The Crossover
Kwame Alexander (2014)
“A novel written in slam-poetry verse about twin brothers, basketball, and the shot clock running out on childhood.”
Short Summary
Twelve-year-old Josh Bell (nicknamed Filthy McNasty) and his twin brother Jordan (JB) are basketball stars riding the highs of middle school. Their father, Chuck 'Da Man' Bell, a former professional player, coaches them from the driveway while their mother Crystal keeps the family grounded. When JB starts dating Miss Sweet Tea and drifting away from Josh, the brothers' bond fractures on and off the court. Meanwhile, Chuck refuses to see a doctor despite alarming symptoms. The family's world shatters when Chuck suffers a massive stroke and dies, forcing Josh to confront what it means to lose someone who seemed invincible.
Detailed Summary
Josh Bell, who goes by the nickname Filthy McNasty (after a Miles Davis album), is a twelve-year-old basketball prodigy with shoulder-length dreadlocks and a crossover dribble that leaves defenders grasping at air. His identical twin brother Jordan — JB — is equally talented but smoother, more socia...