today's world. If you are looking for a clean, healthy, wholesome, entertaining read...I recommend "The Crossover".

I was worried this that purely a basketball book, which would alternate many of my 8th grade students who weren't into sports. However, the themes explored in this book range from family to jealousy to healthy living to brotherhood to strength. There's so much going on in here, and basketball is occasionally used as a vehicle to explore those themes.

I was also worried that the entire book was going to be written in rhyme. Thankfully, it isn't. Only about 10 percent is. Also, thankfully, this story avoids the lazy stereotypes that about black families and black culture that seem to infect so many books with African American protagonists. (A black family with two parents? Get out!)

And this is chock full of metaphors, and all that good stuff that fellow teachers (and parents) can use as mentor texts.

I finished this in two nights and can't wait to recommend this book to my male and female students who either love sports, poetry, or stories with rich characters and beautiful writing.

Once I started, I didn't want to put it down. The language and writing are so beautiful, I don't think I can do justice in a review. If I was a 5th-7th grade classroom teacher, I'd read aloud "Warm-Up" which is the first several pages of the book, book talk the rest and then leave it in the classroom library where surely it will be snatched up quickly and passed on from kid to kid. This would be a good book for a literature circle to read and discuss. Lots of content and questions for critical thinking. Might be interesting for students who've read this to do some additional nonfiction reading on European professional basketball and also the chronic medical condition called hypertension; this information might serve to deepen or expand the student's understanding of the story.

Readers will find out that a loss brings out the brotherhood of twin brothers and shows that family love can be healed from sports.
The Crossover is a story about twin brothers named Filthy McNasty(Josh Bell) and JB(Jordan Bell). Now these twin brothers are very good at playing basketball, but that is all because of “Da Man” AKA, dad. The boys dad played basketball and could’ve went pro if he didn’t quit for some unknow reason. Now this reason comes back to the brothers heads and their always wondering why he quit. After Josh had to get one of his dread locks cut of after the loss of a dare, he went to find a box to put them in. Once finding a box in their parents closet Josh and Jordan might’ve found out why his dad quit. Than after a tragic event on the court between the brothers, they don’t talk to each other for awhile. During this time readers will find out that the Bell family has a history of a heart disease. By reading The Crossover readers will see who gets this heart disease, and WARNING it will leave that person on the ground crying in the bathroom.
The Crossover is written by Kwame Alexander. It won the Newbery Medal and a Coretta Scott King Book Honor in 2015. This book is recommended to teens who play sports mainly basketball.
Reviews from Goodreads and Barnes and Noble rate the book 4 out of 5 stars. This novel leaves everyone wanting to read a part 2 so they can can be put back in the shoes of young Filthy McNasty, and see him put everyone to shame.

Summary:
Told in verse, Josh and Jordan tell their story about growing up. Both of them play basketball and several concrete poems simulate the on-court action of their games. The story goes through Josh and Jordan's family life, character, some trouble, and the consequences that are faced by that trouble.

My thoughts:
Honestly, there isn't any way to give this book justice. There are several styles of verse within this novel and each one adds another element. I just love the way that characters and emotions are built so well with the mix of poetry and plot line. One of the reasons I am such a fan of the novels written in verse is that it takes away the fear of understanding poetry. These are easy to understand and not something that has to be taken apart and dissected for deeper meaning. I loved the word usage and play that happened between words and rhythms.

Brilliant - the message, wit, poetry, irony, characters, and plot - all pure genius! Crossover is fun to read and very engaging. The messages are applicable to all kids, all parents, and all teachers. Kwame Alexander's style is so unique and refreshing - one minute he is in your face, the next he's turned his back and quietly asking you to follow along and discover with him. I was drawn into these charming characters' lives and could not wait to share their story with my students. I also had a few in mind who I wanted to place this beauty right into their hands and watch them devour it with awe.

A Slam Dunk!

The Crossover

by Kwame Alexander

Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company

2014

237 pages

ISBN: 9780544107717

Praise for The Crossover<http://www.theguardian.com/books/2015/feb/03/kwame-alexander-newbery-medal-dan-santat-caldecott>

Soaring, swift, and strong, The Crossover, a novel told in verse, will appeal to vast majority of readers. Not just a sports book, the novel tells the story of a close-knit family including Mom, the assistant principal and Dad, an ex-basketball prodigy whose career is cut short due to an injury. Twins Josh and Jordan Bell are both basketball stars on their middle school team. The boys are as close as brothers can get and their relationship is even stronger due to the good natured competitive games they play with each other.

