The ball goes back and forth and Josh feels like he and, the gym over Thanksgiving break and why he cut his "cute" locks. We see how angst ridden sibling rivalries can be and how challenging those relationships can be for both parents and children. But Im not there. Mom sits Josh down. Joshs mom is the assistant principal at his school, a fact he doesnt love. In a letter to JB, written in two columns that can be read together or separately, Josh says that without his brother, he's empty. There is a hint of a smile for Josh with that. You can specify conditions of storing and accessing cookies in your browser. Ruth Bishop said that poetry "has a kind of magic and can help the reader see ordinary things in new ways." Their dad is a former professional baller. The fact that Josh is listening offers hope that, given what he's seen, he'll take Mom's side and take better care of himself in the future. 4. Dad says he needs to get back on the courthe misses it too much. Dads kneeling weakly on the floor with a pool of vomit below him. what motivates joe starks to assume "the ruling chair" in eatsonville . Mom smiles and says hell be back on the team in no time, but she warns him not to press his luck. For Josh, having to sit out and watch his team struggle shows him first how hard they've worked--Vondie and JB are still doing reasonably well--but it also shows Josh what an integral part of the team he was and with this, helps reaffirm his desire to get back on the court. Other of his many books (hes written 35!) Kwame Alexander is a poet, educator and New York Times bestselling author, who has won numerous awards including the Newbery Medal for the most distinguished contribution to American Literature for children. the playoffs are in two days, his grades were good, and the team needs him. In this way, she tries to distract Josh by talking about anything else to keep him from worrying about Dad. Josh is thrilled to get to play, as he knows that when he and. Dad's message does much the same thing, though it seems much more in character for Dad. Detailed quotes explanations with page numbers for every important quote on the site. When the game starts, Josh looks up to his parents, but theyre not there. A novel told in verse, with striking illustrations, this book is about basketball and much more: as they progress into young adulthood, navigating the pressures of home and school, the relationship between Josh and Jordan begins to change. Copyright 2014 by Kwame Alexander. It would have been great to see more of Alexiss perspective in the story to clarify. Josh is studying by himself. Find related themes, quotes, symbols, characters, and more. She also asks where, where it's stuck, wedged between the rim and the backboard. This seems to support the stereotype that girls intellect and personality are secondary to their looks. He unleashes a killer crossover and everyone is hollering as Dad dribbles to the hoop. Detailed explanations, analysis, and citation info for every important quote on LitCharts. The Crossoverhas so much meaning for young adults. This leads me to wonder if the stereotypes are portrayed the way they are in order to show accuracy; maybe its more the question of whose voice is missing. We see this in Joshs description of their playing style. Speaking of Alexis, even though the main characters of this book are obviously boys, Alexander does not make Alexis merely an object of desire or a dull cipher. I think basketball and is father are reflections of each other. he asks. His voice is as loud as thunder. And after that type of success, Rutland Town seventh grader Joe Anderson wanted to know it theres more to come. on tell the reader about what she values and what her priorities are? The Crossover, by award-winning children's book author and poet Kwame Alexander, was published in 2014 and won the 2015 Newbery Medal and Coretta Scott King Award Honor for children's literature. 4.7. When Dad shifts the conversation to make it about losing his cool rather than his poor health, it shows that he's still trying to ignore his hypertension and wants to keep it a secret from his sons. And so the next poem starts with a definition: Seventh grader Matthew Goulette wonders where Alexanders ideas for The Crossover came from. For example, Alexis is mostly described by her looks and her loyalty to JB. 0000031472 00000 n 0000010269 00000 n Pulchritudinous! Now lets go get some doughnuts (pg 92). 5m%4|#w gJVxx3@#vwd)}Dt9h'3S? Change), You are commenting using your Twitter account. 