The term is kind of broad because a good book is a good book and can be enjoyed by any age. The hardcover book has the texture and orange color of a basketball. New york times bestseller newbery medal winner coretta scott king honor award 2015 yalsa 2015 top ten best fiction for young adults 2015 yalsa quick picks for reluctant young adult readers publishers weekly best book school library journal best book kirkus best book a beautifully measured novel of life and line. The publicity and marketing worlds that are opened by a crossover novel can be a boon to exposure and sales for that book. Family, thematically, involves mutual love, compassion, loyal between, as well. This is another book that i am unlikely to have ever chosen to read on my own, but i could definitely see myself using it in the classroom as it has many teachable elements and, very importantly, shows. In this game of life your family is the court and the ball is your heart. Alexander believes that poetry can change the world, and he uses it to inspire and empower young people. Kwame alexander is a poet, educator, and the new york times bestselling author of 28 books, including rebound, the followup to his, newbery medalwinning middle grade novel, the crossover.
Kwame alexander is a poet, childrens book author, playwright, producer, public speaker and performer. Hey all, so ive been testing some cds i had lying around and found this one and a couple of other living books. There are lots of stories about reading the book, but this time they watch the movie. May 12, 2017 parents need to know that author and poet kwame alexanders the crossover is a poignant novel in verse that mixes basketball, family, and comingofage themes and includes serious issues regarding adult health and a parents lifethreatening condition. Josh and jordan j kwame alexanders the crossover won both the newberry and coretta scott king awards for childrens literature in 2014. Josh bell is a talented middle school basketball player, as is his twin brother jordan read more. The grand tradition of crossover novels books the guardian. Was it necessary for the development of plot, theme andor characters. I believe that the crossover by keane alexander is such a book. 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. You know exactly the kid who needs this book, who will fall in love with this book.
Its almost like a jornle of each day explaniing an important part of his days. A survey will also show that all of them come to life through unusual experiences by christians. Read the crossover by kwame alexander available from rakuten kobo. The crossover pdf ebook a newbery medal winning novel by. Top ten crossover books for ya readers to try the reading date. On the surface, kwame alexanders verse novel the crossover looks simple. Next, use that word as the foundation for a complete thought such as. Best wordpress templates for book authorspublishers. The crossover pdf ebook a newbery medal winning novel. Decoding the newbery is a monthly column in which newbery medal winners are examined and deconstructed by regular contributor and author catherine faris king this month, we examine 2015 newbery medal winner, the crossover by kwame alexander. The crossover is the story of basketball phenom josh bell, his twin.
For example, you could say preparation best symbolizes the three little pigs. It will appeal to middle grade readers who like sports especially basketball and coming of age stories. Mar 18, 2014 new york times bestseller newbery medal winner coretta scott king honor award 2015 yalsa 2015 top ten best fiction for young adults 2015 yalsa quick picks for reluctant young adult readers publishers weekly best book school library journal best book kirkus best book a beautifully measured novel of life and line. He lives with his wife and two daughters in the washington, d. The crossover by kwame alexander overdrive rakuten. The crossover will make a great bridge to books like matthew quicks boy21, too, both because of the content and the welldrawn, dynamic, and memorable characters.
The point of view is taken in the first person beascuse the kid tells the story from his point of view. New york times bestseller newbery medal winner coretta scott king honor award 2015 yalsa 2015 top. Crossover books are books that are written with an adult reader in mind but also appeal to ya readers. The crossover, by kwame alexander the new york times. Kwame alexander is a poet, educator, and new york times bestselling author of 21 books, including the crossover, which received the 2015 john newbery medal for the most distinguished contribution to american literature for children, the coretta scott king author award honor, the ncte charlotte huck honor, the lee bennett hopkins poetry award, and the passaic poetry prize. I believe that most of the themes were the same throught the entire series. The crossover is a 2015 childrens book by american author kwame alexander and the winner of the 2015 newbery medal and coretta scott king award honor. The crossover is destined to reachand touchreaders who never gave basketball or poetry a second thought until now. What the mostly freeverse novel does have is a likable protagonist, great wordplay. Parents need to know that author and poet kwame alexanders.
