Monday, March 16, 2015

Bibliophile's Corner

The Crossover
by Kwame Alexander

Amazon Description:
"With a bolt of lightning on my kicks . . .The court is SIZZLING. My sweat is DRIZZLING. Stop all that quivering. Cuz tonight I'm delivering," announces dread-locked, 12-year old Josh Bell. He and his twin brother Jordan are awesome on the court. But Josh has more than basketball in his blood, he's got mad beats, too, that tell his family's story in verse, in this fast and furious middle grade novel of family and brotherhood.

Josh and Jordan must come to grips with growing up on and off the court to realize breaking the rules comes at a terrible price, as their story's heart-stopping climax proves a game-changer for the entire family.


My Thoughts:
Mr. Alexander recently received the Newbery Medal for his unique and imaginative novel, The Crossover. Who would have thought a story about competitive athletes consumed by the sound of a three-point swish and the adrenalin from a slam dunk, could be written in verse? That's just what the uber-talented author Kwame Alexander did! For me, this novel is ground-breaking. Subjects of sibling rivalry and the painful challenges of family life intertwine with beautiful basketball metaphors throughout all four quarters of this fast-break winner.
I highly recommend Crossover to boys and girls aged eight to twelve.

Click here to learn about the talented author/poet, Kwame Alexander.