If you have read this book, can you tell me what poetic type the poem "Dear Jordan" is. With this reading, it's easier to see that both boys are currently nursing hurt feelings and likely don't want to be fighting, but don't know how to bridge the gap. When JB is brushing his teeth, Josh steals into their room and lays his outlines down on JBs pillow. He wants the boys to be their own people, and he wants them to know that becoming someone different is okay and expected. Alexiss parents are estranged. He wants Dad to talk to Mom because he feels like he needs to be in the playoffs and is letting his teammates down. Joshs Dad gives him the nickname Filthy McNasty after the name of a famous jazz song (and also because he was generally dirty). JB and I look outthe windowat the exact momentwe pass by the malland I know exactlywhat JB wants.Dad, can we stop at that sneaker storein the mall?Yeah, Dad, can we? Now that Josh's actions have hurt someone, his sense of loneliness gets even worse. He and his own brother are estranged, and he does not want JB and Josh to be like that. Article #1 in the Daily News (December 14). This story, about twelve year old Josh and his twin Jordan, is a joyful and dynamic celebration of language. are down by seven. can you help me heal, run with me, slash with me like we used to? "I love that word! Their mom is assistant principal at their school. Copyright 2014 by Kwame Alexander. Climax: Dad dies during the championship game Antagonist: Hypertension and death; change Point of View: First-person Extra Credit for The Crossover Her first job in professional radio was at WVMX in Stowe, where she worked as News Director and co-host of The Morning Show. Definitions and examples of 136 literary terms and devices. Rather than just letting the boys go to bed, Mom makes them read. June 22, 2022; Posted by . For many students, reading this book with no ulterior motive could be the catalyst into a lifelong interest in poetry and inspire them to read more works like it. 5m%4|#w gJVxx3@#vwd)}Dt9h'3S? Would not have made it through AP Literature without the printable PDFs. Josh hears Dad ask if he feels better and opens his eyes. The apology poem that author Kwame Alexander wrote from Josh to JB in The Crossover is called "Dear Jordan." It's written in two columns and the author says it can actually be read several different ways: top to bottom, left to right or diagonally. Because of this, his request to stop at the sneaker store becomes something he does purely to show JB he sees him and cares about him and the things he's interested in. Recently, he lead a delegation of twenty writers and activists to Ghana where they delivered books, built a library and provided literacy professional development to teachers. Unfortunately, that wouldnt be a middle grade novel. 0000002088 00000 n JB is on fire; Coach, Alexis, and Josh are his choir. Dad's decision to make the boys play together speaks to Dad's belief that the boys' shared love of basketball might be enough to help them turn their relationship around. Get up to speed on the news Vermont is talking about, delivered to your inbox every weekday morning. The Crossoveris a wonderful mentor text for adolescent writers. One day in school, JB passes a note to Josh to give to a girl he really likes, who Josh nicknames Miss Sweet Tea. Josh states that somewhere betweencamaraderieandimbecile I tap her beige bare shoulder with the note (pg. He and JB lock eyes; theres that seeing-a-ghost sensation again. Suddenly, Josh sees, team in Italy. I would use this book with adolescent students as a way to inspire them to explore self-expression through writing. Profusely means to pour forth in great quantity. Josh explains that every night after dinner, Dad insists that he and. 0000003834 00000 n The inside of Mom and Dad's bedroom closet. That boy is special, and it doesn't hurtthat Chuck "Da Man" Bell is his father.And mine, too. Mom texts a few times that she and Dad needed to leave because Dad did not feel wellhes fine, just tired. And when I was born he was a PhD. Dad falls, his eyes roll, and Josh screams. Whether youre looking for The Tell-Tale Heart, The Hate U Give, The Gettysburg Address, or current science articles and simulations, Actively Learn is the free go-to source to help you guide your students' growth in critical thinking all year. Plus he has MJ sheets . Vondie passes the ball to Josh and Josh passes to. Dad replies sadly that he let them down, and Josh asks what he should do. i can no longer fit. At one point, Josh begs his Dad to intervene and talk to JB, to which he replies, Filthy, if some girl done locked up JB, hes going to jail. LitCharts Teacher Editions. They're like having in-class notes for every discussion!, This is absolutely THE best teacher resource I have ever purchased. Students LOVE reading and analyzing Kobe Bryant's "Dear Basketball" Poem. Miss Sweet Tea calls 911 while, The doctor pats Jordan and me on the back and says. Want to help more children attend our events in the future? "The Crossover THIRD QUARTER to At Noon, in the Gym, with Dad Summary and Analysis". Josh is thrilled to get to play, as he knows that when he and. Teachers