When I walk onto the court I prefer silence so I can watch, react, surprise.” They are teammates in every sense of the word able to wordlessly communicate on the court to become the stars of the team. On page 26, he says, “JB likes to taunt and trash talk during games like Dad used to do when he played. We see this in Josh’s description of their playing style. Josh and JB generally get along but they have very different personalities. The words and rhythmic flow of these words on the page depict Josh’s inner thoughts his “flow” on the court. Josh feels inspired when he is on the court, and this comes out in the rhymes that flow through him when he plays. At first, Josh doesn’t love the nickname, but it takes on a special meaning when it becomes a code between him and his Dad when he is on the court a signal he is doing well. Josh’s Dad gives him the nickname “Filthy McNasty” after the name of a famous jazz song (and also because he was generally dirty).

Sons of basketball legend Chuck “Da Man” Bell, basketball is in their blood. Twelve year old Josh Bell is a basketball phenom just like his identical twin brother JB. Kwame was also the 2018 NEA Read Across America ambassador. He also co-founded LEAP for Ghana, an International Literacy Program. Recently, he lead a delegation of twenty writers and activists to Ghana where they delivered books, built a library and provided literacy professional development to teachers. Kwame regularly speaks at conferences and universities all over the world. He founded a K-12 writing program called “The Write Thing.” This Book-in-a-Day writing and publishing program has created more than 3000 student authors. Kwame believes that poetry can change the world and he uses it to inspire and empower young people around the world. Kwame Alexander is a poet, educator, and the New York Times bestselling author. Literary Awards: Newbery Award (2015), Correta Scott King Award (2015)įocus: Poetry Contemporary Realistic Fiction About the Author

The Crossover by Kwame Alexander