0000011426 00000 n Again, Dad's desire to yell at the ref speaks to a desire to feel relevant and useful on the court, even though his playing days are over. 0000007406 00000 n kresge foundation jobs; dwarf rat vs mouse; sky internet down bolsover; terroni restaurant menu; lewis county, wa breaking news; The sound of Jeopardy is in the background as Josh asks if Mom will let him in the playoffs, especially as his grades were good. Josh wants in, but Mom warns him not to interfere. Notice that Josh hasn't said anything about being particularly interested in sneakers himself; that's JB's thing. Josh writes his letter. PDF downloads of all 1699 LitCharts literature guides, and of every new one we publish. The Crossover Characters Next Josh Josh Josh is the twelve-year-old protagonist of the novel. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Design a site like this with WordPress.com, to seamlessly bring different poetry elements, forms of poetry and genres of writing together to help the reader. Copyright 1999 - 2023 GradeSaver LLC. Kwame Alexander is a poet, educator, and theNew York Timesbestselling author. For many students, reading this book with no ulterior motive could be the catalyst into a lifelong interest in poetry and inspire them to read more works like it. resource to ask questions, find answers, and discuss thenovel. So it was chronological. He smiles at Mom, gives, happy. No practice to get ready. From the doorway, a stricken Mom says he should go sit down for dinner. Disclaimer: We are a custom writing service that provides customized for assistance purposes only. 0000003226 00000 n Because he's relying on physical communication and violence to express himself, he's less successful and therefore, more upset. Alexander also found a way to sneak some of his favorite words into the book. As Josh begins to think of himself as a member of a choir and finds the ability to cheer for JB, he also begins to recognize that the rest of the team is made up of players who are also very good and deserving of recognition. He also thinks that it's ironic that, drills, Coach leads the team in meditation. Joshs Basketball Rules that appear throughout the book are a great way to get students to engage with the message of the book and think about how they could apply these lessons to their own lives. 0000016558 00000 n Kwame Alexander is able toto seamlessly bring different poetry elements, forms of poetry and genres of writing together to help the reader experience Joshs life and his humanity, as opposed to just reading about it. Dear Jordan. Now that Josh's actions have hurt someone, his sense of loneliness gets even worse. What does her reacti Josh narrates another play-by-play. Mom texts a few times that she and Dad needed to leave because Dad did not feel wellhes fine, just tired. Teacher Editions with classroom activities for all 1699 titles we cover. Amy is an award winning journalist who has worked in print and radio in Vermont since 1991. One of those actions leads Josh to write an apology letter to his brother. Can JB run with him, help him heal, slash with him like they used to? As a consequence for his actions, his mom suspends him from the team. His dad revives and spends nineteen days in the hospital as Josh tries to get used to his new existence alone without JB who used to be his best friend. No warm-up. This shows how much he respects and leans on his coach to show him the way when he is unsure. Josh, mine it. His life is broken like puzzle pieces and he can no longer fit. -Graham S. The timeline below shows where the character JB appears in, Dad insisted that the music was "fast and free" just like Josh and his brother, he does all the time--even if there's no chance of winning. Rather than just letting the boys go to bed, Mom makes them read. GradeSaver, 9 September 2019 Web. He also wonders how to apologize to, his best to make up for what he did. . As in: Dad's in a comabecause of a myocardial infarction,which is the same thingmy grandfather died of.So what does that mean for meand JB? Mom says its not about his grades: its about how he behaves going forward. Josh's letter offers the reader multiple ways to read it, though each way offers the same main point: Josh's loneliness is killing him, and he misses his brother. Exposing students to verse novels such as this allows them to explore the artistic elements that combine to evoke personal and powerful emotions in the reader. Josh wants a world outside of basketball, and he wants his relationship with JB to remain unchanged. I was going to sort of remember what I went through during that age and I sort of knew that that was going to be the point of view, from his perspective. They have the added bonus of helping people realize that he isn't, Mom always makes Dad sit at the very top of the bleachers during Josh and. Im still reacting to it. Plus he has MJ sheets . Do depictions of all cultures avoid oversimplification or offer genuine insights? On page 185, Coach shares with Josh that he got into a fight with his brother in high school and now they are estranged. In this poem, Josh makes efforts to repair the cracked friendship between him and his brother. 