Books › The Crossover
The Crossover
274 pages
A kinetic, rhythmic exploration of brotherhood, basketball, and the sudden, sharp pains of growing up.
What it feels like
Reading this book feels like watching a perfectly executed fast break: it is breathless, rhythmic, and deeply kinetic. The narrative bounces with the swagger of youth, propelled by dynamic verse that mimics the literal thud and swoosh of a basketball court. But beneath the clever wordplay and energetic typography lies a tender, aching exploration of family and growing up. The mood shifts seamlessly from the triumphant highs of a winning streak to the quiet, disorienting chill of shifting sibling dynamics and sudden grief. It is an incredibly fast read that lingers long after the final page, delighting sports fans, poetry lovers, and anyone who appreciates a story that balances athletic adrenaline with profound emotional depth.
- Mood
- kinetic
- bittersweet
- uplifting
- poignant
- Tone
- energetic
- earnest
- rhythmic
- heartfelt
- confident
- Pace
- propulsive
- Themes
- brotherhood and rivalry · the weight of family legacy · navigating sudden grief · finding personal rhythm
- The writing
- Written in dynamic, pulsing free verse that mimics the bounce and rhythm of a basketball game, complete with clever wordplay and kinetic typography.
- The arc
- Moves from the swaggering confidence of undefeated youth through the disorienting pain of shifting relationships and sudden loss, ultimately landing on a note of resilient, hard-won maturity.
- Who it's for
- Middle-grade readers who love sports, poetry, and emotionally resonant stories about family dynamics, especially those who might be reluctant readers.
Content notes
- parental death
- medical emergency
- grief
About the book
"A bolt of lightning on my kicks, the court is sizzling, my sweat is drizzling. Stop all that quivering, cuz tonight I'm delivering," raps basketball phenom Josh Bell. Thanks to his dad, he and his twin brother, Jordan, are kings on the court, with crossovers that make even the toughest ballers cry. But Josh has more than hoops in his blood. He's got a river of rhymes flowing through him -- a sick flow that helps him find his rhythm when everything's on the line. As their winning season unfolds, things begin to change. When Jordan meets the new girl in school, the twins' tight-knit bond unravels. In this heartfelt novel, basketball and brotherhood intertwine to show Josh and Jordan that life doesn't come with a playbook, and, sometimes, it's not about winning. - Jacket flap.
Description from Open Library.
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