The Crossover by Kwame Alexander
The story of two brothers who learn to love themselves and each other as they battle both on the court and at home. Facing everyday struggles such as young love, brotherly quarrels, feelings of isolation, and fear of losing their parents, the two brothers learn to conquer life together, no matter what tries to tear them apart.
Brown Girl Dreaming by Jaqueline Woodson
A narrative collection of poems that tells Jaqueline Woodson’s experience growing up during the 1960s and 1970s. Unlike many, Jaqueline has the opportunity to experience this time in America through time in Ohio, South Carolina, and New York. These different places all lent heavily to her childhood, and in this engaging work she is able to expose us to those experiences as well.