The Crossover by Kwame Alexander

Alexander, K. (2014). The crossover. New York, NY: Houghton Mifflin Company.

Josh, and his twin brother, Jordan, are African American kids who love the game of basketball. Their mom is the middle school principal, and their dad is a former pro basketball star. The boys love playing basketball and learning the game from their father. As the twins navigate middle school, Josh become increasingly jealous of Jordan because Jordan gets a girlfriend. Josh, who’s very close with his father, is upset Jordan isn’t spending as much time with them. Josh starts showing his aggression by hurting Jordan during a basketball game. Throughout the book, their dad, Chuck, has health issues and refuses to seek help. While playing basketball with Josh, his dad has a major heart attack and dies at the hospital. It is then Josh realizes that no matter what Jordan will always be there for him, and that family is the most important thing in life. The way the author uses rhythm, rhyme, bold, and italicized words gives emphasis to the reader’s emotions. The mood and tone are set by the poetic format of the text. At first glance the reader is likely to think the book is fun and easy to read. The vivid adjectives and verbs help create elaborate images in the reader’s mind. The plot which is about a young boy’s love of family and basketball, is written to make the reader feel emotionally connected to the characters in the book. This book might be of interest to people who love basketball, and heartwarming stories about family.