His eyes shut. Miss Sweet Tea shooting baskets at the other court. Now can you go make my French toast please?. Mahira showed him around the museum, where she and Jordan used to meet. Teachers and parents! He did not mean to get upset, he offers. Why do you think Josh is seemingly more upset about missing the game than his dads health? Mom texts a few times that she and Dad needed to leave because Dad did not feel wellhes fine, just tired. (including. 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. A reporter from the paper asks, I'm on Free Throw Number Twenty-Seven. PDFs of modern translations of every Shakespeare play and poem. drives home from the hospital, the car is silent. How are family relationships depicted? 0000013043 00000 n You'll be able to access your notes and highlights, make requests, and get updates on new titles. 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. What seemed to be a great disappointment for Myrtle concerning her marriage to George? are gone. Josh has trouble separating the two. The Crossover - Teacher Talk At the End of Warm-Ups, My Brother Tries to Dunk. can you help me heal, run with me, slash with me like we used to? Page 130 | The Crossover Questions | Q & A | GradeSaver instead, tells him that being early is always better than being a little bit late. On page 185, Coach shares with Josh that he got into a fight with his brother in high school and now they are estranged. Sherry Taylor. She was a VPR contributor from 2006 to 2020. 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. So, certainly there are some things from my life that have probably creeped into this book. 0000029230 00000 n I agree with you that this book has a WEALTH of useful elements (language, theme, characters, etc) and one needs to make sure not to overanalyze but also allow for the enjoyment AND connection of the reader with the story, the language and the characters. But Im not there. You earned it, Filthy, he says,sliding the ring on my finger.My heart leapsinto my throat. Her looks not her personality is what first catches JBs attention. I danced around my room. They are like two stars / stealing sun and like two brothers / burning up. Hes getting flyer, climbing the sky, exploding across the lane, crissing and crossing the ball, and taking the break. Not affiliated with Harvard College. 0000016558 00000 n The Crossover Summary The narrator of the novel (which is told in verse) is Josh Bell, an 8th-grade boy. they win the championship trophy. In particular, it begins to align him with Dad, who is still highly regarded even though he's also not playing. All rights reserved. Second, Alexander increases the sense of foreboding when it comes to Chuck (JBs seeing-a-ghost expression is telling). Coach gives the team a pep talk. Dad is yelling from the stands and Mom is trying to calm him down. He tells a joke and, finally, they all laugh. The title of this book (The Crossover) is an important phrase and idea throughout the book. As the family drives to the game, Josh sits in the back with, who has them. The words and rhythmic flow of these words on the page depict Joshs inner thoughts; his flow on the court. In this activity, they will complete a Poem Analysis & Compare/Contrast Paired Text Activity. Josh does not know if JB read his letter, but on the bus, he made a joke about Vondies forehead being a five-head and he could feel JB laughing a little. Identical twinsare no different from everyone else,except we look andsometimes soundexactly alike. Joshs Basketball Rules that appear throughout the book are a great way to get students to engage with the message of the book and think about how they could apply these lessons to their own lives. 0000044218 00000 n pro-fuse-ly. / together" (159). Thus, readers come to know how the power of words and vibrant language evoke deep emotional responses as we read about Joshs life. She asks him sternly if hes lost his mind, and she says boys who dont have self-control end up behind bars. Dad's heart attack here makes it clear that Mom is right: Dad shouldn't play anymore if he wants to preserve his health. Teacher Editions with classroom activities for all 1699 titles we cover. How is this condition highlighted in the narrative? At first, Josh doesnt love the nickname, but it takes on a special meaning when it becomes a code between him and his Dad when he is on the court; a signal he is doing well. We see how angst ridden sibling rivalries can be and how challenging those relationships can be for both parents and children. Change), You are commenting using your Facebook account. In the book "The Crossover" there is a poem called "Dear Jordan" where 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. 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. Dad encourages Josh and, the second rebound. And it is about the father when he was 12-years-old. Mom insists that Dad call Dr. Youngblood. 0000057497 00000 n Josh wants a world outside of basketball, and he wants his relationship with JB to remain unchanged. He also thinks that it's ironic that, drills, Coach leads the team in meditation. Joshs life and his humanity, as opposed to just reading about it. Josh whispers to Dad that JB wont talk to him, and Dad replies that he just has to let the smoke clear. dear jordan poem the crossover. %%EOF This suggests that as Josh and JB grow up, part of their coming of age will be having to learn to accept each other as they grow rather than just deciding to grow apart. 