0000012380 00000 n Josh decides to sit with the team today instead of up with Mom and Dad. What was the main purpose of the Declaration of Independence? The tension between Josh and Jordan escalates, and they both do regrettable things. Josh goes about his routine, trying hard to repair what had been broken between JB and him. The students at Rutland Town School had some questions for the author. He cares for it meticulously every day, and this is why he declines, The game is tied. Its written in two columns and the author says it can actually be read several different ways: top to bottom, left to right or diagonally. And while Dad is telling us another story for the hundredth time, Mom removes the saltfrom the table and JB goes to the buffet.He brings back three packages of duck sauce and a cup of wonton soupand hands them all to me.Dad pauses, and Mom looks at JB.That was random, she says.What, isn't that what you wanted, Filthy? Shes a candy striper and cheerleader, and she talks about her favorite color being purple. Dad tells Mom that he looks online and that thats better than a doctor, but Mom angrily insists that she will make an appointment for him. 0000002088 00000 n This is a life lesson that many young readers have a strong reaction to and would welcome the opportunity to discuss in a safe environment to voice their anger, fear and outrage. What thoughts and emotions does Josh express in "Dear Jordan"? %PDF-1.6 % gives a fry each to Josh and Vondie and then tells Josh that he and, Sweet Tea's divorced parents are estranged. Josh tries talking to JB, but JB does not reply; its been five days. Even though he is. Josh is busy taking his vocabulary test when, Josh doesn't pay any attention to his teacher or the dummy and instead he watches, Conversation. Dad is gone "like the end of a good song. After the funeral, Josh makes another attempt to reconcile with JB when JB gives him his fathers championship ring by saying, We Da Man. The author leaves us with the sense that the brothers will find their way back to each other. In other words, the loneliness is one thing, but feeling left behind in this regard is even more painful. Ruth Bishop said that poetry has a kind of magic and can help the reader see ordinary things in new ways. InThe Crossover,Alexander takes risks with his writing to authentically represent the culture of Josh, his family and friends. With six seconds to go, the Wildcats are up sixteen points. Josh tells her hes busy, and she says she will see them at the rec center. Josh grows resentful of JBs new relationship with his girlfriend as he feels left out and lonely. He and JB lock eyes; theres that seeing-a-ghost sensation again. PDFs of modern translations of every Shakespeare play and poem. Osborne-Bartucca, Kristen. Josh's concern and desire to go to Dad's doctor's appointment show that he's continuing to grow up and become more interested in other people aside from himself. Josh gets a lot of accolades for being the Junior High MVP but Miss Sweet Tea tells him frankly that he is mean and did not deserve that award because of what he did to JB. Josh ruefully says he will talk to Mom since he can see how much it means to Dad, but he adds that she is worried about him. He writes for children of all ages. Though Josh still thinks highly of Dad, now that he's aware of Dad's unwillingness to care for his health, it suggests that becoming "Da Man" might not be the entirely positive endeavor that Josh once thought it was. Josh and, in a hospital and now, Dad hates doctors. I have never had this worry. Need Help with this Assignment? Literary Awards: Newbery Award (2015), Correta Scott King Award (2015), Focus: Poetry; Contemporary Realistic Fiction. can you help me heal, run with me, slash with me like we used to? He thinks that when he threw the ball at, day of school before winter break, Mom works late so Dad picks up Josh and, Dad agrees and hits Josh in the chest with the ball--Josh was distracted while watching, still. 1079 0 obj <> endobj game against Olive Branch Junior High, and that the team seemed unhurt by Josh's absence. Complete your free account to request a guide. Dad tries to break the tension by talking about Christmas and the turkey. This is the beginning of a big change in Josh and JBs relationship. trailer <<35AB4B5BD4F54B6294CFA91B5522B120>]/Prev 252765>> startxref 0 %%EOF 61 0 obj <>stream The students at St. Etheldreda's School for Young Ladies are there to learn to behave as proper maidens should. As the family drives to the game, Josh sits in the back with, who has them. To make matters worse, encourages the rest of the team to step up since Josh isn't playing. Mom then sighs that they are done, and Josh asks what the consequences are. H\@. Tomorrow Is the Last Day of School Before Christmas Vacation. In particular, it begins to align him with Dad, who is still highly