and parents! Creating notes and highlights requires a free LitCharts account. When Josh tells the reader about Mom's dislike of standards and giving JB the vocabulary words, Josh demonstrates his growing maturity and that he cares for others. The Crossover Summary The narrator of the novel (which is told in verse) is Josh Bell, an 8th-grade boy. In other words, this interest shows that Josh recognizes that the doctor isn't bad, and that unlike Dad he knows he should trust the doctor/. There is so much to unpack in this wonderfully written book that it would be easy to stop and analyze every single page; the figurative language, the formatting, the authors message. VU- endstream endobj 17 0 obj <>>> endobj 18 0 obj <>/Font<>/ProcSet[/PDF/Text/ImageC]/XObject<>>>/Rotate 0/TrimBox[0.0 0.0 612.0 792.0]/Type/Page>> endobj 19 0 obj <>stream becauseI'm watching Jordan pass notesto Miss Sweet Tea. Instant PDF downloads. Joshs spinach and tofu lunch is cruel, but not as cruel as the look Miss Sweet Tea gives him. The way the content is organized. hbbd``b`$n zb1LL@k# #@ # _ And so the next poem starts with a definition: Seventh grader Matthew Goulette wonders where Alexanders ideas for The Crossover came from. Struggling with distance learning? No warm-up. This shows how much he respects and leans on his coach to show him the way when he is unsure. Because the only thing that matters is swish.Because our backboard is splintered. They will be able to relate to the topic, theme, setting and emotion conveyed in the story. He admits he is empty: he is the goal with no net. The boys know theyre getting books like they always do for Christmas, but Dad tells them hes proud of how theyve done in school so they can pick out a gift and hell get it for them. JB sweats profusely when Miss Sweet Tea walks into the room. He knows that this means, to Dad. Mom asks how they met and JB is full of details, explaining how she came into the lunchroom, how he learned she played basketball, and how he told Vondie she was pulchritudinous. The Crossover is a wonderful mentor text for adolescent writers. His favorite player is Michael Jordan, but he doesn't want people to think he's sweating him. He turns out the light to go to sleep and hears his brother say Thanks.. All of this is better than no girlfriend at all, which is what Josh has. (LogOut/ 0000013846 00000 n Not affiliated with Harvard College. Definitions and examples of 136 literary terms and devices. What was the main purpose of the Declaration of Independence? My mom was a school principal My dad played basketball before I was born. Josh hugs Mom and tells her how grateful he is for her loving him, Dad, and JB; he says that she is the best mother in the world. JB's choice to side with Miss Sweet Tea is an overt way to show Josh that he's still angry and not willing to make up. So Im very excited about that. . Change), You are commenting using your Facebook account. You'll also get updates on new titles we publish and the ability to save highlights and notes. How does the structure of the poem convey the speaker's message? We see a deep bond between all the family members in the weekly traditions they have, the way they interact with each other, the things they say to each other. Before the three-on-three, Josh challenges Dad to a quick one-on-one. Mom's amendment in particular betrays that this is likely more serious than she's letting on. Mom then sighs that they are done, and Josh asks what the consequences are. I mean, you imagine Steph Curry going back behind his back with the ball or Allen Iverson doing his crossover or Michael Jordan or LeBron James moving to the basket in this rhythmic, energetic, really awesome way. are gone. I think Josh was the first character I wrote. "My students can't get enough of your charts and their results have gone through the roof." We see this in Joshs description of their playing style. / together (159). They have the added bonus of helping people realize that he isn't, Mom always makes Dad sit at the very top of the bleachers during Josh and. Her looks not her personality is what first catches JBs attention. Males are mostly depicted in the role of sports hero; strong, popular and at the center of society. Apology Poem and Epistolary Poem "Dear Jordan" (p. 159) Found Poems "Article #1 in the Daily News (December 14)" (p. 155) "Article #2 in the Daily News (January 14)" (p. 225-226) . Dad is heading for the hoop when he stops short, screams, clutches his chest, and drops the ball. 0000012066 00000 n We see the shock wave ripple through the family when all their attempts to help Dad take ownership for his health fails and he dies. Dad bites into his third donut and, when, out of you what they expect out of their own lives. One night while on the way to a game, Joshs Dad gets pulled over for a broken taillight. From the creators of SparkNotes, something better. 