Crossover.

Alexander, Kwame.  Crossover.  Houghton Mifflin  2014  237p  $16.99     ISBN 978-0-544-10771-7  ms/hs Sports      E-BN 

In this unique novel in verse, high-school basketball star Josh Bell raps about his relationship with his twin brother, his parents, and his experiences on the court.  The poems vary from light and funny (about basketball and his brother’s girl friend) to the more serious and touching (his father’s health).  This novel is a must for any middle- or high-school collection that needs more novels in verse or sports books.      

 Summary: Josh Bell raps about his life, including his family and basketball. 

Basketball-Fiction, Family-Fiction, Novels in verse  --Stephanie Pennucci

Wilner, Barry. Basketball’s Top 10 Scorers.

Wilner, Barry Basketball’s Top 10 Scorers
Enslow 2010 48p 23.93 978-0-7660-3470-9
elm/ms basketball’s finest scorers of all time VG-BNS Top 10 Sports Stars (Enslow)


This little gem covers the most important data about basketball’s best from contemporary Kobe Bryant back to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, the all-time highest scorer in history!
Readers of all ages will enjoy reading this series. It’s a quick read which will appeal to even the most reluctant of middle school readers! Included are photographs and statistics along with snippets of biographical information about 10 of the top basketball players of all time. Barry Wilner has captured the pulse of basketball with his active and exciting writing style. As a sportswriter, he undoubtedly knows how to reach the typical reader who loves sports, but who would have guessed that he could turn that sports-writing talent into a book that is so entertaining! Each entry includes a chart of statistics about the player, a two to three page description of the highlights of each player’s career, and finally, quotations by friends and fellow players who idolized each player. The pictures are among the best ever taken by sports’ photographers, and Wilner fit each into a colorful layout which dotted circles representing basketballs on almost every page. A typical middle school boy will pour over these facts, especially a boy who loves the sport.
The players who are included are: Abdul-Jabbar, Bird, Bryant, Chamberlain, Hayes, Jordan, Malone, Miller, Robertson and West. Seriously, Wilner has captured the best that each player has brought to the sport, and he has done it with a natural, relaxed writing style that is sure to please. Young readers will want more! The books ends with chapter notes, a few sites to consult and an index.
Note! There is a spelling error on p. 25, Louisiana is misspelled.
Squaresky, Martha

Game. by Walter Dean Myers

Myers, Walter Dean. Game.
Harper Teen, 2008, $17.89, 218p, 978-0-06-058295-1
Realistic fiction

The Game by Walter Dean Myers is another hit for the award winning author. In this tile, Harlem High School senior Drew Lawson, a young black man, dreams of making it big in The National Basketball Association (NBA). Drew’s dreams of making it into the NBA, include him being scouted by a Division I university to play. Even though the odds of making it big in the NBA are slim, Drew’s determination and strong character keep him going. Since this is a big dream for him, Drew stays away from street gangs and the brutal streets of Harlem. Drew comes from a strong family and this stability helps him focus on what is important and that is him playing the game his way. Drew knows that since he is not the best student academically, he needs to focus on his athleticism to get him through to success. After seeing life on the streets in Harlem, Drew realizes that he must stay focused on his game in order to overcome what life would be like as a Harlem teenager on the streets.

Even though Drew is the star of his basketball team, his coach brings in a new white player for offense and he’s afraid that this new player will interfere with his chances of making it big and being seen by college scouts. Needing to overcome his fear and thoughts of his coach sabotaging his chances of making it big, Drew’s dedication paid off when DePaul University, a Division I school, offered him a full-scholarship to play basketball for them.

The author provides readers with basketball insight and game highlights and this makes one feel as if you are on the court. Since the author provides substantial game details, basketball and sports enthusiasts will appreciate this title and it will make them feel like they are a part of the game. Readers will cheer for Drew throughout the title. CFM