Josh Bell, aka Filthy McNasty, loves his dreadlocks. They give him power and he even calls them his "wings." In "Ode to My Hair," Josh says, "If my hair were a tree/I'd climb it./ I'd kneel down beneath/and enshrine it./I'd treat it like gold/then mine it..." Later, after losing a bet to Jordan, he is forced to part with his beloved locks.

The poetry is both tough and punchy yet sometimes sweet and subtle. When a new girl turns Jordan's head in the cafeteria, Josh says, "JB's eyes are ocean wide, his mouth swimming on the floor..." Jordan's concern ends up being well deserved. The brothers disagree when Josh gets jealous but like brothers, it's over before either of them can let it fester.

Change is inevitable. Growing up is tough even in a loving family. The brothers will need each other more than ever to face the future.

The Crossover just won the Newbery Medal, but that's not why I'm recommending this book. I received this book some time ago but discovered it again when trimming down my "To Read" pile. I picked it up and read the book jacket. Once I read the first few pages, I was in love. From this ex-high school English teacher and poetry lover to you, READ this book and share it with READERS. It is a book that calls for reading aloud. Students and kids will love to HEAR this book. Give them that gift.

This would make a fantastic gift for anyone who loves sports and/or basketball. Fans of hip-hop and rap will appreciate the beats. Poetry lovers will also be huge fans. Reluctant readers will devour this in one sitting and will likely want to read it again.

Highly, highly recommended. A MUST HAVE. All grades.

FTC Required Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher. I did not receive monetary compensation for this review.

This book is an insult to the English language, devalues Newberry Awards, and teaches children bad writing habits.
In order to keep the reader interested Kwame uses a variety of font sizes, bad punctuation, and violates many other fundamental grammar rules that makes it difficult to read.
I cannot describe how bothered I am by the constant praise, multiple accolades, and the fact that this is part of a school reading assignment.
do NOT bUy THis BooK unLeSS thIS SenTence SeeMS Ok, beCAUSE u WiLL SEE stuff throughOUT the BOOk.

a powerful novel told in verse. Josh Bell aka 'Filthy McNasty' is a seventh grader whose dad had a successful career playing basketball in Europe. Josh is a dreadlocked Walter Mitty who envisions an even bigger career for himself and his trash talking twin Jordan aka JB. Their mother is an educator (in fact she is the school principal) and ensures that they get good grades in case their basketball career also becomes filthy mcnasty. Their parents are loving to each other and engaged with Josh & JB. The story packs a one two punch that leaves the reader and the family gasping. Beautifully written by poet Kwame Alexander.

My seventh and 4th graders both loved it. Want to read an author interview? Search "Author Interview Kwame Alexander The Crossover by Jake Aron"

I know nothing, or next to nothing, about basketball. I even tried to read Matt de la Peña's Ball Don't Lie, but I got overwhelmed with the vernacular. Crossover was a good blend for newbies like me and those who could really get into the lingo, especially with the style of novel in verse.
Twins Josh and Jordan live their life to be like their father, who used to play professional European basketball. They were tight, until one twin got a girlfriend, and their unity became two distinct focuses. Any person who hates to read should begins with this book. The story is poignant and the parallels between basketball give it the action.

I loved this book. I don't read much poetry but this book was written in verse that left me speechless. In the parts about basketball, I could feel the dribble, the back and forth, the fake, the crossover. The conversations between Josh and Jordan, Josh and his father, Josh and his mother, all FELT different. They had a different rhythm. And this gave me a better feel for the characters than any description could. The story isn't just about winning, losing, loving the game, but about life and the people in it. I've never read anything like this before.

