# The Crossover

**Author:** Kwame Alexander
**Lexile:** 750L
**Grade range:** Grades 5–8
**Age range:** 10–14
**First published:** 2014
**Page count:** 240
**Genre:** 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

Twelve-year-old basketball prodigy Josh Bell and his twin brother JB share everything — until a girl comes between them and their father's health declines. Told in rhythmic free verse. Winner of the 2015 Newbery Medal, Coretta Scott King Honor, and widely assigned in 5th-8th grade units on poetry and novel-in-verse.

## Themes

- family
- brotherhood
- basketball
- grief
- identity

## Content notes

- death of a parent

Common Sense Media age recommendation: 10+

## Where this book is assigned

### Buckeye Children's & Teen Book Award

- **recommended** · 6th grade · Ohio — [source: Buckeye Children's & Teen Book Award — official winners list (Ohio, K-12 grade bands, voted biennially/annually since 1982)](https://bcbookaward.info/childrens-previous-nominees/)
- **recommended** · 7th grade · Ohio — [source: Buckeye Children's & Teen Book Award — official winners list (Ohio, K-12 grade bands, voted biennially/annually since 1982)](https://bcbookaward.info/childrens-previous-nominees/)
- **recommended** · 8th grade · Ohio — [source: Buckeye Children's & Teen Book Award — official winners list (Ohio, K-12 grade bands, voted biennially/annually since 1982)](https://bcbookaward.info/childrens-previous-nominees/)

### Charlie May Simon Children's Book Award

- **recommended** · 5th grade · Arkansas — [source: Arkansas State Library / Arkansas Literacy Association — Charlie May Simon Children's Book Award (student-choice, grades 4-6; annual since 1971)](https://library.arkansas.gov/programs/book-awards/charlie-may-simon-book-award/)
- **recommended** · 6th grade · Arkansas — [source: Arkansas State Library / Arkansas Literacy Association — Charlie May Simon Children's Book Award (student-choice, grades 4-6; annual since 1971)](https://library.arkansas.gov/programs/book-awards/charlie-may-simon-book-award/)
- **recommended** · 7th grade · Arkansas — [source: Arkansas State Library / Arkansas Literacy Association — Charlie May Simon Children's Book Award (student-choice, grades 4-6; annual since 1971)](https://library.arkansas.gov/programs/book-awards/charlie-may-simon-book-award/)
- **recommended** · 8th grade · Arkansas — [source: Arkansas State Library / Arkansas Literacy Association — Charlie May Simon Children's Book Award (student-choice, grades 4-6; annual since 1971)](https://library.arkansas.gov/programs/book-awards/charlie-may-simon-book-award/)

### Common Core State Standards (ELA)

- **recommended** · 5th grade — [source: WeAreTeachers 2025 Summer Reading List — Middle Grades](https://www.weareteachers.com/summer-reading-list-for-kids/)
- **recommended** · 5th grade — [source: CCSS ELA grades 4-5 verse novel Newbery Medal 2015](https://achievethecore.org/page/2699)
- **recommended** · 6th grade — [source: WeAreTeachers 2025 Summer Reading List — Middle Grades](https://www.weareteachers.com/summer-reading-list-for-kids/)
- **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: WeAreTeachers 2025 Summer Reading List — Middle Grades](https://www.weareteachers.com/summer-reading-list-for-kids/)
- **recommended** · 7th grade — [source: CCSS ELA grades 6-8 verse novel exemplar](https://achievethecore.org/page/2699)
- **recommended** · 8th grade — [source: WeAreTeachers 2025 Summer Reading List — Middle Grades](https://www.weareteachers.com/summer-reading-list-for-kids/)

### Great Lakes Great Books Award

- **recommended** · 5th grade · Michigan — [source: Michigan Reading Association — Great Lakes Great Books Award (student-choice, grade-band shortlists; annual, since 1989). Winner/honor/nominee rolls Grades 4-5, 6-8, 9-12.](https://michiganreading.org/Great-Lakes-Great-Books)
- **recommended** · 6th grade · Michigan — [source: Michigan Reading Association — Great Lakes Great Books Award (student-choice, grade-band shortlists; annual, since 1989). Winner/honor/nominee rolls Grades 4-5, 6-8, 9-12.](https://michiganreading.org/Great-Lakes-Great-Books)
- **recommended** · 7th grade · Michigan — [source: Michigan Reading Association — Great Lakes Great Books Award (student-choice, grade-band shortlists; annual, since 1989). Winner/honor/nominee rolls Grades 4-5, 6-8, 9-12.](https://michiganreading.org/Great-Lakes-Great-Books)
- **recommended** · 8th grade · Michigan — [source: Michigan Reading Association — Great Lakes Great Books Award (student-choice, grade-band shortlists; annual, since 1989). Winner/honor/nominee rolls Grades 4-5, 6-8, 9-12.](https://michiganreading.org/Great-Lakes-Great-Books)

