Synopses & Reviews
Kwame Alexander’s
New York Times bestseller and Newbery Medal–winning
The Crossover is vividly brought to life as a graphic novel with stunning illustrations by star talent Dawud Anyabwile.
New York Times bestseller | Newbery Medal Winner | 2015 Coretta Scott King Honor Award | 2015 YALSA Top Ten Best Fiction for Young Adults | 2015 YALSA Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers | Publishers Weekly Best Book | School Library Journal Best Book | Kirkus Reviews Best Book
"A beautifully measured novel of life and line." The New York Times Book Review
"With 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 twelve-year-old Josh Bell. Thanks to their dad, he and his twin brother, Jordan, are kings on the court. But Josh has more than basketball in his blood — he's got mad beats, too, which help him find his rhythm when it’s all on the line.
As their winning season unfolds, things begin to change. When Jordan meets a girl, the twins’ bond unravels. Told in dynamic verse, this fast and furious middle grade novel that started it all absolutely bounces with rhythm and bursts with heart.
Review
"With confident strokes and choice details...the graphic version brings out the best in the original, as any good teammate should." Publishers Weekly
Review
"...this mix of free verse, hip-hop, and powerful artwork will resonate with fans of the original book and inspire a new audience of nascent players, artists, and poets." School Library Journal (Starred Review)
Review
"Flashy and engaging with emotional depth — a slam-dunk thrill." Kirkus Reviews (Starred Review)
About the Author
Kwame Alexander is a poet, educator, and the
New York Times Bestselling author of 28 books, including
Rebound, the follow-up to his, Newbery medal-winning middle grade novel,
The Crossover. Some of his other works include
Booked, which was longlisted for the National Book Award,
The Playbook: 52 Rules to Help You Aim, Shoot, and Score in this Game of Life,
Swing, and the picture books,
Out of Wonder and
The Undefeated, which was longlisted for the National Book Award, and won the Caldecott Medal, a Newbery Honor, and the Coretta Scott King Illustrator Award.
A regular contributor to NPR's Morning Edition, Kwame is the recipient of numerous awards, including The Coretta Scott King Author Honor, The NCTE/Charlotte Huck Honor, Three NAACP Image Award Nominations, and the 2017 Inaugural Pat Conroy Legacy Award. He believes that poetry can change the world, and he uses it to inspire and empower young people around the world through The Write Thing, his K-12 Writing Workshop. Kwame is the founder of Versify, an imprint of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.
www.kwamealexander.com
Twitter: @kwamealexander
Instagram: @kwamealexander
Dawud Anyabwile is an Emmy Award winning artist, illustrator and co-creator of the groundbreaking Comic Book Series, Brotherman: Dictator of Discipline. Anyabwile has worked with companies such as Cartoon Network, Turner Studios, NBA TV, Nickelodeon, and many others as a character designer, storyboard artist, illustrator and concept artist. Anyabwile illustrated the graphic novel adaptation of the New York Times bestselling novel, Monster by Walter Dean Myers. Born and raised in Philadelphia, PA Anyabwile now volunteers, teaches art classes to young students, and gives lectures when he isn't working on his art.
Instagram @brothermancomix