The Crossover by Kwame Alexander
Quick Synopsis: Following the story of twin brothers, Josh and Jordan, Crossover is a wonderful story about two young men learning to love themselves, their family, and most important, each other. Josh and Jordan, Filthy and JB for short, grow apart over a new girl at school and then come back together to win the championship and help their mom deal with their father’s illness. Along the way, their dad, a former professional basketball player, and their mom, deliver a series of lessons that all need to learn, no matter what age we are.
Why My Students Like It: It’s poetry infused with basketball, what’s not to like? Young adults enjoy the themes because they are instantly relatable—the brother gets the relationship that the other one wants, and a struggle over their ever-changing identities ensues. Josh and Jordan have to learn to become a person all their own, and when you have grown up so closely with your brother, that’s a hard thing to do. The brothers also face other, every-day challenges, such as fighting, being benched, getting put on restriction, and the loneliness that can accompany adolescence.
Why You Might Like It: If you enjoy basketball, this book is infused with it from start to finish. It’s full of good life lessons that are always nice to review, and it reminds us that family and togetherness are the most important things, not necessarily winning championships. If you are an adult looking for a book to read with your young adult, this is a great one to get conversations started about a variety of topics, including young relationships, fear of death, jealousy, and growing responsibilities.