### Kentucky Bluegrass Award

- **recommended** · 5th grade · Kentucky — [source: Kentucky Association of School Librarians — Kentucky Bluegrass Award Winner's Circle (grades 3-5 + 6-8; annual since 1983)](https://www.kasl.us/kba/kba-winners-circle)
- **recommended** · 6th grade · Kentucky — [source: Kentucky Association of School Librarians — Kentucky Bluegrass Award Winner's Circle (grades 3-5 + 6-8; annual since 1983)](https://www.kasl.us/kba/kba-winners-circle)
- **recommended** · 7th grade · Kentucky — [source: Kentucky Association of School Librarians — Kentucky Bluegrass Award Winner's Circle (grades 3-5 + 6-8; annual since 1983)](https://www.kasl.us/kba/kba-winners-circle)
- **recommended** · 8th grade · Kentucky — [source: Kentucky Association of School Librarians — Kentucky Bluegrass Award Winner's Circle (grades 3-5 + 6-8; annual since 1983)](https://www.kasl.us/kba/kba-winners-circle)

### Louisiana Readers' Choice Awards

- **recommended** · 5th grade · Louisiana — [source: State Library of Louisiana / Louisiana Center for the Book — Louisiana Readers' Choice Awards (student-choice, grade-band shortlists; annual)](https://library.la.gov/services/for-the-public/louisiana-readers-choice/)
- **recommended** · 6th grade · Louisiana — [source: State Library of Louisiana / Louisiana Center for the Book — Louisiana Readers' Choice Awards (student-choice, grade-band shortlists; annual)](https://library.la.gov/services/for-the-public/louisiana-readers-choice/)
- **recommended** · 7th grade · Louisiana — [source: State Library of Louisiana / Louisiana Center for the Book — Louisiana Readers' Choice Awards (student-choice, grade-band shortlists; annual)](https://library.la.gov/services/for-the-public/louisiana-readers-choice/)
- **recommended** · 8th grade · Louisiana — [source: State Library of Louisiana / Louisiana Center for the Book — Louisiana Readers' Choice Awards (student-choice, grade-band shortlists; annual)](https://library.la.gov/services/for-the-public/louisiana-readers-choice/)

### Maryland Black-Eyed Susan Book Award

- **recommended** · 5th grade · Maryland — [source: Maryland Association of School Librarians — Black-Eyed Susan Book Award (student-choice; grades 3-5, 4-6, 6-8, 6-9; annual since 1992)](https://www.maslmd.org/black-eyed-susan-book-award)
- **recommended** · 6th grade · Maryland — [source: Maryland Association of School Librarians — Black-Eyed Susan Book Award (student-choice; grades 3-5, 4-6, 6-8, 6-9; annual since 1992)](https://www.maslmd.org/black-eyed-susan-book-award)
- **recommended** · 7th grade · Maryland — [source: Maryland Association of School Librarians — Black-Eyed Susan Book Award (student-choice; grades 3-5, 4-6, 6-8, 6-9; annual since 1992)](https://www.maslmd.org/black-eyed-susan-book-award)
- **recommended** · 8th grade · Maryland — [source: Maryland Association of School Librarians — Black-Eyed Susan Book Award (student-choice; grades 3-5, 4-6, 6-8, 6-9; annual since 1992)](https://www.maslmd.org/black-eyed-susan-book-award)

### Massachusetts Children's Book Award

- **recommended** · 4th grade · Massachusetts — [source: Massachusetts Children's Book Award winners (Salem State University), via Goodreads award record — 2020](https://www.goodreads.com/award/show/4054-massachusetts-children-s-book-award)
- **recommended** · 5th grade · Massachusetts — [source: Massachusetts Children's Book Award winners (Salem State University), via Goodreads award record — 2020](https://www.goodreads.com/award/show/4054-massachusetts-children-s-book-award)
- **recommended** · 6th grade · Massachusetts — [source: Massachusetts Children's Book Award winners (Salem State University), via Goodreads award record — 2020](https://www.goodreads.com/award/show/4054-massachusetts-children-s-book-award)

