Rebound (The Crossover Series) - Softcover

Alexander, Kwame

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0358494834 ISBN 13: 9780358494836

Publisher: Clarion Books, 2021

Synopsis

From the New York Times bestselling author Kwame Alexander comes Rebound, the dynamic prequel to his Newbery Award–winning novel in verse, The Crossover.

Before Josh and Jordan Bell were streaking up and down the court, their father was learning his own moves. Chuck Bell takes center stage as readers get a glimpse of his childhood and how he became the jazz music worshiping, basketball star his sons look up to.

A novel in verse with all the impact and rhythm readers have come to expect from Kwame Alexander, Rebound goes back in time to visit the childhood of Chuck "Da Man" Bell during one pivotal summer when young Charlie is sent to stay with his grandparents where he discovers basketball and learns more about his family's past.

This prequel to the Newbery Medal- and Coretta Scott King Award-winning The Crossover scores.

About this title

About the Author

Kwame Alexander is a poet, an educator, and the New York Times bestselling author of more than thirty-five books, including his Newbery Medal–winning middle grade novel The Crossover. Some of his other works include Booked, which was longlisted for the National Book Award; The Playbook: 52 Rules to Aim, Shoot, and Score in This Game Called Life; Swing; the picture books How to Read a Book and How to Write a Poem (coauthored with Deanna Nikaido), both illustrated by Melissa Sweet; and The Undefeated, illustrated by Kadir Nelson, which was longlisted for the National Book Award and won the Caldecott Medal, a Newbery Honor, and the Coretta Scott King Illustrator Award. He is a regular contributor to NPR’s Morning Edition, currently serving as their poet ambassador. He lives in Virginia with his family. Visit his website at kwamealexander.com. 

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

May 28, 1988

The game is on
at the park.
The stars are out.
It’s close to dark.
Hoop Kings
SOARing
         in the SKY
         so high
         so fly
like they Got Wings
(it’s like the blacktop
is a boxSPRING)
Hey, Charlie, you see what he did with that THING!
my best friend, Skinny, yells
T
   W
       I
          R
              L
                  I
                     N
                         G andWHIRLINGthe ball
                  so sweet
it’s like a bee s t i n g
(Ouch!)
He just Swished
in your Face.
Stung you like
a can of mace
These boys so fly
they’re outta SPACE!

C’mon, Charlie, I got next. Let’s hoop, Skinny says,
jumping up from the sidewalk.
Nah, I gotta get home for dinner, I lie.

I used to play H.O.R.S.E.

against my father, and sometimes I
won, but when I tried playing on
a team, I’d get too nervous
to shoot, too scared of the
ball (like the time I
missed a pass and
got hit up-
side the
head).

Sometimes, I wish

I was a superhero,
superfly
like Quicksilver
speed-racing
down the court
sleek as a sports car
faster than NASCAR,
leaving all my sadness
in the dust—far,
far away
from now.

Wish I could soar
score
throw down
a monster dunk
like I was Thor.

Wish I could elevate
my name
with game so good
it’s hall of fame!

Wish I could forget
all the pain.

Yeah, that’s what I wish . . .

Edition details

• Publisher: Clarion Books
• Publication date: 2021
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0358494834
• ISBN 13: 9780358494836
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 432