By: Beth Spencewood
I read this year’s 2015 Newberry winner, The Crossover by Kwame Alexander, which is told entirely through verse from the perspective of 12-year-old basketball player, Josh Bell. I wasn’t sure that I would like this novel since I’m not particularly interested in sports and haven’t read much in verse, but was pleasantly surprised. I was immediately drawn into both the story and the game of basketball through Alexander’s high-energy, stylized verse, such as this segment from the very first poem:
Josh, and his twin brother, JB, are co-stars on their high school basketball team. After hours they practice with their former basketball superstar father, who teaches them life lessons through the lens of the game:
We follow Josh as he copes with his twin brother’s infatuation with his new girlfriend, the consequences of breaking the rules, and growing concerns about his father’s health. Alexander beautifully conveys universal feelings of jealousy, anger and loss through Josh’s experiences. This is all done while changing the style of verse to fit the mood of each point in the story and staying true to a 12-year-old point of view. It’s a story about fathers and sons, being a twin, and heartbreak that that is both touching and fun to read.
Don’t miss it.
Don’t miss it.