# The Crossover

**Author:** Kwame Alexander
**Lexile:** 750L
**Grade range:** Grades 5–9
**Age range:** 10–14
**First published:** 2014
**Page count:** 240
**Genre:** Middle Grade Verse Novel
**ISBN-13:** `9780544107717`
**ISBN-10:** `0544107713`
**Canonical URL:** https://readinglist.school/book/the-crossover
**License:** [CC BY 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) — please credit ReadingList.school when citing.

## About this book

Twin basketball stars Josh and Jordan Bell navigate seventh grade, family conflict, and their father's failing health. Alexander's 2015 Newbery Medal winner is one of the most-assigned 5-8 grade verse novels and a frequent gateway text for striving readers due to its short chapters and basketball framing.

## Themes

- brotherhood
- basketball
- father-son relationship
- verse storytelling
- African-American family
- loss

## Content notes

- death of parent
- medical emergency

Common Sense Media age recommendation: 10+

## Where this book is assigned

### Common Core State Standards (ELA)

- **recommended** · 5th grade — [source: CCSS ELA grades 4-5 verse novel Newbery Medal 2015](https://achievethecore.org/page/2699)
- **recommended** · 6th grade — [source: CCSS ELA grades 6-8 verse novel exemplar](https://achievethecore.org/page/2699)
- **recommended** · 6th grade · Georgia — [source: GA ELA grade 6 — contemporary verse novel](https://www.gadoe.org/)
- **recommended** · 7th grade — [source: CCSS ELA grades 6-8 verse novel exemplar](https://achievethecore.org/page/2699)

## Banned / challenged record

Documented removals or formal challenges in at least one school district in 2 states: TX, FL. Source: [PEN America's Index of School Book Bans](https://pen.org/banned-book-list/) 2022-2024.

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