regarded even though he's also not playing. When JB seems willing to laugh and agrees with Josh's request, it suggests that he sees this as the olive branch that it is and is now willing to start to move forward. I also see many students who are similar to Josh lean on their relationships with their sport coaches for stability. And thats not the only story Alexander has been working on. 1086 0 obj <>/Encrypt 1080 0 R/Filter/FlateDecode/ID[<61646262373637383037366663616638366338393836303261386561666634336264323463323264316164333866373366333835346439303963633665616633>]/Index[1079 12]/Info 1078 0 R/Length 55/Prev 879473/Root 1081 0 R/Size 1091/Type/XRef/W[1 2 1]>>stream And when I was born he was a PhD. And Im so thankful. This sets an example that his health isn't important, which puts Josh and JB at risk. What news is related in the poem "Article #1 in the Daily News (December 14)"? We raised nearly 7000 in our online auction! They will be able to relate to the topic, theme, setting and emotion conveyed in the story. From the creators of SparkNotes, something better. Coach, Dad, and the crowd all scream for Josh to pass the ball. Mom gently chides him for eavesdropping but laughs when he says he learned that strategy from her. The score is tied and clock ticks as. Down on the court, Storm. Da's pulse is gone. This book is also available as a graphic novel! 0000001668 00000 n Zip. are gone. His life seems broken now, and he feels as though he doesn't fit anywhere. Mom asks how they met and JB is full of details, explaining how she came into the lunchroom, how he learned she played basketball, and how he told Vondie she was pulchritudinous. The fact that Miss Sweet Tea's sister attends Duke, the college that Josh wants to one day attend, suggests that Josh might actually like Miss Sweet Tea if he were willing to get to know her. Kwame regularly speaks at conferences and universities all over the world. You earned it, Filthy, he says,sliding the ring on my finger.My heart leapsinto my throat. What seemed to be a great disappointment for Myrtle concerning her marriage to George? The fact that Josh was driven to (unintentional) violence at all speaks to the intensity of his feelings, which are made even more intense by the fact that Josh is entering puberty and starting to grow up. Mom and Dad's choice to turn the conversation to JB and his relationship with Miss Sweet Tea shows again that they understand his new relationship is a normal part of his coming of age. 0000016479 00000 n But then, things start to unravel as JB starts to get more interested in girls. It doesnt help that his Dad keeps having health issues, but wont go to the doctor because he thinks this is a stupid waste of time. The heart attack Chuck suffers during the one-on-one game at the end of this section is not the last warning we hope it is: rather, its a sign that there is no going back. What does he think, I'm stupid? question about the great Gatsby chapter 2: Some of the language and experiences are counter to my own, which gives me a realistic glimpse into the life of an African American family. Josh isnt a clich; he truly seems to be a living, breathing boy who experiences real feelings of despair, triumph, pride, jealousy, and confusion. 0000002682 00000 n "My students can't get enough of your charts and their results have gone through the roof." The Crossover is the story of twins but seventh grader Devon Kibbey noticed that readers get the point of view of only one brother. His Dad has a heart attack and slips into a coma. How Do You Spell Trouble? He almost dunks, but an elbow comes up and fouls him to the floor. He founded a K-12 writing program called The Write Thing. This Book-in-a-Day writing and publishing program has created more than 3000 student authors. Detailed quotes explanations with page numbers for every important quote on the site. Dad jokes about the name. Its called Booked. This suggests that the loneliness was easier to deal with when Josh wasn't the one enforcing it. And Iwonder what's in the notes. That boy is special, and it doesn't hurtthat Chuck "Da Man" Bell is his father.And mine, too. The team thanks JB profusely for getting them to the championship. JB only went to one. As the boys walk home from practice, Josh peppers, After dinner. Dad replies sadly that he let them down, and Josh asks what he should do. For example, Joshs mother tells him, Boys with no self-control become men behind bars. This is a reality for African American boys in todays society. include his brilliant coming of age novel Rebound (published by Andersen Press). Their mom is assistant principal at their school. PDFs of modern translations of every Shakespeare play and poem. Alexis calls 911 and JB rushes to get water to splash Dads face. Being named the MVP even though he's currently suspended speaks to how good a player Josh is.