6yOk5qTo1?WIo(l _MR-a`3+"1@ The Crossover, by award-winning children's book author and poet Kwame Alexander, was published in 2014 and won the 2015 Newbery Medal and Coretta Scott King Award Honor for children's literature. We see how angst ridden sibling rivalries can be and how challenging those relationships can be for both parents and children. The Crossover study guide contains a biography of Kwame Alexander, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis. Its written in two columns and the author says it can actually be read several different ways: top to bottom, left to right or diagonally. Complete your free account to request a guide. My students love how organized the handouts are and enjoy tracking the themes as a class., Requesting a new guide requires a free LitCharts account. New Jersey: Pearson. His Dad has a heart attack and slips into a coma. Family relationships are the epicenter of this novel. Josh thought that forever was far away, but he knows now forever is close. First Quarter Quotes To get ready for the season, I went to three summer camps. 0000007152 00000 n His preferred nickname is, the game. Mom and Dad are serious, while, few weeks. Dad is yelling from the stands and Mom is trying to calm him down. His life is broken like puzzle pieces and he can no longer fit. He suggests writing him a letter, and Josh thinks that could work. They are like "two stars / stealing sun" and "like two brothers / burning up. Josh gets a lot of accolades for being the Junior High MVP but Miss Sweet Tea tells him frankly that he is mean and did not deserve that award because of what he did to JB. We only learn more about her personality towards the end of the book when she comes to dinner with JBs family. Dr. Rudine Sims Bishop makes the point that in multicultural literature, a characters humanity should come through. He asks Jordan to help him and hang out with him again. The two-column structure used in the Crossover's poem "Dear Jordan" stands for; The two-column structure used in Dear Jordan symbolizes the broken relationship between the two brothers Josh and JB. The crossover is Joshs signature move, something his Dad taught him. The original text plus a side-by-side modern translation of. Kwame Alexander is a poet, educator and New York Times bestselling author, who has won numerous awards including the Newbery Medal for the most distinguished contribution to American Literature for children. So I knew that the book would be told from the vantage point of a boy. dear jordan poem the crossover. 0000010816 00000 n In this way, she tries to distract Josh by talking about anything else to keep him from worrying about Dad. The Question and Answer section for The Crossover is a great -Graham S. Though Josh offers no insight into JB's thought process, it's worth considering that Josh's violent pass likely came as a surprise and was therefore even more hurtful than it might have been. How are family relationships depicted? 0000013468 00000 n Mom acts like an umbrella and shuts Dad down. Thus, readers come to know how the power of words and vibrant language evoke deep emotional responses as we read about Joshs life. This illustrates how a person can use language to shape their identity. 0000009882 00000 n Josh has trouble separating the two. Dad's championship ring.Between the bouncingand sobbing, I whisper, Why? At dinner Josh sits next to. He cares for it meticulously every day, and this is why he declines, The game is tied. Josh feels inspired when he is on the court, and this comes out in the rhymes that flow through him when he plays. But then, things start to unravel as JB starts to get more interested in girls. thinking less and less aboutbasketball, and more and more aboutGIRLS. Josh and JB made a bet.. Josh lost, and JB got to cut off five of his dreadlocks. Josh tells her hes busy, and she says she will see them at the rec center. Mom tells JB that Josh has apologized for his mistake, but JB states that he saw the look in Joshs eye and it was not a mistake. Its called Booked. What does the postscript say in "Dear Jordan"? Kwame Alexander "Dear Jordan" from THE CROSSOVER by Kwame Alexander. The ball goes back and forth and Josh feels like he and, the gym over Thanksgiving break and why he cut his "cute" locks. is wrong. The Crossover Characters Next Josh Josh Josh is the twelve-year-old protagonist of the novel. Tomorrow Is the Last Day of School Before Christmas Vacation. He's survived by his wife (Mom) and his twin sons, Josh and, to look in the coffin. Said he didn't want to miss Bible school. 0000007875 00000 n on tell the reader about what she values and what her priorities are? H\@. Josh watches, Vondie brings the ball up the court, but the defense presses close. The tension between Josh and Jordan escalates, and they both do regrettable things. Mom sits Josh down. The fact that Dad does his best to correct himself and call Josh what he wants to be called shows that Dad is happy to show Josh the same kind of understanding that he showed JB when he asked him to invite Miss Sweet Tea for dinner. Because he's relying on physical communication and violence to express himself, he's less successful and therefore, more upset. 