The themes are reoccuring and evolving in each book as harry comes to understand andor accept them a little more. You know exactly the kid who needs this book, who will fall in love with this book, and most important, who will see himself in this book. Its tough, muscular writing about a tender, unguarded heart. While sports plays an important role in the story, important themes including. Here are what i see as the main reoccuring themes in eac. Join the library in a discussion of one of jason reynolds awardwinning young adult books, long way down, in preparation for his visit to davenport on march told in verse, long way do. In the book they go through many problems such as when jb starts to not hang out with filthy and only hangs out with his girlfriend. Alexander lives in reston, virginia and when hes not writing, he runs programs to introduce children to writing and publishing. The crossover, by kwame alexander the washington post. Supersummary, a modern alternative to sparknotes and cliffsnotes, offers highquality study guides for challenging works of literature. I was surprised that i enjoyed the crossover as much as i did.
He conducts creative writing workshops in middle and high schools, often reaching more than 500 students monthly. This is a book young people will probably want to read more than once, both for the themes in the story and for the authors storytelling. The crossover themes from litcharts the creators of sparknotes. Enter your mobile number or email address below and well send you a link to download the free kindle app. Then you can start reading kindle books on your smartphone, tablet, or computer no kindle device required.
The crossover study guide from litcharts the creators of. Bookpage alexanders at the top of his poetic game in this taut, complex tale of the crossover from brash, vulnerable boy to young adult. What are the themes of each book in the harry potter series. This 45page guide for the crossover by kwame alexander includes detailed chapter summaries and analysis covering 4 chapters, as well as several more indepth sections of expertwritten literary analysis. I showed this book to my gifted 4th graders and the boys who previously. Booked the crossover series and millions of other books are available for instant access. Im definitely going to be checking out some of these recommendations, like the princess bride and water for elephants. I like that the poems are arranged differently on each page, depending on how kwame alexander wants you to react.
A reading list for the best new books featuring books that are targeted at adults but are likely to be of interestsuitable for teens, with links to full book information. The crossover summary and study guide supersummary. Mar 18, 2014 his soccer dream derailed, nick turns to the books he has avoided and finds more than he expected. The title of this book the crossover is an important phrase and idea throughout the book. When you finish reading, ask yourself to sum up the book in a single word. The characters of kwame alexanders versenovel entered my heart, as it showed the many ways in which the basketball, the truth, love, and life cross over and. The book, which is told entirely through verse, was first published in the united states in hardback on march 18. On my list of mustread crossover books are alice in wonderland, the brothers karamazov. Book awards book club selections books by author books by series coming soon kids books new releases. Soaring, poignant, novel in verse hits all the right spots. This study guide consists of approximately 39 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of the crossover. The crossover by kwame alexander is the first book in the crossover series.
A books theme is not the same as its plot or its moral lesson, but these elements are related and necessary in building the larger story. The crossover is a young adult novel by kwame alexander that follows the life experiences of 12yearold. Personalize your reading list by genre, time period, geographical setting and a wide range of themes, crossreference two categories, and more. This is another book that i am unlikely to have ever chosen to read on my own, but i could definitely see myself using it in the classroom as it has many teachable elements and, very importantly, shows boys that there are books out there for them and their interests. It is full of action and contemporary references, as well as realistic family dynamics. It is the glue connecting the sons and source of the wisdom their father passes downthe biggest surprise of the crossover is that, for all the bells and whistles of a young mans game, it is most boldly and certainly a book about tenderness. The crossover by kwame alexander the book smugglers. Its about a boy and his brother who play basketball. Josh bell is a talented middle school basketball player, as is. Learn how to find the theme of a book or short story. Some of his other works include booked, which was longlisted for the national book award, the playbook.
The crossover will make a great bridge to books like matthew quick s boy21, too, both because of the content and the welldrawn, dynamic, and memorable characters. Basketball is extremely important to them, and they both want to play professionally someday. The plot of a novel is the action that takes place within the course of the narrative. The crossover study guide contains a biography of kwame alexander, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full. We are really hoping to explore themes and symbolism in the stories with this fanfiction, so if you are looking for some meaningless bits. What the mostly freeverse novel does have is a likable protagonist, great wordplay, solid.