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 does CPR, but nothing changes. Teachers and parents! She said she likes me a lot, I tell him.You mean she likes me a lot? By bringing up Dad's championship ring again, Josh reminds the reader that his goal in life is to one day be good enough to wear the ring. 2016, pg 98). Josh struggles to answer and says he's sorry and didn't mean to hurt, Mom insists that's not acceptable and reminds Josh that he'll need to apologize to, doesn't understand how his behavior became so churlish. "Filthy McNasty" is described as being what mythical creature in the poem by the same name? 0 PDF downloads of all 1699 LitCharts literature guides, and of every new one we publish. It's, The boys each ask how the other is and then, Would not have made it through AP Literature without the printable PDFs. Josh walks home alone after practice, which feels strange since he usually walks with, finds The Giver. 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 . To make matters worse, encourages the rest of the team to step up since Josh isn't playing. He and JB lock eyes; theres that seeing-a-ghost sensation again. His parents continue to press upon him the value of working hard and the importance of education. a7[6se7U>rcf[,+*@j3(9 This site is using cookies under cookie policy . This is the beginning of a big change in Josh and JBs relationship. . We kept her home all day and just sort of got on the couch, lit the fire, smiled, laughed, danced and sort of basked in the joy of this wonderful honor. comes for dinner, she asks for seconds of Mom's veggie lasagna. 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. The tension between Josh and Jordan escalates, and they both do regrettable things. Given that Dad's dad died in the hospital of hypertension, it's understandable that Dad is unwilling to seek help out of fear. People are watching; the crowd is growing; Josh and Dad are balling. 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. 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. The dialect, slang and colorful personalities of Josh and his family members makes me feel like I am reading about a real family. In the Old, the people of Israel cross the Jordan. Josh's concern that Dad won't be around to parent him shows again that he's still very much a kid and isn't ready to grow up yet. Jordan insists that everyone call him JB. The ball goes back and forth and Josh feels like he and, the gym over Thanksgiving break and why he cut his "cute" locks. She and Dad did not teach him to be churlish, and she does not know why hes been like this. At dinner Josh sits next to. The Crossover Summary | GradeSaver denly giving just brief visual descriptions and using lots of ellipses? Josh writes his letter. Alexiss parents are estranged. However, this also means that Dad then isn't properly managing his condition, which puts him at risk of ending up in the hospital for an emergency. Sometimes / you have to / lean back / a little / and / fade away / to get / the best / shot (191). JB sweats profusely when Miss Sweet Tea walks into the room. Dad sighs that the boys are getting older and they will manage. More books than SparkNotes. . I have never had this worry. i6rUU-jIT "/}N3t,neS>3%#O;(a46"poKR}l'ySlaAOEtV6`=vL nq. We are not liable to third-parties. 0000009461 00000 n Josh's exasperation with JB then suggests that he hasn't made this leap yet, even as he recognizes that diet is a good way to control Dad's high blood pressure. Or what is his goal? In some ways, Joshs parents defy these stereotypes as Dad stays home with the boys and his mom is an educated, smart assistant principal. Shes a candy striper and cheerleader, and she talks about her favorite color being purple. Here is a poem from The Crossover: Dear Jordan without u i am empty, the goal with no net, seems my life was broken shattered, like puzzle pieces on the court. The doctor tells. And thats not the only story Alexander has been working on. The The Crossover quotes below are all either spoken by JB or refer to JB. Some of the language and experiences are counter to my own, which gives me a realistic glimpse into the life of an African American family. One of the big changes in Joshs world is that his twin brother Jordan has started spending more time talking to girls and less time playing ball with him. 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. Generally, this type of poem focuses on personal moments or feelings or image laden scenes (Tunnell et al. JB and Josh are estranged, but Dads making them play a three-on-three tomorrow at the rec center. PDF The Crossover Book Pdf - Sex 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. Teacher Editions with classroom activities for all 1699 titles we cover. 0000008243 00000 n He has a book coming out in April about a soccer player who doesnt like to read. Their mom is assistant principal at their school. Please explain "Jordan (I)," a poem by George Herbert. Now that Josh understands that Dad is ill, this strange panting raises alarms--which shows that Josh is growing up and becoming more aware of his surroundings. Dads kneeling weakly on the floor with a pool of vomit below him. The Crossover Quiz from Eight Week Quiz D | BookRags.com 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. worked--the Wildcats won and dedicated the game ball to Dad. Take a look! He asks Jordan to help him and hang out with him again. Our, "Sooo much more helpful thanSparkNotes. Previously, in "Dear Edward" episode 7, we saw Edward get to know Mahira, Jordan's girlfriend. Get up to speed on the news Vermont is talking about, delivered to your inbox every weekday morning. Dad says he needs to get back on the courthe misses it too much. He and his twin brother Jordanor JBare basketball stars and are best friends on and off the court. Matthew Goulette: Is this story based on your life or someone you know? Dylan DiPietro: How did you react when you learned that The Crossover won the 2015 Newbury Award? He founded a K-12 writing program called The Write Thing. This Book-in-a-Day writing and publishing program has created more than 3000 student authors. Seventh grader Dylan DiPietro wonders how that feels. 