Josh Bell tells The Crossover all in verse about family and basketball. Kwame Alexander’s writing style matches the speed of Josh’s game perfectly. You’ll feel the adrenaline make your heart pound as hard as Josh’s crossover and your heart will twist as much as your ankles on court. The Crossover’s verses, fonts, sentence structure, and rhyme scheme all make the novel unique and refreshing to read. When Josh isn’t playing basketball, you’ll be standing at the sidelines watching a close-up of Josh dealing with family issues. Josh states in the 10 Rules of Basketball, “Basketball Rule #1, In this game of life, your family is the court and the ball is your heart. No matter how good you are, no matter how down you get, always leave your heart on the court.” Josh knows the importance of family and Kwame Alexander creates a connection of sympathy with you and the main character all with a little bit of basketball involved.
The novel is short, simple, exciting, and easy to understand. It has won the 2015 John Newbery Award and the 2015 Coretta Scott King Honor Award winner. The recommended age group for reading this book would be during your younger teenage years. If you’ve enjoyed Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson, most likely you will also like The Crossover. Cornelius Eady from New York Times Sunday Book Review on The Crossover said, “Basketball is the novel’s red-hot engine. It is the glue connecting the sons and source of the wisdom their father passes down.” Father, sons, and basketball is what the novel is all about. After finishing The Crossover, the novel will make you think, “What will change in the Bell family when Josh and his brother’s dad who they looked up to their entire life finally passes away?” How would your life change in such circumstances? Novels in verse and a book about basketball might be very hit or miss, swish or air ball, but if you can get past that, you’ll be in for a great read.

Mr. Kwame Alexander visited my school today at Pittsburg, CA and he is a really cool dude. He encouraged us to read his book, but not desperately. He taught us some life lessons and talked about his life. His book was rejected by 21 publishers, so he did himself. 1 year later, a publisher accepted his book and he also gets a Newberry award later on. I have not read the book yet, but I do plan to pick one up for the sake of my man. It seems very interesting and it looks great. I also received his autograph which was pretty cool.

I started reading this book earlier this year and it somehow fell to the bottom of a big TBR pile. I pulled it out again and was blown away. Each 'chapter' is a poem to be savored. It turns out to be a story I never expected. Kwame has made so many kids want to read and write and I can see why! This book is pure genius. I cannot wait for BOOKED coming out in the new year.
A Maine State Book Award nominee that kids are falling in love with! Can't wait for Booked!

This novel (not poetry book) was a great read. I loved every minute of it. It honestly deserves more than five stars.
This is a book of basketball, brotherhood, and love. Even though it may appeal to boys who play basketball, I can say that girls who do not play basketball will love it no matter what. Kwame Alexander's novel written in verse is a book that people of all ages will enjoy.
This is one book that may touch the heart of many readers, and possibly bring some to tear.

“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.” This is one of the most famous quotes said by Josh Bell, the main character in The Crossover. Kwame Alexander writer of poetry and children’s fiction comes out with another award-winning book The Crossover. The author received the 2015 John Newberry Medal for the novel and the Coretta Scott King Award, which is given to African-American novelists who display peace and non-violence in their books. The Crossover is a mix of free verse and sizzling poetry; furthermore, it is a story of brotherhood and redemption. The novel mainly focuses on twin brothers Josh and Jordan Bell’s lives who are following their dreams of becoming pro basketball players. Throughout the novel the twins’ face countless problems such as family, relationships, and friendship.
This book is powerful and young adults especially athletes should read The Crossover because it relates to their lives and the problems they may face. This quote said by the twin’s dad really expresses my point: “Never let anyone lower your goals. Others’ expectations of you are determined by their limitations of life. The sky is your limit, sons. Always shoot for the sun and you will shine.” This quote really made me stop and evaluate my life and how I let my peers stop me from succeeding in my goals. Even in the smallest of ways, for example, math class if I have a question sometimes I won’t ask because I don’t want to look dumb. That stops me from exceeding in class. However, now I truly understand that in the long run “acting” smart won’t get me very far. This novel gives great advice to those who hide their true-selves because of peer pressure. The quote above is one of the many life lessons that the book reveals, in itself.
In addition, before I made the decision to read The Crossover, I read some reviews, and the one that truly got me was what famous writer, commentator, and activist Nikki Giovanni said. She said that The Crossover is: “Bold! Explosive! ...I Love The Crossover. Everyone Will.” I completely agree with her because the book is so intriguing and hilarious. The parts that I found hysterical were the ones that sometimes even I do, it’s funny how much the author understands our generation and how we ruminate. Even though this book is a work of fiction, it shows a real family with real problems; and that makes it interesting.
Last but not least, if I was told to compare this book with other books or movies I don’t think I could. I mean the way this novel is structured is so unique, and with the poetic verses and rhymes. It’s out of this world. The way it flows from page to page is so miscellaneous. In conclusion, Alexander Kwame has created a story that vibrates with energy and begs to be read aloud.