0000013043 00000 n Alexander reveals in a subtle and moving way how eventually the brothers start to move incrementally closer together again, such as with Josh writing JB a letter or giving him his vocabulary study materials, but it is realistic in that it is painful and happens in fits and starts. (including. Dad encourages Josh and, the second rebound. pro-fuse-ly. Josh ruefully says he will talk to Mom since he can see how much it means to Dad, but he adds that she is worried about him. However, I will tell you this. Our, "Sooo much more helpful thanSparkNotes. I am writing a prequel to The Crossover. VPR's coverage of arts and culture in the region. Mahira showed him around the museum, where she and Jordan used to meet. Josh is extremely regretful for what he has done, never trying to defend himself, but JB naturally decides to keep his distance all the same. Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. %PDF-1.6 % ", "THIRD QUARTER" to "At Noon, in the Gym, with Dad". This further allows students to practice at life as they experience Joshs reactions to conflict relevant to their own lives in the story. Tomorrow Is the Last Day of School Before Christmas Vacation. I can feel what some of the experiences in the book are like for Josh because I can draw on my own life experiences to empathize with him. 1. It would have been great to see more of Alexiss perspective in the story to clarify. Come on, tell me. Though Miss Sweet Tea didn't intend to pull the boys apart, she now feels compelled to do so since her loyalty lies with JB and not at all with Josh. endstream endobj 1085 0 obj <>stream Josh's stay in the hospital while caring for his sick father, his father's eventual demise further made him lonely and he frantically sought to repair the relationship. Detailed quotes explanations with page numbers for every important quote on the site. Teach your students to analyze literature like LitCharts does. 0000006505 00000 n Dad is screaming, running down the stairs, and yelling at the ref. 3. Theyre having a fantastic time, and everyone there is watching. ;0&0a= 9!AlF_,@Q X26XAn9 yXdPM? At the end of the chapter, why does the writing style change so drastically from what it was before, to sud JB is standing there and saying nothing; his eyes are looking past Josh. Lets use rhyme, lets use free verse, lets use different types of poetry to sort of mimic and mirror that action on the court and do that on the page. He adds that Mom said Josh could play if they make it to the championship game. He smiles at Mom, gives, happy. But Im not there. His eyes shut. This week, Josh makes the honor roll, watches the team win Game Nine, eats lunch alone, walks home alone, tries to atone day and night, sits next to JB at dinner (JB moves), does JBs chores (JB says nothing), and says hes sorry (JB doesnt listen). During November we'll be sharing our love of poetry, by focussing on an excellent children's poet each week. To get ready for the season, I wentto three summer camps. JB is on the other side of the backseat, but Josh feels miles away from all of them. Devon Kibbey: How did you decide that you were going to write the story from Joshs perspective? Its completely fiction. Vermont Public's News CoverageGovernment & Politics | The Vermont Economy | Criminal Justice & Public Safety | Arts & Culture | Education | Health | Energy & Environment | Food & Agriculture | Series & Specials, Investigations | Brave Little State | Vermont Edition | New England News Collaborative (NENC) | VPR Archive. I think it was very insightful inThe Crossoverto include the relationship Josh had with his coach. Write an essay for ONE of the following topics: Essay Topic 1. Alexis calls 911 and JB rushes to get water to splash Dads face. Generally, this type of poem focuses on personal moments or feelings or image laden scenes (Tunnell et al. This is also an attempt to make Josh understand this, since Josh's narration implies that he doesn't see JB's relationship as something normal or expected. Josh is on the phone with Vondie when he hears panting coming from Mom and Dads room but they dont have a dog. 1079 0 obj <> endobj Rebounding / is the art / of anticipating, / of always being prepared / to grab it. This again shows how Dad prioritizes basketball over his health. Though Josh loves JB and being a twin, he also craves read analysis of Josh Dad Josh and JB's dad. Coach gives the team a pep talk. No practice to get ready. And Iwonder what's in the notes. Refine any search. endstream endobj 1084 0 obj <>stream Sons of basketball legend Chuck Da Man Bell, basketball is in their blood. Mom and Dad's closet is off limits. Refine any search. The Crossover is flying off library shelves like a half-court sinker. They're like having in-class notes for every discussion!, This is absolutely THE best teacher resource I have ever purchased. He did not mean to get upset, he offers. Miss Sweet Tea shooting baskets at the other court. You'll also get updates on new titles we publish and the ability to save highlights and notes. Dad tries to break the tension by talking about Christmas and the turkey. Josh whispers to Dad that JB wont talk to him, and Dad replies that he just has to let the smoke clear. His dad revives and spends nineteen days in the hospital as Josh tries to get used to his new existence alone without JB who used to be his best friend. Josh says that earlier, he walked into the gym covered in mud. The score is tied and clock ticks as. The characters listen to the same music as they do, covet the same shoes, use the same slang. In some ways, Joshs parents defy these stereotypes as Dad stays home with the boys and his mom is an educated, smart assistant principal. 