### Newbery Medal

- **recommended** · 3rd grade — [source: Newbery Medal (American Library Association), via Wikipedia — 2015 Newbery Medal winner](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Newbery_Medal)
- **recommended** · 4th grade — [source: Newbery Medal (American Library Association), via Wikipedia — 2015 Newbery Medal winner](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Newbery_Medal)
- **recommended** · 5th grade — [source: Newbery Medal winners (American Library Association), via Wikipedia — 2015 Newbery Medal](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Newbery_Medal)
- **recommended** · 6th grade — [source: Newbery Medal winners (American Library Association), via Wikipedia — 2015 Newbery Medal](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Newbery_Medal)
- **recommended** · 7th grade — [source: Newbery Medal winners (American Library Association), via Wikipedia — 2015 Newbery Medal](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Newbery_Medal)
- **recommended** · 8th grade — [source: Newbery Medal winners (American Library Association), via Wikipedia — 2015 Newbery Medal](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Newbery_Medal)

### Oklahoma Sequoyah Children's Book Award

- **recommended** · 5th grade · Oklahoma — [source: Oklahoma Library Association — Sequoyah Book Award, Children's (gr 3-5) + Intermediate (gr 6-8) divisions (student-choice; since 1959); winner roll 1959-2025](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sequoyah_Book_Award)
- **recommended** · 6th grade · Oklahoma — [source: Oklahoma Library Association — Sequoyah Book Award, Children's (gr 3-5) + Intermediate (gr 6-8) divisions (student-choice; since 1959); winner roll 1959-2025](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sequoyah_Book_Award)
- **recommended** · 7th grade · Oklahoma — [source: Oklahoma Library Association — Sequoyah Book Award, Children's (gr 3-5) + Intermediate (gr 6-8) divisions (student-choice; since 1959); winner roll 1959-2025](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sequoyah_Book_Award)
- **recommended** · 8th grade · Oklahoma — [source: Oklahoma Library Association — Sequoyah Book Award, Children's (gr 3-5) + Intermediate (gr 6-8) divisions (student-choice; since 1959); winner roll 1959-2025](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sequoyah_Book_Award)

### Oregon Reader's Choice Award (ORCA)

- **recommended** · 5th grade · Oregon — [source: Oregon Library Association — Oregon Reader's Choice Award (ORCA) winners by division (statewide young readers' choice program; students vote)](https://oregonreaderschoiceaward.wordpress.com/past-winners/)
- **recommended** · 6th grade · Oregon — [source: Oregon Library Association — Oregon Reader's Choice Award (ORCA) winners by division (statewide young readers' choice program; students vote)](https://oregonreaderschoiceaward.wordpress.com/past-winners/)
- **recommended** · 7th grade · Oregon — [source: Oregon Library Association — Oregon Reader's Choice Award (ORCA) winners by division (statewide young readers' choice program; students vote)](https://oregonreaderschoiceaward.wordpress.com/past-winners/)
- **recommended** · 8th grade · Oregon — [source: Oregon Library Association — Oregon Reader's Choice Award (ORCA) winners by division (statewide young readers' choice program; students vote)](https://oregonreaderschoiceaward.wordpress.com/past-winners/)

### Rebecca Caudill Young Readers' Book Award

- **recommended** · 5th grade · Illinois — [source: Rebecca Caudill Young Readers' Book Award — official winners list (Illinois grades 4-8, voted annually since 1988)](https://www.rebeccacaudill.org/past-awards/past-winners-list)
- **recommended** · 6th grade · Illinois — [source: Rebecca Caudill Young Readers' Book Award — official winners list (Illinois grades 4-8, voted annually since 1988)](https://www.rebeccacaudill.org/past-awards/past-winners-list)
- **recommended** · 7th grade · Illinois — [source: Rebecca Caudill Young Readers' Book Award — official winners list (Illinois grades 4-8, voted annually since 1988)](https://www.rebeccacaudill.org/past-awards/past-winners-list)
- **recommended** · 8th grade · Illinois — [source: Rebecca Caudill Young Readers' Book Award — official winners list (Illinois grades 4-8, voted annually since 1988)](https://www.rebeccacaudill.org/past-awards/past-winners-list)

### Wyoming Indian Paintbrush Book Award

- **recommended** · 5th grade · Wyoming — [source: Wyoming Library Association — Indian Paintbrush Book Award, grades 4-6 (student-choice; annual since 1986); winner roll 1986-2024](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_Paintbrush_Book_Award)
- **recommended** · 6th grade · Wyoming — [source: Wyoming Library Association — Indian Paintbrush Book Award, grades 4-6 (student-choice; annual since 1986); winner roll 1986-2024](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_Paintbrush_Book_Award)
- **recommended** · 7th grade · Wyoming — [source: Wyoming Library Association — Indian Paintbrush Book Award, grades 4-6 (student-choice; annual since 1986); winner roll 1986-2024](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_Paintbrush_Book_Award)
- **recommended** · 8th grade · Wyoming — [source: Wyoming Library Association — Indian Paintbrush Book Award, grades 4-6 (student-choice; annual since 1986); winner roll 1986-2024](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_Paintbrush_Book_Award)

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