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The Crossover is a 2014 young adult novel written in poetry form by American Author Kwame Alexander. The Crossover is a 2015 Newbery Honor Medal and Correta Scott King Award Honor.

Plot
“The Crossover” is a young adult novel that is framed around basketball and poetry yet tells the life experiences of 12-year-old Josh Bells “Filthy McNasty” starting from his second grade year at Reggie Lewis high school. He attends school with is identical brother Jordan Bell “JB” and together they are double trouble on the basketball court which makes them the stars of their school’s basketball team. As well as being successful students, they are children to Crystal Bell assistant principle of the school and Chuck Bell, former basketball superstar. He was well known known and well respected after a thriving career overseas. Chuck is Josh and Jordan’s main remodel despite flaws such as him having no job and health issues that are not fully revealed to them by their parents. The twins are exposed to their first divergence when JB is captivated by and meets a new girl in their school. The brothers start to grow apart. Even with disparities between them in their life they are each other’s confidants in and out of the basketball court. In this undertaking of life, their family is their court and the ball is their heart. Josh’s candid first person narratives in form of poetry and basketball bounce from moments of urbanely regal victory to abysmal pain. This verse novel delivers an undeniable impassioned blow before the final buzzer.

Characters

 * Josh Bell (“Filthy McNasty”) Bell, the main character and narrator of the story that idolizes his father
 * Jordan Bell (JB) Bell, Josh's twin brother
 * Dad: Chuck Bell (“Da Man”), a former professional basketball player
 * Mom: Dr. Crystal Stanley-Bell, the assistant principal at the boys’ school (Reggie Lewis Junior High)
 * Vondie Little, Josh and JB's teammates
 * Alexis ("Miss Sweet Tea"), Khaled's girlfriend
 * Coach Hawkins, Josh, JB and Vondie's basketball coach

Critical Reception
Critical reception for The Crossover has been positive.The book has received praise from the Washington Post that described it as "a series of poems that are sometimes fresh and funny, sometimes sad and painful, but always move the story along in a compelling way." The New York Times has described it as being "most boldly and certainly a book about tenderness." It has also stated that the "reader will be dazzled by the bright ways Kwame Alexander has been singing the changes.". The Washington Post portrays Kwame Alexander as being "at the top of his poetic game in this taut, complex tale of the crossover from brash, vulnerable boy to young adult." The Kirkus Review describes the basketball element of the novel to provide "energy and rhythm for a moving story."  Publishers Weekly describes the verse novel as "mixing basketball action with vocabulary-themed poems, newspaper clippings, and Josh’s sincere first-person accounts that swing from moments of swagger-worthy triumph to profound pain."

Awards

 * Newbery Honor Book in 1995.
 * Hal Clement Award in 1995.