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). He's nearly six feet tall and has a twin, JB. Dear Jordan. His life is broken like puzzle pieces and he can no longer fit. Josh's assessment that Vondie's girlfriend (who he appears to think little of) is better than being single speaks to Josh's intense desire to join his friends in reaching this milestone. Dad's bloody nose is another red flag that his health isn't as good as it should be. He adds that Mom said Josh could play if they make it to the championship game. She also asks where, where it's stuck, wedged between the rim and the backboard. Excitement--like what Dad might have felt upon receiving this letter--likely raised his blood pressure and made him vomit, which indicates that Dad is even sicker than he's letting on. Dear Jordan Josh writes his letter. Josh feels inspired when he is on the court, and this comes out in the rhymes that flow through him when he plays. The story is told from Joshs point of view. Joshs interior state as he contemplates these changes in his life is a testament to Alexanders ability to capture the complexity of a teenager. We begin with the poems of John Agard. H\@. Vondie giggles. "dear Basketball" "kobe Bryant" Teaching Resources | TPT Mom acts like an umbrella and shuts Dad down. Dad apologizes to his family for losing his cool as. The Childrens Bookshow is a registered charity no. ;0&0a= 9!AlF_,@Q X26XAn9 yXdPM? When we asked them how they liked the book, they raved about the book. Plus he has MJ sheets . As a consequence for his actions, his mom suspends him from the team. 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. 1086 0 obj <>/Encrypt 1080 0 R/Filter/FlateDecode/ID[<61646262373637383037366663616638366338393836303261386561666634336264323463323264316164333866373366333835346439303963633665616633>]/Index[1079 12]/Info 1078 0 R/Length 55/Prev 879473/Root 1081 0 R/Size 1091/Type/XRef/W[1 2 1]>>stream 0000031472 00000 n Copyright 2014 by Kwame Alexander. He asks Dad if they can stop at the sneaker store. On the way home from the hospital, there is no music and no talking. / But you cant / drop the ball (146). So I knew that the book would be told from the vantage point of a boy. The score is tied and clock ticks as. What was the main purpose of the Declaration of Independence? Alexis went to Nike Hoops Camp for Girls; she knows how to do a crossover; her parents are divorced; she shoots hoops at the rec center to relax; she smells like sugarplums; her sister goes to Duke. Unfortunately, that wouldnt be a middle grade novel. We only learn more about her personality towards the end of the book when she comes to dinner with JBs family. Josh's letter offers the reader multiple ways to read it, though each way offers the same main point: Josh's loneliness is killing him, and he misses his brother. Exposing students to verse novels such as this allows them to explore the artistic elements that combine to evoke personal and powerful emotions in the reader. Both are skilled basketball players. Dad falls, his eyes roll, and Josh screams. Even though he is. Cha c sn phm trong gi hng. Amy is an award winning journalist who has worked in print and radio in Vermont since 1991. Can JB run with him, help him heal, slash with him like they used to? So Im very excited about that. 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. Detailed explanations, analysis, and citation info for every important quote on LitCharts. Zip. 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. And for the first time in my lifeI don't want to be. So it was chronological. Im still reacting to it. ", not being at the funeral, which makes Josh confirm that she knows it's him, not, kisses him and gives him a piece of sweet potato pie. Alexander also found a way to sneak some of his favorite words into the book. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Design a site like this with WordPress.com, to seamlessly bring different poetry elements, forms of poetry and genres of writing together to help the reader. / together (159). Mom says its not about his grades: its about how he behaves going forward. And so, I was like, 'I gotta use this word.' Dad is gone "like the end of a good song. Instant PDF downloads. Mom's phone rings and she shrieks. After the game, in the locker room, unexpected bad event that often results in injuries. PDFs of modern translations of every Shakespeare play and poem. 1162410. He also co-founded LEAP for Ghana, an International Literacy Program. Josh has a plan: he's going to talk to. Down on the court, Storm. %PDF-1.6 % 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. Refine any search. (LogOut/ Being named the MVP even though he's currently suspended speaks to how good a player Josh is. The_Crossover__Notes__4.2.21.docx - The Crossover Notes: Dad wakes up. However, I will tell you this. Vondie passes to, that they're going to go home. New Jersey: Pearson. The students at Rutland Town School had some questions for the author. 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. 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. He calms down, but suddenly his nose gushes blood. By doing so we are pulled into Joshs life in the most intimate way; allowing us to make connections to our own lives and experiences.