- Citation: Alexander, K. (2014). The crossover. HMH Books for Young Readers.
- Publisher: HMH Books for Young Readers
- Year published: 2014
- Number of pages: 240
- Interest level: grades 5-9
- Reading level/grade level equivalent: 5
- Lexile: 750L
- Genre: Verse/YA
- Awards: Newbery Medal (2015), Dorothy Canfield Fisher Children's Book Award Nominee (2016), Coretta Scott King Award for Author Honor (2015), Charlotte Huck Honor Book (2015)
My Review:
This book almost hit the chopping block when I was selecting books to read for my LIBS class. I never read sports books, rarely read poetry books, so this book was scoring 0 for 2 straight from the start. Once it won the Newbery Medal Award, everyone was recommending it to me. I was able to read it in one shot (about 3 hours) and I will be the first to admit I was teary-eyed by the end. The book stays with you for a long time after finishing it. It might have been because the book was about identical twins (I have an identical twin sister) or it might have resonated with me because of the father's health problems (my father also had heart disease and died at a young age). I found the family to be so realistic, it felt like you were sitting in their kitchen, listening to the conversations between mother and son while reading the poetry. And the poetry! My goodness! The free verse flows so well that it seems to take you on a lyrical journey. The white space left behind on each page gave me the ability to focus on the few words on the page....and they were powerful words! Some were in capital font, others were spaced out or shifted to the side. The layout of the poems kept the rhythm for the book.
At first glance, you think this is a story about two amazing basketball players but it was so....much....more. There is a focus on family, starting with two amazing parents (mom is a principal and dad is a retired basketball player), and the twins, Jordan and Josh, learning to balance growing up with growing apart. Jordan has found a girlfriend, and for the first time, the boys are not in sync. They learn to navigate their ways through the tough times of life by looking out for each other and supporting each other.
This is a fantastic book to lure a reluctant reader into the library. I can see the boy appealing to both boys for the sports aspect and girls for the poetry/budding relationship aspect. The book's free verse poetry has a high artistic quality and literary style.
This is a fantastic book to lure a reluctant reader into the library. I can see the boy appealing to both boys for the sports aspect and girls for the poetry/budding relationship aspect. The book's free verse poetry has a high artistic quality and literary style.
Professional Review:
Gr 6–10—Twins Josh and Jordan are junior high basketball stars, thanks in large part to the coaching of their dad, a former professional baller who was forced to quit playing for health reasons, and the firm, but loving support of their assistant-principal mom. Josh, better known as Filthy McNasty, earned his nickname for his enviable skills on the court: "…when Filthy gets hot/He has a SLAMMERIFIC SHOT." In this novel in verse, the brothers begin moving apart from each other for the first time. Jordan starts dating the "pulchritudinous" Miss Sweet Tea, and Josh has a tough time keeping his jealousy and feelings of abandonment in control. Alexander's poems vary from the pulsing, aggressive beats of a basketball game ("My shot is F L O W I N G, Flying, fluttering…. ringaling and SWINGALING/Swish. Game/over") to the more introspective musings of a child struggling into adolescence ("Sit beside JB at dinner. He moves./Tell him a joke. He doesn't even smile….Say I'm sorry/but he won't listen"). Despite his immaturity, Josh is a likable, funny, and authentic character. Underscoring the sports and the fraternal tension is a portrait of a family that truly loves and supports one another. Alexander has crafted a story that vibrates with energy and heart and begs to be read aloud. A slam dunk.
—Kiera Parrott, School Library Journal.
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Teaching Ideas
Visualize the characters. The main characters consist of Jordan (JB) Bell, Josh "Filthy McNasty" Bell, Chuck "Da Man" Bell (dad), and Dr. Crystal Stanley-Bell (mom). When you read the verses that involve interactions with the parents, such as when the brothers are playing basketball with their father at the rec center or talking to their mom in the kitchen, how do you visualize what the parents look like? You know that the brothers are twins, but they have different hairstyles and attitudes. Draw a family portrait of the way you visualize the main characters.
SOL correlation: English 7.5: The student will read and demonstrate comprehension of a variety of fictional texts, narrative nonfiction, and poetry.
SOL correlation: English 7.5: The student will read and demonstrate comprehension of a variety of fictional texts, narrative nonfiction, and poetry.
