- Sport
- The Crossover collection
- Ages 10–14
The Crossover
Part of the collectionThe Crossover→Two companion verse novels — basketball in The Crossover, football in Booked — fast, musical and emotionally direct, and a superb way into poetry for sporty readers.
- Books2
- Arcs1
- Span2015–2016
- StatusOngoing
The series
At a glance.
Kwame Alexander's verse-novel series pairs two companion books that share a style and spirit rather than a continuous plot. The Crossover follows Josh Bell, his twin Jordan and their basketball-loving father through competition, brotherhood and family heartbreak; Booked turns to football-mad Nick, wordplay, first crushes and a family coming apart. Both are told in rhythmic, page-shaped free verse that makes reading feel like sport in motion — quick, propulsive and rich with voice — while giving real space to grief, family change and the confusing in-between of early adolescence. Either works as an entry point, though The Crossover is the flagship. Accessible, musical and emotionally direct, the series is a landmark in getting reluctant and sporty readers into poetry.
Two companion verse novels — basketball in The Crossover, football in Booked — fast, musical and emotionally direct, and a superb way into poetry for sporty readers.
Primary themes
Overall tone
- Exciting
- Heartwarming
- Bittersweet
- Thought provoking
Companion novels rather than a serial: each stands fully on its own and can be read in either order. The Crossover is the flagship and the usual starting point; Booked is a football-centred companion with a different protagonist.
One arc
The shape of the series.
- IStandalone collection arcBooks 1–2 · 2015–2016Moderate sensitivity
The verse-novel companions
Two standalone sports verse novels sharing a voice — basketball, then football.
The two books are companions rather than a serial: they share Kwame Alexander's rhythmic, page-shaped free verse and his interest in sport, family and growing up, but tell separate stories with different protagonists. The Crossover centres on twin brothers, basketball and family heartbreak; Booked follows a football-obsessed boy through wordplay, first crushes and his parents' separation. Both are fast to read and emotionally substantial, and either can be picked up first, though The Crossover — the Newbery Medal winner and Disney+ adaptation source — is the natural flagship. Together they make an ideal pairing for sporty, reluctant and poetry-shy readers.
Fit check
Right for your reader?
Where the series lands by age
- 1
- 3
- 5
- 7
- 9
- 11
- 13
- 15
- 17
- 19
- Best fit · 10–14
- Read aloud · 9–14
- Independent · 10–14
Reluctant-reader friendliness
Very high
Read-aloud quality
Excellent
Adult crossover
High
Grows with the reader
Not especially
Sensitivity envelope
Moderate overall, and consistent.
Content notes
- Death of parent
- Grief
- Illness or disability
- Parental separation
- Bullying
Where it sits
In conversation with other series.
Similar in feel
Different shelves, same wavelength.
- Track →
About the author