Like father, like son. Filthy is more like his father, than I think he saw himself to be. His father lived and breathed the game of basketball, his wife and family came before the sport but that was about the extent of the items that exceeded his fascination with the game. Being a basketball legend, his father led his twin boys into the court at a small age and disciplined them so that their love for the sport extended into their veins. He is their biggest fan, believing in them and pushing them to be successful. Their mother was not far behind in her love of the game and their children but it was the boys in the family who were consumed by the court, the sweat, the bouncing of the ball and the adrenaline of the game. Filthy McNasty and his twin brother J.B. were both stars on the court; both thirteen and each of them carrying a different talent onto the court making them a valuable asset to their team. Filthy is more devoted to the game though; he’s consumed by it just like his father was. Both individuals so devoted and so blind, like father, like son. J.B’s eyes begin to shift to the likings of Ms. Sweet Tea for his attention to basketball has now been diverted. J.B. realizes there is more to life than basketball and Ms. Sweet Tea starts to play an important role in his daily life. Tension starts to creep into the novel as I listened to it, slowly this shift occurs. J.B. has started to move his attention away from basketball, leaving Filthy alone for once in his life and the anger, frustration and let down you can feel in the language and the power of Filthy’s words. Filthy is not used to being alone, he’s not used to having to share his brother and this change is not welcomed. Dad’s health is deteriorating and why is all of this happening now? Mom’s the anchor in the family, her words are strong and she holds nothing back. She wants the world for them but she knows that they must do it for themselves. I think one of my favorite parts of this novel was the conversation between Filthy and his father in the hospital. Their question conversation where not one single answer is spoken was superb. The rapid fire questions, fired back-n-forth at each other, let you into the minds of these individuals and what they were really thinking. What a wonderful conversation tool, it really spoke volumes and cleared the air. I wasn’t too impressed with the ending, I don’t know what I would have done differently as an author, I just know as a reader, it didn’t settle right with me.

12-year-old Josh and his twin brother love basketball and this unique story told in verse narrates their story. It is certainly a novel approach and I agree with some of the other reviewers in that this is either a book that middle grade readers will love or hate. Some of the students I tutor did not care for it, but one student loved it. He found the approach unique and the language was pitched at an appropriate level. The writing style which is in verse is engaging. I think kids who enjoy basketball and rap music might enjoy this book. Recommended for students ages 9-12.

Poetic genius Kwame Alexander wrote a story that my students relate to and love. I current have 6 copies in my classroom because it is one of the most frequently checked out books in our classroom library. The formatting, the cover, and the sense that I hear myself reading in a rap tone are just the tip of the iceberg for how awesome this book is!

I am a 9 year old boy that loved this book. I am also a basketball enthusiast. It had exciting story line, and interesting characters. My favorite character was Filthy, I loved that he could dunk! I also enjoyed JB, because he can hit 3 point shots! The book was a bit sad at the end, but I won't spoil that for you. I highly recommend this book to both girls and boys who enjoy basketball.

This book was just okay. It was difficult for me to adapt to the poetic sentence structure. The storyline was decent.

I can see the innovation that caught the eye of the Newbery committee, but don't think it merits the Newbery Award.

This is a great book for middle grade readers, but also for those in high school. Kwame Alexander's book called Crossover had caught my eye from several fellow teacher recommendations. I checked it out to one of my very reluctant readers, and he diligently sat at his desk and read most of the class period every single day. He liked the theme of basketball, and found the free verse style less intimidating than other books. Kudos to Mr. Alexander!

The book is a good one. However, I am a 4th grade teacher looking to make 4th grade recommendations and I will not recommend this one. I would get this one for 6th graders and up. The boyfriend/girlfriend element is a bit too much for a 4th grader in my opinion. I thought this was worth mentioning since the range on this is 4-7.

Two twin brothers, the son of a great basketball player, play ball together but grow apart when one of the twins has a girlfriend. Things between the two brothers grow worse as their father shows signs of illness. All written in poetry. Newbery Award winner, and deservedly so.

The writing read exactly like the voice of a confused brother coming of age amidst a plethora of changes and challenges - his twin finding a girlfriend, his father's ill health, his mother's expectations of her sons.

