Brown Girl Dreaming
Jacqueline Woodson
Like The Crossover, this memoir in verse uses short, vivid poems to capture family, identity and growing up, with a quieter, reflective voice that still pulls you through quickly.
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Find Similar BooksThe Crossover
Children's Books
★★★★★4.5 (10)
A Newbery Medal–winning novel in verse that moves like a fast break, mixing basketball swagger, sibling rivalry, and a family quietly heading toward a hard reckoning.
What It's About
Josh Bell and his twin brother Jordan are eighth-grade basketball standouts, sons of a former professional player and a no-nonsense mother who works at their school. Josh tells the story, and at first his biggest problems are the ones any competitive teenager would recognize: a brother who suddenly has a girlfriend and less time for him, a playoff run, and a temper that flares at the worst moments. Running underneath all of it is their dad's refusal to take his health seriously, a worry the boys notice before they fully understand it.
The book is written entirely in verse, and that choice is what makes it special. Kwame Alexander shifts styles constantly: some poems bounce with rhythm and slang like a hip-hop track, some sprawl across the page to mimic a dribble or a dunk, some list his dad's basketball rules, and some slow down to almost nothing when emotions get heavy. Pages fly by, which makes it a strong pick for kids who say they don't like reading.
The experience is part sports story, part family drama. It's funny and energetic for long stretches, then genuinely moving. Many readers, young and adult, finish it faster than expected and more affected than they planned. It works well read aloud, and it often sparks conversations about brothers, fathers, and what it means to grow up.
Read this if you…
- have a middle schooler who loves sports but avoids books
- enjoy novels in verse or want an easy entry point into poetry
- want a family story that is both funny and emotionally honest
Skip it if you…
- want a sports novel focused mainly on game strategy and wins
- are looking for a light read with no grief or heavy family themes
Key Ideas
- 1
Brotherhood tested by growing up
The twins have always been a unit, on the court and off. When Jordan starts pulling away, Josh feels abandoned and jealous, and the book captures how painful it is when someone you share everything with starts building a separate life. Their rivalry and loyalty feel real rather than tidy, and readers with siblings will recognize the mix of love and resentment.
- 2
Verse that plays like basketball
Alexander uses poetry the way a good player uses footwork. Line breaks, spacing, bold type, and rhythm change to match the action, so a game sequence feels fast and a sad moment feels still. This variety keeps reluctant readers engaged and quietly shows young people that poetry can be loud, playful, and cool rather than stuffy.
- 3
Fathers, health, and avoidance
The boys' father is charismatic, funny, and full of hard-earned wisdom, but he dodges doctors and dismisses warning signs. The novel explores how families can tiptoe around a problem everyone senses, and how kids absorb adult worries even when nobody explains them. It handles serious material honestly while staying accessible for middle-grade readers.
- 4
Rules for the game and life
Scattered through the book are basketball rules passed down from the dad, each doubling as advice about character, effort, and choices. They give the story a coach-like voice and a moral center without feeling preachy, and they make natural discussion points for classrooms, book clubs, or parents reading alongside their kids.
Limitations
Some readers find the emotional turn in the later part of the book sudden or hard to take, especially younger children who expect a straightforward sports story; it's worth knowing that it deals with loss. The verse format, while a strength, means secondary characters such as the mother and Jordan's girlfriend stay fairly sketched. Basketball-heavy wordplay and slang may not land for every reader, and adults seeking literary depth may find the plot simple. Still, for its intended audience, it has aged well.
Questions Readers Ask
- What age is The Crossover appropriate for?
- It's generally aimed at readers around 10 to 14, roughly grades 5 through 8. The language is clean and accessible, but the book deals with illness and family grief, so sensitive younger readers may benefit from an adult reading along or being available to talk afterward. Teens and adults enjoy it too.
- Is The Crossover a good choice for reluctant readers?
- Yes, it's one of the most commonly recommended books for kids who resist reading. The short verse pages move quickly, the basketball scenes have real energy, and the humor keeps things light for much of the book. Many kids finish it in a few sittings and feel a sense of accomplishment.
- Are there other books connected to The Crossover?
- Yes. Kwame Alexander wrote a prequel, Rebound, about the twins' father as a young man, and a related verse novel, Booked, which follows a soccer-loving boy. There's also a graphic novel adaptation and a Disney+ television series based on the book.
What Creators Say About The Crossover
Reviews from readers on YouTube. Their opinions are their own.
- Published
- 2014
- ISBN
- 9780544107717
- Difficulty
- beginner
- Category
- Children's Books
Book details and cover from Google Books.
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