The Crossover

Alexander, K. (2014). The crossover. Clarion Books.

Genre: Middle Grade Poetry

    Josh Bell and his twin brother Jordan are the best basketball players in his school. The two are unstoppable in the court. They are taught everything they know by their father, Chuck, who is a former all-star basketball player. Josh and his family are Black. One day Josh loses a bet to Jordan and Jordan cuts off a large section of Josh's locks, only intending to cut off one. Soon after, Jordan gets a new girlfriend, Alexis; and stops spending time with Josh. Feeling alone and betrayed, Josh throws a basketball in Jordan's face, almost breaking his nose. Josh is suspended from the basketball team during the championship and Jordan refuses to talk to Josh for a while. Jordan writes Josh a letter as an apology and after a while, Josh is allowed back on the Basketball team. However, while he and his dad are playing a warm-up game, his dad has a heart attack and collapses. In the hospital, Chuck tells the boys that no matter what happens, play the championship game. He has another heart attack in the hospital and Jordan follows his mom while Josh plays the final game. Josh throws the winning basket and after the game learns his dad passed away from a heart attack.