List poems. Several of the poems in the book are classified as list poems. Read "This Week I" (pg. 144-145) out loud. Research other list poems examples such as Bleezer's Ice Cream by Jack Prelutsky and Sick by Shel Silverstein. Using a graphic organizer, compare and contrast three different examples of list poems. Use the list poem generator to create a list poem of your own.
SOL correlation: English 6.5: The student will read and demonstrate comprehension of a variety of fictional texts, narrative nonfiction, and poetry.
SOL correlation: English 6.5: The student will read and demonstrate comprehension of a variety of fictional texts, narrative nonfiction, and poetry.
Nickname Knowledge. Read "How I Got My Nickname" (pg. 6-7) and "At First" (pg. 8-9). Assist students in brainstorming the importance of nicknames. Allow students to create brainstorming webs or graphic organizers that show many aspects of nicknames in the book, such as where Josh's nickname originated from, his initial reaction to the nickname, the significance for Josh's father, and the changing attitudes towards the nickname. In what context is Josh's nickname used by his brother, friends, coach, and father--in anger? in support? in teasing? Compare and contrast situations where Josh both liked and disliked his nickname. As a conclusion activity, invite the school guidance counselor to visit the classroom and discuss with the students how nicknames can often become name-calling and unkind and lead to verbal abuse/bullying. Discuss parameters for how nicknames should be used among students. Role play how to handle when a student receives an unwanted nickname.
SOL correlation: Health 7.5 The student will work cooperatively with others to support and promote healthy schools, families, and communities.
SOL correlation: Health 7.5 The student will work cooperatively with others to support and promote healthy schools, families, and communities.
Shape Poems. Assist students in watching a video on how to create shape poems here. Discuss how the shape of some of the poems lent an understanding of the content of the poem. Revisit the poems on pages 3, 10, 30/31, 36, 59, 94, 149, 181, 221/222. Create a chart to describe the shape of each poem and the meaning behind it. Which words stand out to you most? Why? What has the author used in terms of font, size, boldness, and shape?
Visit the shape poem generator here. Assist students in creating their own shape poems.
SOL correlation: English 6.5: The student will read and demonstrate comprehension of a variety of fictional texts, narrative nonfiction, and poetry.
SOL correlation: English 6.5: The student will read and demonstrate comprehension of a variety of fictional texts, narrative nonfiction, and poetry.
Pair and Share. Several of the poems are written in both plain and italicized text. The style of writing lends itself to two different voices talking and responding in the same poem. Assist students in pairing up. Ask the students to choose one of the following poems in the book: "Phone Conversation" (pg. 106-109), "Suspension" (pg. 138-141), or "I Run into Dad's Room" (pg. 165). Have the students choose to be one "voice" in the poem and read their sections out loud to each other. Ask the students to change voices and read the other sections out loud to their partners. Have the students discuss what meaning the different texts gave to their chosen poem. Which "voice" did they prefer to be? Why?
SOL correlation: English 6.1 The student will participate in and contribute to small-group activities.
SOL correlation: English 6.1 The student will participate in and contribute to small-group activities.
Heart Health Research. Josh and Jordan's dad had several symptoms of heart disease but was quick to dismiss their severity. His wife's many attempts to get him to see a doctor were rebuffed with affectionate banter or a claim that he just didn't like hospitals, due his own father's early death. Working with the physical education/health teacher, conduct research on heart attacks and heart disease. What are the symptoms? What are the treatment options? How many people are affected each year? Do genetics play a role in heart disease? How can heart disease be prevented? Create an informational poster that explains your research and include data, pictures, and sources.
SOL correlation: Life Science/LS.3: The student will investigate and understand that living things show patterns of cellular organization and that cells, tissues, organs, and systems work together to perform specific functions for the body.
"Fakebook" Page. The boy's father, Chuck Bell, likes to brag about his time in the NBA. He mentions several basketball players that he used to play with and the boys have many professional basketball heroes as well, such as Michael Jordan, Kevin Durant, etc. Using a biography website, have students choose one famous basketball player and research information about him/her. Assist students in using a "Fakebook" template to create a pretend "Facebook" page for their chosen person. Remind students that the information they put on their "Fakebook" page would be in public view if it was real, so they should follow school guidelines for appropriate technology use. Assist students in researching information to include on the Fakebook page so that other students can learn about the basketball player.