The moment I started to read this book, I loved it. The flow of the words just caught me. I am a junior in high school, and this book brought me back to the days of Jr. High playing basketball on the team. I can relate to the main character Josh Bell (Filthy McNasty) because I have a passion for basketball. Reading this book, I began to remember what it's like to play the game with your crush in the stands. Then there's the drama that comes with it, his twin brother feels left behind, and there is a health problem in the family. This book is great for ages 8+. If you have a love for the game, this is your book.

As a middle school librarian I'm always on the lookout for good sports books, which is all a lot of boys will read at that age. I was drawn in by the cover, but wasn't sure about the story-told-through-poetry. It took me a few poems, and then I was hooked! I've never read anything like this and was so interested in the author that I went to his home page and saw he does events at schools. Gonna put that in the budget!

I'm going to be pushing this book to the boys at school this year and hope they are open enough to stick with it because it's a fantastic book on so many levels--the language, the visual imagery, the brothers' relationship and then that of their family. You won't be disappointed in this book.

I must say this author can flow (rap)!!! This story is told in verse. I think this would be great for a middle school kid that is looking for a interesting read. This book is great for those kids into rap and basketball. Great for a kid that is looking for a book that will hold their attention.

I don't care for sports or basketball, but I loved this book.

The poetry elevates the feel, drive and tempo of the novel. The plot is quick, but doesn't move too fast. The family characters are so developed they feel like they could walk right into your living room.

the store labels this book at 4th-7th grade. Please be aware there is a boyfriend/girlfriend relationship and sexual innuendo. Which is fine - but might be in better hands with 6th graders on up.

I am a poet. I love words that dance and leap off pages of a book into my heart. I love stories so compelling I cannot sleep, even at 2 am knowing I must wake up at five, because the characters have captured a piece of me that I cannot let go. Yet, I have never quite read a 'novel in verse', a fully developed story, not written in prose, but told in pages of poems. This was just a delicious and captivating icing on the cake of a good read! OH, and the ending...

DMS

What's not to love in an MG book written in verse about basketball, family values, and struggles both on and off the court.

The Newbery is well-deserved. This book is joyful, heartbreaking, beautiful, and breathtaking.

Whether you're into the sport or not, Alexander's literal and metaphorical parallels to the game of basketball written in poetic form, pull you in to a young boy's journey through, not only the sport, but life itself.

I loved this book and so will any middle grade boy who's into basketball. The writing is poetic and clever and the characters are believable. There's drama on and off the court and is brotherhood strong enough to overcome these obstacles? A great read.

Today, I had the opportunity to read this AWESOME novel. I could not put this book down. I read it in under 2 hours. I also passed it along to one of my students, for 30 minutes of independent reading and he didn't want to put it down. I have found my diamond in the rough. I will be using this easy read as an anchor text for my 6th graders next year. If your child is a reluctant reader, put this book in his or her hands:)

the crossover is a very heart warming story with the relationship between two siblings. I shared this book with every singel on of my friends and they all found it sweet. The main reason i think The author wrote the book was to show a sad background but also joyful.

I haven't read this but my brother has he said it was really really really good. Poetry books are amazing they are an amazing type of book. Other poetry books are Inside out and Back Again. This is my favorite poetry book just by the sound of it. READ IT!! Don't just say you will actually do t!!

This book is great for young boys and girls alike. It touches upon many shared experiences. It was a fairly quick read. I would recommend reading aloud with class. Bring out the emotion in Alexander's words.

I like how the author wrote this book and as well the characters and their struggles. The literature and details was written very well with rhythmic qualities. The entire book was good and well written.

