The Crossover

The Crossover
Author Kwame Alexander
Country United States
Language English
Published 2014
Publisher HMH Books for Young Readers
Media type Print, e-book, audiobook
Pages 240 pages
Awards Newbery Medal[1]
Coretta Scott King Award Honor
ISBN 0544107713
OCLC 842316307
LC Class PZ7.5.A44 Cr 201

The Crossover is a 2014 children's book by American author Kwame Alexander and the winner of the 2015 Newbery Medal and Coretta Scott King Award Honor.[2] The book, which is told entirely through verse, was first published in the United States in hardback on March 18, 2014 through HMH Books for Young Readers. The story follows two African-American twin brothers that share a love for basketball but find themselves drifting apart as they head into their junior high school years. They also run into many obstacles that they must overcome.

Summary

The lives of twin brothers Josh (Filthy McNasty) and Jordan (J.B.) Bell are followed as they learn to accept change, responsibility, and loss in their middle school years. They both love basketball considerably and it serves as a backdrop for the events of the story.

The Bell family consist of the mother, Crystal, who is caring and frequently worries about her husband’s, Chuck “Da Man” Bell, health. Chuck used to play professional basketball in a European league when he was younger. Throughout the story, Chuck is seen coughing, breathing heavily, and even passing out due to health complications. Josh views basketball differently than his brother Jordan. To Josh, basketball is a way of life that can bring ultimate rewards. Josh aspires to play professional ball, unlike Jordan, who has dreams outside the sport.

As the school years progress, the relationship between Josh and Jordan deteriorates. The first damaging event happens when Jordan gets a girlfriend. He spends more time with her than with Josh and basketball. To connect with Jordan and release his anger, Josh makes a bet about a game of ball they play. In the end Josh loses and Jordan gets to cut a piece of his hair. Josh stumbles and takes more than was bargained for. When Crystal sees her son’s hair, she makes him shave it completely off; symbolizing the growing rift and independence between the twins.

The chasm between the twins grow and during a game Josh purposefully passes the ball to Jordan too hard. The pass breaks Jordan’s nose and Josh is suspended from basketball. As time continues, Josh notices his father’s health is declining. Eventually, Chuck has a heart attack and is hospitalized. As Josh discovers more about his father’s professional life and attitude, he sees how fame brought about a sense of invincibility to Chuck which affected his decisions that ultimately landed him in the hospital suffering from heart attack at the age of 39. Chuck has two more heart attacks and passes away.

After Chuck’s death, Josh feels that a part of him died with his father and he begins to feel isolated and directionless. Josh breaks down and confesses to Jordan, whom he hasn’t had a serious conversation with in some time, the he feels no joy. To his surprise, Jordan feels the same way. As the story concludes, the boy’s relationship is shown to be repairable as they start to connect and rekindle their relationship.

Characters

  • Alexis:(Has a unique nickname "Miss Sweet Tea" during the majority of the book, or "Miss (bitter) Sweet Tea")
  • Charles (Chuck) "Da Man" Bell: Father of Josh and Jordan and a former professional basketball player
  • Coach Hawkins: Josh, JB and Vondie's Veteran basketball coach
  • Dr. Crystal Stanley-Bell: Mother of Josh and Jordan Assistant Principal of their school. (Reggie Lewis Junior High)
  • Jordan "JB" Bell: Josh's twin brother.*main character
  • Josh "Filthy McNasty" Bell: the narrator and protagonist of the story. *main character
  • Vondie Little: Josh and JB's teammate.

Reception

Critical reception for The Crossover has been positive. According to Kirkus Reviews, "Poet Alexander deftly reveals the power of the format to pack an emotional punch."[3] In Booklist, Gail Bush called The Crossover "a rare verse novel that is fundamentally poetic rather than using this writing trend as a device."[4] Writing for the Washington Post, Mary Quattlebaum said Alexander was "at the top of his poetic game in this taut, complex tale of the crossover from brash, vulnerable boy to young adult."[5] Poet Cornelius Eady wrote in The New York Times, "The biggest surprise of 'The Crossover' is that, for all the bells and whistles of a young man's game, it is most boldly and certainly a book about tenderness."[6] According to Katrina Hedeen in The Horn Book Magazine, "Alexander brings the novel-in-verse format to a fresh audience with this massively appealing package for reluctant readers, athletes especially."[7] Writing for School Library Journal, Kiera Parrott said, "Alexander has crafted a story that vibrates with energy and heart and begs to be read aloud. A slam dunk."[8]

References

  1. ↑ Flood, Allison. "Kwame Alexander slam dunks Newbery medal with basketball tale The Crossover". The Guardian. Retrieved 10 February 2015.
  2. ↑ Barron, Christina (February 2, 2015). "Kwame Alexander wins Newbery Medal". Washington Post. Retrieved June 20, 2017.
  3. ↑ "THE CROSSOVER by Kwame Alexander". Kirkus Reviews. December 18, 2013. Retrieved June 20, 2017.
  4. ↑ Bush, Gail (March 15, 2014). "Crossover, by Kwame Alexander". Booklist. Retrieved June 20, 2017.
  5. ↑ Quattlebaum, Mary (April 1, 2014). "'The Crossover,' by Kwame Alexander". Washington Post. Retrieved June 20, 2017.
  6. ↑ Eady, Cornelius (May 9, 2014). "'The Crossover,' by Kwame Alexander". The New York Times. Retrieved June 20, 2017.
  7. ↑ "Reviews of the 2015 Newbery Award winners". The Horn Book Magazine. February 2, 2015. Retrieved June 20, 2017.
  8. ↑ "SLJ Reviews of 2015 Youth Media Award-Winning and Honor Books". School Library Journal. February 2, 2015. Retrieved June 20, 2017.
Awards
Preceded by
Flora & Ulysses		 Newbery Medal & coretta scott king award recipient
2015		 Succeeded by
Last Stop on Market Street
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