SOL correlation: English 7.9: The student will apply knowledge of appropriate reference materials to produce a research product; English 6.8 The student will edit writing for correct grammar, capitalization, punctuation, spelling, sentence structure, and paragraphing.
SOL correlation: Life Science/LS.3: The student will investigate and understand that living things show patterns of cellular organization and that cells, tissues, organs, and systems work together to perform specific functions for the body.
"Fakebook" Page. The boy's father, Chuck Bell, likes to brag about his time in the NBA. He mentions several basketball players that he used to play with and the boys have many professional basketball heroes as well, such as Michael Jordan, Kevin Durant, etc. Using a biography website, have students choose one famous basketball player and research information about him/her. Assist students in using a "Fakebook" template to create a pretend "Facebook" page for their chosen person. Remind students that the information they put on their "Fakebook" page would be in public view if it was real, so they should follow school guidelines for appropriate technology use. Assist students in researching information to include on the Fakebook page so that other students can learn about the basketball player.
SOL correlation: English 7.9: The student will apply knowledge of appropriate reference materials to produce a research product; English 6.8 The student will edit writing for correct grammar, capitalization, punctuation, spelling, sentence structure, and paragraphing.
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Further Explorations
New York Times book review
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/05/11/books/review/the-crossover-by-kwame-alexander.html?_r=0
-This review can be used as a pre-reading in the classroom before beginning the book (class anticipatory activity)
-This review can be used as a pre-reading in the classroom before beginning the book (class anticipatory activity)
Kwame Alexander's website
http://www.bookinaday.org/
-Author's website--includes many of his previous works, interviews, and inspirations)
-Author's website--includes many of his previous works, interviews, and inspirations)
Washington Post book review
http://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/kidspost/kwame-alexander-wins-newbery-medal/2015/02/02/07751e22-a8b4-11e4-a2b2-776095f393b2_story.html
-This review can be used as a pre-reading in the classroom before beginning the book (class anticipatory activity)
-This review can be used as a pre-reading in the classroom before beginning the book (class anticipatory activity)
The Guardian article:
http://www.theguardian.com/books/2015/feb/03/kwame-alexander-newbery-medal-dan-santat-caldecott
-This article announces The Crossover as a Newbery Medal award winner)
-This article announces The Crossover as a Newbery Medal award winner)
Extended book trailer for "The Crossover"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BONWz5Ao82E
-This book trailer can be viewed while completing the Visualization activity to give another perspective of the characters
-This book trailer can be viewed while completing the Visualization activity to give another perspective of the characters
TIME for Kids interview with Kwame Alexander (video)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ygCxaDqswA
-This interview gives students a lot of information from the author in a kid-friendly format. Viewing this video could be a great introduction for a class of reluctant readers.
-This interview gives students a lot of information from the author in a kid-friendly format. Viewing this video could be a great introduction for a class of reluctant readers.
American Library Association (ALA) live interview with Kwame Alexander (DC):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N-eOPg_c1DU
-This interview gives the viewer feedback on how the author feels about winning the Newbery Medal award
-This interview gives the viewer feedback on how the author feels about winning the Newbery Medal award
Michael Jordan's Basketball Lesson (video)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UECvWpSBfU8
-This video lesson on basketball may be useful to students while completing the "Fakebook" biography activity. It gives the student information about Michael Jordan and about the game itself.
-This video lesson on basketball may be useful to students while completing the "Fakebook" biography activity. It gives the student information about Michael Jordan and about the game itself.
