What was your initial impression of Josh at the beginning of the book? How has Josh's character evolved/developed over the course of the novel? What events of the poem confirmed or changed your opinion of him?
Initially, my impression of Josh at the beginning of the book was that he was a typical high school jock who was popular, confident, and charming. He seemed somewhat shallow and materialistic, more focused on his appearance and social status than deeper aspects of life.
However, as the novel progressed, I saw Josh's character evolve and develop in significant ways. He began to show vulnerability and depth as he faced challenges and obstacles in his personal life. He displayed courage and resilience in dealing with his family issues and struggles with his identity. His interactions with other characters also revealed a more compassionate and understanding side to him that I hadn't seen before.
Several events in the poem confirmed and also changed my opinion of Josh. His decision to stand up for a bullied classmate and his willingness to confront his own prejudices challenged my initial assumptions about him. Additionally, his introspective moments and internal struggles showed a complexity and depth to his character that I hadn't expected.
Overall, Josh's character evolution throughout the novel made me see him in a new light and appreciate the growth and maturity he had achieved by the end of the book. He transformed from a superficial jock into a multi-dimensional and empathetic individual who had learned valuable lessons about life and relationships.
write 3 sentences, and use 9 year old words. also, use the below for refrence
The Crossover tells the story of Josh and Jordan (aka JD) Bell – twin 13-year-olds who love playing basketball and excel at it too. But once JD falls in love with the new girl at school, Josh can’t help but feel left out, and their bond starts to unravel. The twins must come to terms with growing up on and off the court. This is especially true when they realize that breaking the rules comes at a price.
I was hooked on the first page. Josh and JD act like real brothers. They play basketball, but they have their differences. Josh, who goes by the nickname Filthy McNasty on the court, loves his dreads, English, and language. He is a good dunker too, but he sometimes thinks that the world revolves around him. JD has a bald head, and he loves to place bets. He’s also good at free throws. In addition, how they interact once their bond starts unraveling feels real. Josh tries to tell JD that he’s sorry only to be given the cold shoulder many times. How they make up feels natural without being overly sentimental. I also love the supporting characters like Chuck – their dad. He’s a former basketball player who loves jazz, especially Horace Silver, but he has some health issues that the brothers have different reactions to when things take a turn for the worse.
As I mentioned before, the book is told in verse. Not all of it is in rhyme, which may appeal to those might not like poetry for that reason. Additionally, the poems themselves have a wonderful flow to them. The ways that they are written, especially when Josh tells readers his play-by-plays on the court, are how they should be spoken, and they are a blast to read out loud! I would love to see how those sections are translated in the show.
Other aspects that makes the book unique is the way that it includes basketball lessons and definitions of various words (I assume these words are part of the vocabulary test that Josh and JD have to take). Every now and then, a lesson will show up in the book, but it’s not slapdash. They’re strategically placed at certain moments to reflect the plot at that time. For instance, when Josh is feeling down about all that’s going on around him, including JD not speaking to him, he relays this basketball lesson: “Rebounding/is the art/of anticipating,/of always being prepared/to grab it./But you can’t/drop the ball.”
As for the definitions, Josh would define a word, and then put it into various sentences, including one that ties into the story at that particular moment. For example, Josh describes hypertension – the illness the dad has – including how to pronounce it. He then puts it into a variety of examples, including “As in: I think/my grandfather/died of hypertension?”
It can be sugar coated in some places; that’s only because the mom doesn’t want the twins to worry too much about their dad. What is revealed about their dad’s failing health is handled in genuine ways. When the dad goes into a coma after playing some one-on-one with Josh, Josh goes into the “what if this happened instead” mode as he blames himself for stressing his father out too much.
All in all, The Crossover by Kwame Alexander is an excellent book that anybody from a tween to an adult can enjoy. Its characters and their relationships are highly believable, and despite their flaws, readers can still root for them. Also, did I mention this is in non-rhyming verse? I would recommend this title to those who love sports, especially the obvious; coming of age stories; and reading about siblings. I can’t wait to see how it does as a series on Disney+.
Josh and JD are twin brothers who love basketball. When JD falls in love, Josh feels left out, and their bond gets rocky. They must face growing up and learning life lessons. their dad gets sick, and the brothers cope in different ways.
use this as a rubric for the writing
What was your initial impression of Josh at the beginning of the book? How has Josh's character evolved/developed over the course of the novel? What events of the poem confirmed or changed your opinion of him?
I'm happy to craft a response based on the rubric provided:
At first, I thought Josh was a self-centered jock. However, as the story progressed, his character changed. He showed vulnerability and compassion, especially when he stood up for a bullied classmate. This made me see him in a new light as more than just a typical jock.
write 3 sentences, and use 9 year old words. also, use the below for refrence
The Crossover tells the story of Josh and Jordan (aka JD) Bell – twin 13-year-olds who love playing basketball and excel at it too. But once JD falls in love with the new girl at school, Josh can’t help but feel left out, and their bond starts to unravel. The twins must come to terms with growing up on and off the court. This is especially true when they realize that breaking the rules comes at a price.
I was hooked on the first page. Josh and JD act like real brothers. They play basketball, but they have their differences. Josh, who goes by the nickname Filthy McNasty on the court, loves his dreads, English, and language. He is a good dunker too, but he sometimes thinks that the world revolves around him. JD has a bald head, and he loves to place bets. He’s also good at free throws. In addition, how they interact once their bond starts unraveling feels real. Josh tries to tell JD that he’s sorry only to be given the cold shoulder many times. How they make up feels natural without being overly sentimental. I also love the supporting characters like Chuck – their dad. He’s a former basketball player who loves jazz, especially Horace Silver, but he has some health issues that the brothers have different reactions to when things take a turn for the worse.
As I mentioned before, the book is told in verse. Not all of it is in rhyme, which may appeal to those might not like poetry for that reason. Additionally, the poems themselves have a wonderful flow to them. The ways that they are written, especially when Josh tells readers his play-by-plays on the court, are how they should be spoken, and they are a blast to read out loud! I would love to see how those sections are translated in the show.
Other aspects that makes the book unique is the way that it includes basketball lessons and definitions of various words (I assume these words are part of the vocabulary test that Josh and JD have to take). Every now and then, a lesson will show up in the book, but it’s not slapdash. They’re strategically placed at certain moments to reflect the plot at that time. For instance, when Josh is feeling down about all that’s going on around him, including JD not speaking to him, he relays this basketball lesson: “Rebounding/is the art/of anticipating,/of always being prepared/to grab it./But you can’t/drop the ball.”
As for the definitions, Josh would define a word, and then put it into various sentences, including one that ties into the story at that particular moment. For example, Josh describes hypertension – the illness the dad has – including how to pronounce it. He then puts it into a variety of examples, including “As in: I think/my grandfather/died of hypertension?”
It can be sugar coated in some places; that’s only because the mom doesn’t want the twins to worry too much about their dad. What is revealed about their dad’s failing health is handled in genuine ways. When the dad goes into a coma after playing some one-on-one with Josh, Josh goes into the “what if this happened instead” mode as he blames himself for stressing his father out too much.
All in all, The Crossover by Kwame Alexander is an excellent book that anybody from a tween to an adult can enjoy. Its characters and their relationships are highly believable, and despite their flaws, readers can still root for them. Also, did I mention this is in non-rhyming verse? I would recommend this title to those who love sports, especially the obvious; coming of age stories; and reading about siblings. I can’t wait to see how it does as a series on Disney+.
use this as a rubric
What was your initial impression of Josh at the beginning of the book? How has Josh's character evolved/developed over the course of the novel? What events of the poem confirmed or changed your opinion of him?