I did not like this book and strongly DO NOT encourage you to read this book!!!!! I hated this book because of the way it was structured. I could see what the author wanted to do with this book, and that was to make it into freevers poetry but that did not work. I disagree with the aarler post that said “this is a great book(:” because I thought it was awful. From the plot which is terrible to the story just jumpes around to fast from Filthy and JBs games to there dads high cholesterol to JB relationship with his girlfriend, It’s just back and forth between those events
Despite all of the awfulness, kwame develops Fithy better than the other characters in the book he is a Great basketball player and he really wants JB’s girlfriend to be his, he really likes her. Despite him wanting JB’s girlfriend he has a good relationship with his brother (JB) and this shows that he has a more loving personality and to prove this towards the end of the book Filthy throws a ball at JBs face very hard, If Filthy passed the ball slowly and to his hands then JB could of made the game winning shot. But he didn't instead he chucked the ball right at his face and immediately caused him a bloody nose, the family had to go to the hospital to check if JB’s nose isn't broken. Furthermore Filthy is my favorite character because of the way he handled this situation. He wrote a letter to his brother and apologised for his actions and said I am lonely without you. This got there brotherly love back together.
My favorite quote in the book is, The doctor patted me and Jordans backs and said,
“Your dad will be fine(Alexander195).” this shows that the family is a tight one because they all care about each other and how everyone is doing on a regular basis. This is also my favorite quote because it shows that after the surgery that there father is going through, in the end he will be fine. Another reason that this is my favorite quote is because there father has a fear of doctors and this surgery that he went through made him like doctors again.
To conclude I do not recommend this book to read but is you like descent character development then this book is for you!!!!!!!!

I haven't read this but my brother has he said it was really really really good. Poetry books are amazing they are an amazing type of book. Other poetry books are Inside out and Back Again. This is my favorite poetry book just by the sound of it. READ IT!! Don't just say you will actually do t!!

This book is great for young boys and girls alike. It touches upon many shared experiences. It was a fairly quick read. I would recommend reading aloud with class. Bring out the emotion in Alexander's words.

I like how the author wrote this book and as well the characters and their struggles. The literature and details was written very well with rhythmic qualities. The entire book was good and well written.

I did not like this book and strongly DO NOT encourage you to read this book!!!!! I hated this book because of the way it was structured. I could see what the author wanted to do with this book, and that was to make it into freevers poetry but that did not work. I disagree with the aarler post that said “this is a great book(:” because I thought it was awful. From the plot which is terrible to the story just jumpes around to fast from Filthy and JBs games to there dads high cholesterol to JB relationship with his girlfriend, It’s just back and forth between those events
Despite all of the awfulness, kwame develops Fithy better than the other characters in the book he is a Great basketball player and he really wants JB’s girlfriend to be his, he really likes her. Despite him wanting JB’s girlfriend he has a good relationship with his brother (JB) and this shows that he has a more loving personality and to prove this towards the end of the book Filthy throws a ball at JBs face very hard, If Filthy passed the ball slowly and to his hands then JB could of made the game winning shot. But he didn't instead he chucked the ball right at his face and immediately caused him a bloody nose, the family had to go to the hospital to check if JB’s nose isn't broken. Furthermore Filthy is my favorite character because of the way he handled this situation. He wrote a letter to his brother and apologised for his actions and said I am lonely without you. This got there brotherly love back together.
My favorite quote in the book is, The doctor patted me and Jordans backs and said,
“Your dad will be fine(Alexander195).” this shows that the family is a tight one because they all care about each other and how everyone is doing on a regular basis. This is also my favorite quote because it shows that after the surgery that there father is going through, in the end he will be fine. Another reason that this is my favorite quote is because there father has a fear of doctors and this surgery that he went through made him like doctors again.
To conclude I do not recommend this book to read but is you like descent character development then this book is for you!!!!!!!!

This book is excellent. Kwame Alexander is brilliant with language and story. I'd recommend this book to anyone who enjoys stories with sports and family themes, and anyone who appreciates the verse format.

I picked up this book expecting a story about basketball and ended knowing I had read an authentic story of brotherhood. Absolutely heartfelt and heartbreaking. Very worthy of its recent honors received. I will be recommending this book to many students for years to come in grades 4-8.

The story manages to be quite emotional considering how little amount of words are used to tell it. I also really appreciate how well developed the characters are, again, especially with the format of the book. A must read!

This is beautifully written, touching, and fun. That's not an easy combination. It should appeal to reluctant readers and eager readers alike. It has great basketball action. It has really good family dynamics. It's a wonderful coming-of-age story. I am a librarian, and I will be handing this to lots of tweens and teens! It's my new favorite.

This is a good book for high school or middle school students, especially those who like sports. I usually do not read poetry, but the way this book was set up, it encouraged me to. If you play basketball, like I do or if you are a high school boy, like I am, you should read this book.

On the way to the game
I’m banished to the back
seat with JB,
who only stops
playing with my locks
when I slap him
across his bald head
with my jockstrap.

This is good poetry? Sad