” It’s the same ingredients in our kitchen as everyone else’s: we want to publish books for children that are smart and fun, that inform and inspire, that help children imagine a better world. My goal is just to make sure there are more chefs in the kitchen, more voices in the room, that create unique and intelligent entertainment that electrifies and edifies young people.”- Kwame Alexander

New York Times Bestselling author, Kwame Alexander, wrote his first poem at the age of 12. For his mother. From there, the rest is history. So to speak. He has written over 21 books and is an award winning poet and author. Alexander credits his love for reading and writing to his parents, growing up in a house where books were all around him, but it wasn’t until college that he realized how cool poetry was. For The Crossover, he wanted to give readers an entry into what it was like to see legendary greats, like Michael Jordan, who people described was like seeing “poetry in motion.”

Published in 2014, Newberry Medal winner, The Crossover tells the story of 12 year-old twin brothers, JB and Josh, who rule the court as the two star players on their basketball team. Sons of legendary basketball player, Chuck “Da Man” Bell, they have big shoes to fill as they navigate middle school, basketball, girlfriends, and their father’s failing health. This is a story about family, passion, and what matters most in the end.

I absolutely loved reading this book and I am excited to share it with my students! I think students are turned off by poetry books, but I think this one is different. I think they will be surprised at how quick and entertaining of a read it is. It is poetry, but it is accessible for all. The Crossover alternates between three poetic styles- free verse, an announcer style and lyrical- which keep the reader engaged and wanting to read more. The reader is able to get into the mind of the narrator, Josh, and empathize with how he is feeling with the changes that are going on around him. “The main reason I can’t sleep tonight is because Jordan is on the phone with Miss Sweet Tea and between the giggling and the breathing he tells her how much she’s the apple of his eye,” (Alexander, p. 120). Alexander alternates back and forth between giving the reader information and describing the action in the games. When doing so, the writing takes on a lyrical tone. “Dunkalicious CLASSY Supersonic SASSY and DOWN right in your face mcNASTY,” (Alexander, p.10). He also utilizes an announcer style voice during the games which builds up the excitement as you’re reading the text, “He’s a Backcourt Baller On the break, a RUNNING GUNNING SHOOTING STAR flying fast,” (Alexander, p. 149). Ultimately, it is the tone that is set, with the precise vocabulary and dialogue, that captures my heart in this adolescent novel. “I bet the dishes you miss number fifty, he says, walking away. Hey, I should. We Da Man. And when he turns around I toss him the ball,” (Alexander, p. 237).

Another unique characteristic of The Crossover is the use of figurative language throughout. It’s not only catchy, but also insight into what’s going on within the plot. “The gym is a loud, crowded circus. My stomach is a roller coaster. My head, a carousel,” (Alexander, p. 24). In just three sentences, the reader can see, feel and hear what is happening in that specific moment. On page 67, Alexander writes, “This place is oozing crimson…This game is like Ping-Pong.” Again, another visual for the reader of what the game looks like.

Lastly, I especially love how Alexander incorporates the vocabulary poems throughout the book that support the plot, specifically the one describing ‘pulchritudinous.’ Listening to the video describing how he came to that idea was very interesting and I think it would be worth sharing with students.

This book most certainly lends itself to critical literacy for students. You can examine multiple topics- perspective, racial inequalities, family and loss. While the reader only gets inside the mind of Josh, there are opportunities to delve into the other characters. The book ends with a cliffhanger that the mom is a doctor which the reader doesn’t find out until the end. This fact alone lends itself to evaluating how different characters feel. There’s another section where Josh and his father get pulled over by a cop. In the book, the officer recognizes Chuck Bell and there is no mistreatment, but students could explore other situations where this is not the case. There’s another part in the book where the mother is having a conversation with Josh about how he needs to act, whether this is racial or not is up to the reader to decide. “Boys with no self-control become men behind bars…Make me understand. When did you become a thug?” (Alexander, p. 139). Lastly, I think this is a strong book to explore the issue of loss and how it affects people differently.