A. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Alexander, Kwame. 2014. THE CROSSOVER. New York: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. ISBN 978-0-544-10771-7.
B. PLOT SUMMARY
Filthy McNasty. That was the nickname that Josh Bell was given at a young age by his father, a former basketball star. Josh, and his twin brother, Jordan, were coached in the art of basketball since they could walk. They both excelled at the sport. It was their life, at least until Jordan got his first girlfriend. Then, for the first time, Josh started to feel disconnected and forgotten by his brother. Around the same time, their dad, “Da Man” started to have some health issues….
C. CRITICAL ANALYSIS (INCLUDING CULTURAL MARKERS)
Kwame Alexander is a lyricist. His verses are both musical and powerful. Centering the Bell family dynamic around basketball is a cultural marker. For many African Americans, success in sports was one of the only avenues of financial success in America for too many years.
This book includes many aspects of culture. One of the biggest elements of culture is food. The Bell family fluctuates between the food they love to eat and the healthy food they should eat. Pollard’s fried chicken and Krispy Kreme’s donuts are family favorites, but they also contribute to the health issues the family faces. Specifically, there is an emphasis on the health issues that plague black males. Alexander writes a storyline that portrays the premature deaths of generations of African American men from heart health.
Language is a cultural marker that Alexander highlights in this story. Josh likes words, so there are several chapter titles that read like an entry in a dictionary, like “caᐧlamᐧiᐧty [KUH-LAM-IH-TEE] noun,” or “iᐧronᐧic [AY-RON-IK] adjective.” The acquisition of language is an indication of education, which is a sordid issue within the African American community.
Music and clothes are other cultural elements woven within the book. Legendary Air Jordans are valued, as well as the player they are named after. There are also several “chapters” dedicated to hair, and the role it plays in identity. When Josh cuts off his dreads, after a bet with his brother goes awry, he mourns the loss of them. He even keeps them in a box.
One of the most remarkable elements of this story is love. The love between the brothers, and the love between the father and his sons is exceptionally beautiful. The way they encourage one another and support one another is moving. When tragedy strikes, it is the strength of the family that carries the boys through.
D. AWARDS & REVIEW EXCERPTS
Coretta Scott King Author Honor, 2015
Kirkus Reviews starred, January 2014: “The basketball action provides energy and rhythm for a moving story. Poet Alexander deftly reveals the power of the format to pack an emotional punch.”
Newbery Medal, 2015
Publishers Weekly starred, January 2014
School Library Journal starred, March 2014: “ Alexander has crafted a story that vibrates with energy and heart and begs to be read aloud. A slam dunk.”
Voice of Youth Advocates (VOYA) starred, August 2014
E. CONNECTIONS
Alexander’s “Crossover series” now contains three books, The Crossover, Booked, and Rebound. These three books are all novels in verse that are centered on sports. They are great, accessible reads for middle grade students. Other great sports fiction for similar aged readers would be Hoops by Matt Tavares, the Track Book series by Jason Reynolds, and Fast Pitch by Nic Stone.
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