From the Bookshelf of Mock Newbery 2026

The Crossover
by
Start date
February 2, 2015
Finish date
February 28, 2015
Discussion
Newbery 2015
Why we're reading this
Winner of the 2015 Newbery award

Find A Copy At

Group Discussions About This Book

Showing 2 of 20 topics — 402 comments total
+ Newbery 2015
* And The Winners Are...
By Kristen · 16 posts · 264 views
last updated Feb 09, 2015 03:58PM
2015 Mock Newbery Award
By Kristen · 40 posts · 351 views
last updated Feb 05, 2015 01:07PM
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What Members Thought

Jane
Feb 09, 2015 rated it it was amazing
Shelves: fiction, young-adult
Here's an experiment I'd like a teacher to try for me. Don't "teach" this Newbery Award winner. Instead, place a copy of Crossover on each student's desk before they enter the classroom. Maybe upside down and backward to make it a bit more tempting. And then wait to see what happens.

If the students say, "Do we have to read this?" answer, "I was curious whether anyone would want to." If they say, "What are we going to do with this book?" answer, "I thought I'd ask you that question." If they ask
...more
Travis
Jan 03, 2015 rated it really liked it
Shelves: poetry, middle-grade
This recent Newbery winner is certainly a great book that will appeal to reluctant readers, fans of novels in verse, and sports fans in general. Further, I would definitely recommend this to students who have had a falling out with friends or siblings or who are having a difficult time with an illness in the family. While I am way excited that this nontraditional book won some medalage, I just don't think it deserved the big win over the beauty and artistry of Jacqueline Woodson's Brown Girl Dre ...more
Jean
Feb 06, 2015 rated it it was amazing
Shelves: newbery-winner
Wow. Definitely Newbery worthy. Made me cry.
Sarah
Sep 20, 2014 rated it really liked it
Written as a poem, this is the story of a boy and his twin brother who are obsessed about (and very skilled in) basketball. Their father was a former NBA player, so he's full of advice but the relationship full of warmth and good-natured teasing. Conflicts include the father's heart problems, the twin's new girlfriend, and whether or not the team will win the championship. Fresh original voice and format. ...more
Dan
The Crossover is one of my favorite stories in verse of all-time.

Update: After sharing this book with each of my classes, one of my goals for this year is to get this book into the hands of as many young people as I can.

I read the first stanza of "Josh Bell" to each of my classes, and I had more students asking me for the book than I've ever experienced in my years as a teacher.

The Crossover is an easy sell.

The Bell twins, their former NBA playing father, and awesome mother will be characters
...more
Mary Lee
May 05, 2014 rated it it was amazing
Shelves: sports, verse-novel, 2014
This verse novel is more poetic than most. I can't wait to see if I can't tempt a boy reader into a verse novel with this edgy rapping basketball story... ...more
Rebekah
Highly accessible basketball book told in verse. Quick read that will be great for reluctant readers.

Newbery Winner
Monica Edinger
Apr 23, 2014 rated it really liked it
The Crossover by Kwame Alexander is a powerful verse novel involving twelve-year-old African-American twins, both of whom are gifted basketball players. A student of mine last year who was serious about basketball and writing absolutely adored this one and I was thrilled to be able to get a copy signed for him by the author. The poetry is energetic and the story compelling -- a sure-fire hit for a wide range of readers. (From this blog post: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/monica-...) ...more
Cheryl Meibos
Feb 06, 2015 rated it liked it
Shelves: newbery
I liked how the words mirrored the action of basketball. I liked the supportive family.
It's quick and easy reading, which is a plus with certain students. I think it will be
especially interesting to 5th-6th graders who like to play basketball.
...more
Shari (Shira)
This is the year of the novel in verse. CROSSOVER is one of the best. A touching and engaging story of twin middle school boys, sons of a retired basketball star. This book will be a sure-fire hit with urban kids.
Cat
Written in prose about two brothers that love basketball.
Julie
Jan 23, 2014 marked it as to-read
Dest
Jun 13, 2014 rated it it was amazing
Laura5
Jun 28, 2014 rated it it was amazing
Paula
Jul 11, 2014 rated it it was amazing
Leslie
Aug 16, 2014 marked it as to-read  ·  review of another edition
Kristin McIlhagga
Sep 13, 2014 marked it as to-read
Sara
Nov 04, 2014 rated it it was amazing
Jess
Dec 17, 2014 rated it really liked it
Margo Jantzi
Dec 20, 2014 rated it it was amazing
Astrid Lim
Feb 03, 2015 marked it as wishlist
Julie
Feb 04, 2015 rated it really liked it  ·  review of another edition
Maria
Feb 10, 2015 rated it really liked it
Shelves: library, youngadult, 2015
Denise Johnson
Feb 14, 2015 rated it really liked it
Leslie
Feb 17, 2015 rated it really liked it
Shelves: verse
Michelle
Feb 19, 2015 marked it as to-read
sharon
Mar 06, 2015 rated it really liked it
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