Concrete Poem Structure
http://www.readwritethink.org/classroom-resources/lesson-plans/discovering-poetic-form-structure-211.html-This website gives some great examples and explanations on how to make a concrete (shape) poem, which can help students during the Shape Poem activity
Houghton
Mifflin Harcourt Books for Young Readers • www.hmhco.com
Educator’s Guide
-This educator's guide can be used by the teacher for additional activities to expand any of the lessons above
Teacher's Guide
http://poetryforchildren.blogspot.com/2014/08/guide-crossover-by-kwame-alexander.html
-This educator's guide can be used by the teacher for additional activities to expand any of the lessons above
-This educator's guide can be used by the teacher for additional activities to expand any of the lessons above
Shape poem resources
http://www.enchantedlearning.com/poetry/shapepoems/
-This website gives some great examples and explanations on how to make a concrete (shape) poem, which can help students during the Shape Poem activity
-This website gives some great examples and explanations on how to make a concrete (shape) poem, which can help students during the Shape Poem activity
-The following websites can be used by students to create list poems in the activity described above:
Tips for writing free verse poetry
Tips for writing free verse poetry
How to write a funny poem list
List poem generator:
Examples of list poems:
Biographies of famous basketball players:
http://www.biography.com/people/groups/athletes-basketball-players
-This website gives the students a great deal of information about famous basketball players--can be used with the "Fakebook" activity
-This website gives the students a great deal of information about famous basketball players--can be used with the "Fakebook" activity
Fakebook template:
-This template should be used by the students to complete the "Fakebook" activity
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Partner Titles
This book could be used to show the complicated relationships of siblings. The book is written from multiple points of view so students can visualize the siblings' arguments and justifications. This book was selected because of validity, currency, and appropriateness of the material (special relationships of siblings and dealing with death at a young age).
Oliver, L., & Zarycky, H. (2010). Before I fall. New York: Harper.
In this book, the main character is a very popular student in school, just like JB and Josh Bell. Unlike the boys, Samantha dies and faces the possibility of "redoing" her life multiple times in order to change her fate. While the Bell boys don't die, they do face the death of a loved one. This book could be used in comparison to what the family member in "The Crossover" would have done if he could have relived his last day multiple times. This book was selected because of its high degree of potential user appeal (students will relate to Samantha's desire to go back and "get it right").
Bauer, J. (2012). Almost home. New York: Viking.
The main character, Sugar, has been dealt a hard hand in life, and she is helped along her journey by a love of poetry and a very supportive teacher. The Bell brothers were also helped by a supportive teacher, their basketball coach. Compare the use of poetry and supportive teacher roles in each book. This book was selected because of favorable reviews.
Forman, G. (2009). If I stay: A novel. New York: Dutton Books.
In this book, Mia faces the choice of leaving behind her boyfriend if she pursues her passion for music. The Bell boys have a passion and skill for the game of basketball. This book could be used as a comparison for the decision that JB will have to make when deciding to further his basketball career at the college level or his relationship with his girlfriend. This book can start many discussions about college plans, relationships and their benefits/downfalls, and personal interests. This book was selected because of its high degree of potential user appeal (many students can relate to Mia's passion for music and will like the romantic relationship aspect).
In this book, Doug has to figure out the dynamics of his relationship with his brother. The Bell brothers are figuring out their new roles in their changing relationship as well. A comparison of what makes a healthy family relationship can be discussed as students read about these two very different sets of brothers. This book was selected because of its representative viewpoints on controversial issues (Doug feels judged by his peers and teachers because of his family's differences, including a brother that just returned from the Vietnam War; book also includes bullying, abusive father, passive mother, etc.)
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References
- Books on Loss
Green, J. (2012). The fault in our stars. Dutton Books.
Lockhart, E. (2014). We were liars. Delacorte Press.
Sloan, H. (2013). Counting by 7s. New York: Dial Books for Young Readers.
Sebold, A. (2002). The lovely bones: A novel. Boston: Little, Brown.
Downham, J. (2007). Before I die. New York: David Fickling Books.
- Books on Basketball
Lazenby, R. (2014). Michael Jordan: The life. Little, Brown and Company.
Leahy, M. (2004). When nothing else matters: Michael Jordan's last comeback. New York: Simon & Schuster.
Vancil, M. (1995). NBA basketball basics. New York: Sterling Pub.
- Books by Kwame Alexander
Alexander, K. (2013). He said, she said: A novel. Amistad.
Alexander, K. (2007). Crush: Love poems. Alexandria, Va.: Word of Mouth Books.
Alexander, K. (2000). Kupenda: Love poems. Alexandria, VA: BlackWords.
Alexander, K. (2010). Indigo Blume and the garden city. Alexandria, Va.: Word of Mouth Books.
Alexander, K. (2005). The way I walk: A collection of short stories and poems for young adults. Lanham, MD: Capital BookFest 05'
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