The Crossover, by Kwame Alexander

Each Friday that school is in session, I share the link to a read-aloud preview of a book from SRCSA library. The “First-chapter Friday” selection for April 5, 2024 is The Crossover, by Kwame Alexander.

“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 12-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. In this fast and furious middle grade novel of family and brotherhood from Kwame Alexander, Josh and Jordan must come to grips with growing up on and off the court to realize breaking the rules comes at a terrible price, as their story’s heart-stopping climax proves a game-changer for the entire family. The Crossover was the winner, in 2015, of the Newbery Medal, and was an Honor Book for the Coretta Scott King (Author) Award.
https://youtu.be/yqpTD25_xJg