- Chapter Books
- Ages 10–14
- Sport
Rebound
Part of the The Crossover universeOpen the collection
The prequel to Kwame Alexander's Newbery-winning The Crossover, told in the same propulsive verse. Set in 1988, it follows twelve-year-old Chuck Bell as he grieves his father, discovers basketball and grows into the man his sons will one day idolise.
- Best for10–14
- FormatChapter
The vibe
What it’s like.
Style
- Lyrical
- Literary
- Conversational
Tone
- Heartwarming
- Bittersweet
- Exciting
- Thought provoking
- Nostalgic
Themes
Experience meters
What’s it about?
The story.
It's the summer of 1988 and twelve-year-old Charlie Bell is reeling from the sudden death of his father. Angry, adrift and getting into trouble, he is packed off to spend the holidays with his grandparents, where his cousin Roxie drags him onto the basketball court, his grandad teaches him about hard work and jazz, and, slowly, the pieces of his life begin to shift. This is the origin story of Chuck 'Da Man' Bell, the father whose voice echoes through The Crossover, and Kwame Alexander tells it in the same electric novel-in-verse style: rhythmic, playful and packed with heart. A story about grief, family and finding your feet, Rebound is a moving, fist-pumping companion to one of the most celebrated middle-grade novels of the decade, and it stands entirely on its own.
Fit check
Right for your child?
Where it lands by age
Best for 10-14s reading independently, with strong read-aloud appeal thanks to the verse. The central bereavement gives it real emotional weight, so it suits older or more resilient readers; sensitive children may find the loss raw. It stands alone but deepens The Crossover.
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- Best fit · 10–14
- Read aloud · 10–13
- Independent · 10–14
Prose load
Moderate
Visual support
None
Reluctant-reader friendly
Very
Read-aloud quality
Excellent
Works well for
- Reading aloud
- Gift-buying
- Reluctant readers
Preview before sharing if a child is sensitive to: death of parent, grief.
Bedtime suitability
2 / 5 · Better outside bedtime
Sensitive-child
2 / 5 · Use judgement
Graphic intensity
1 / 5 · None
Best for
- Verse novels
- Basketball
- Big feelings
- Reluctant readers
Avoid if
- Sensitive to parental death
- Wants light read
Particularly good for children who are…
- Bereavement
Why it lands
Why they love it.
Why kids love it
Chuck's voice is funny, angry and real as he loses his dad and finds basketball. The verse reads fast, almost like rap, and the summer with his no-nonsense grandparents and hoops-obsessed cousin turns raw grief into something you can cheer for.
- Proving yourself
- Secret skill
- The underdog winning
- Having a wise mentor
Why parents love it
Kwame Alexander handles a father's death with honesty and warmth, and the propulsive verse pulls even reluctant readers through. It reads aloud beautifully and opens real conversations about grief, family and growing up, working equally well as a Crossover prequel or a standalone.
- Great writing
- Conversation starter
- Cultural representation
About the author
Kwame Alexander.
If you liked this
Three ways out of this book.
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