What do a giant crocodile, a threeheaded monster, and a bowlingpin crown have in common. The crossover follows twelveyearold josh bell, a star basketball player better known by his nickname filthy mcnasty, and his twin and. Using basketball as a metaphor for life, alexander imparts life lessons to adolescents in a non threatening way that has teachers reaching for his books. Josh has many identities in this bookson, brother, basketball player, poet, and friend. The myth about crossover books leslie stobbe august 10, 20 theres a myth floating around in the christian writing community that a christian writer with a cultural, apologetic or evangelistic message can write a book that will reach both christians and nonchristians. As the mother of a yearold, i wonder what books will pull him away from his. Family is an important theme in the novel the crossover by kwame alexander. The narrator of the novel which is told in verse is josh bell, an 8thgrade boy. The crossover the crossover series alexander, kwame on. Theyre all the work of a powerhungry ghost who craves immortality. To defeat him, demigods percy and annabeth and magicians sadie and carter must use a special blend of magic. Jul 11, 2019 if you find yourself struggling to identify the theme of a book youre reading, theres a simple trick you can use. May 11, 2014 the biggest surprise of the crossover is that, for all the bells and whistles of a young mans game, it is most boldly and certainly a book about tenderness.
Browse for books by genre, time period, setting and theme. Download an educators guide to the 2015 newbery medalwinning book the crossover by kwame alexander. His books childrens book ghost and ya novel long way down have won numerous awards. Alexanders highly anticipated followup to newberywinning the crossover is a reflective narrative, with little of the first books explosive energy. Family, thematically, involves mutual love, compassion, loyal between, as well as emotional, physical, and even spiritual support and encouragement of individuals who may or may not be bloodrelated, but who still behave according to the typical family structure. The crossover ebook by kwame alexander rakuten kobo. The crossover won the newbery medal in 2015 and was also recognized as an honor book for the coretta scott king award.
Parents need to know that author and poet kwame alexanders the crossover is a poignant novel in verse that mixes basketball, family, and comingofage themes and includes serious issues regarding adult health and a parents lifethreatening condition. Have students pull out the theme as well as some minor themes. The best crossover book is one christians love and give to relatives and friends. In this middle grade novel told in dynamic verse, twelveyearold twin basketball stars josh and jordan wrestle with highs and lows on and off the court as their father ignores his declining health. Oct 06, 2014 the crossover will make a great bridge to books like matthew quicks boy21, too, both because of the content and the welldrawn, dynamic, and memorable characters.
The biggest surprise of the crossover is that, for all the bells and whistles of a young mans game, it is most boldly and certainly a book about tenderness. He and his twin brother jordanor jbare basketball stars and are best friends on and off the court. One of the main comments i had with my old living books series was for no. The cat in the hat is the sixteenth living book, released in august 11, 1997 based off the famous popular 1957 childrens story and written by dr.
Josh bell is a talented middle school basketball player, as is his twin brother jordan. The crossover is about two twin brothers, jb jordan bell filthy mcnasty josh bell. Every book has a theme and we often see the same theme in many books. When we refer to the theme of a book, we are talking about a universal idea, lesson, or message that stretches through the entire story. Right from the start, kwame alexanders new book, the crossover, looks, sounds and even feels different. Apr 01, 2014 dunkalicious josh bell dribbles fakes then takes the rock to the glass, fast in this dynamic sports novel in verse by kwame alexander, who lives in northern virginia. At times he likes his nickname filthy mcnasty, but at other times he wants to be called josh. As a fullfledged adult, i love reading picture books, middle grade, young adult, adult, nonfiction, poetry. Connect with other novels that have family relationships as a major theme.
New york times bestseller newbery medal winner coretta scott king honor award 2015 yalsa 2015 top ten best fiction. When i was a teen i read adult fiction, mystery and romance and now ive added ya to the mix. Dunkalicious josh bell dribbles fakes then takes the rock to the glass, fast in this dynamic sports novel in verse by kwame alexander, who lives in northern virginia. I wish there were more books with male protagonists like this in this age group. Sep 19, 2007 the grand tradition of crossover novels. Nick turns to the books he has avoided and finds more than he expected. The crossover won the newbery medal for literature in 2015. It won the 2015 newbery medal and a coretta scott king book honor, and may inspire a discussion about healthy lifestyle choices and.