0000001569 00000 n 0000003226 00000 n These poems are also concrete poems, taking on the shape of the words to further represent how Josh feels when he plays basketball. After the game, in the locker room, unexpected bad event that often results in injuries. 0000009118 00000 n As Josh pulls out the book, he sees Miss Sweet Tea and, also afraid that Mom will reach her tipping point and ban basketball if he and, tomorrow, concerned about Dad, and hates how his hair feels, he can't sleep mostly because, Surprised. JB asks.And even though I never opened my mouth,I say, Thanks,becauseit is. Dads kneeling weakly on the floor with a pool of vomit below him. View The_Crossover__Notes__4.2.21.docx from ENGLISH 606 at Dulles H S. The Crossover Notes: Second & Third Quarter Second Quarter Second Quarter begins with two back-to-back poems titled . She sends Josh luck and says that she made, to play one more game and is afraid that Dad is dying. The problem stemmed from Josh's belief that JB had taken his female friend from him. Just because he is elated to be the Daily News Junior MVP, doesnt mean it doesnt sting when Alexis and JB dont seem pleased at all. The way the content is organized, LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in. Use specific, quoted evidence from the poem to explore and illustrate your ideas. We see a strong marriage through the eyes of Josh; a relationship so strong he often alludes to the fact that he knows his parents are having sex; and though this appears to gross him out we can read between the lines to see his relief that all is good. His postscript reads that he's sorry. Down on the court, Storm. 80). She said she likes me a lot, I tell him.You mean she likes me a lot? Then, by using Josh's word and sharing a smile with his brother, JB is able to say that he's willing to reopen lines of communication and reconnect with his brother. On page 26, he says, JB likes to taunt and trash talk during games like Dad used to do when he played. Identical twinsare no different from everyone else,except we look andsometimes soundexactly alike. He even uses the word churlish to describe himself. drives home from the hospital, the car is silent. resource to ask questions, find answers, and discuss thenovel. endstream endobj 1080 0 obj <>>>/Filter/Standard/Length 128/O(+vtyd#\nOxe\))/P -1052/R 4/StmF/StdCF/StrF/StdCF/U(DJyd )/V 4>> endobj 1081 0 obj <> endobj 1082 0 obj <>>>/Rotate 0/Type/Page>> endobj 1083 0 obj <>stream 0000001216 00000 n uses it in a sentence and says that in Mom and Dad's closet, he and, all the teasing dies down, the game begins. I have never had this worry. 0000002682 00000 n Missing the game is similar to not attending to his father. Josh, mine it. 1162410. 0000007127 00000 n ESSENTIAL QUESTION: How does the structure of the poem convey the speaker's message? From the doorway, a stricken Mom says he should go sit down for dinner. Alexis calls and Josh answers; she says hello and asks for JB. As Josh continues to cast himself as the helper in the family, he begins to see that doing so will actually allow him to be more successful. Coach, Dad, and the crowd all scream for Josh to pass the ball. His family unit is strong, though it is not always perfect. 1090 0 obj <>stream Basketball is extremely important to them, and they both want to play professionally someday. She is at the house for dinner and Josh is surprised to hear JB asking for seconds of the healthy food. Reproduced by permission of HarperCollins Publishers. 0000031472 00000 n My wife and I danced My daughter, whos seven-years-old, in second grade, she woke up and she came in the room and said, Whats all the commotion for? And we said, Daddy just won the Newbury Medal. And she said, Yay! Josh also has a strong relationship with his basketball coach and receives much guidance and support from him as well. Exploration of this text can be a gateway into students writing. When JB and Josh are in a fight, she takes JBs side without question because this is the expectation for her as a girlfriend. A novel told in verse, with striking illustrations, this book is about basketball and much more: as they progress into young adulthood, navigating the pressures of home and school, the relationship between Josh and Jordan begins to change. Josh wants in, but Mom warns him not to interfere. Kwame Alexander is able toto seamlessly bring different poetry elements, forms of poetry and genres of writing together to help the reader experience Joshs life and his humanity, as opposed to just reading about it. "My students can't get enough of your charts and their results have gone through the roof." Sometimes / you have to / lean back / a little / and / fade away / to get / the best / shot (191). Tomorrow is the Last Day of School Before Christmas Vacation, Usually, Josh helps JB study, but JBs been studying alone lately.
Cantal Cheese Substitute, Facts About Cardiff University, Articles D