dear jordan poem the crossover

However, some parts of the book are written as a lyric poem, which is melodic and soundlike. All of this is better than no girlfriend at all, which is what Josh has. Alexander also found a way to sneak some of his favorite words into the book. In other words, just as the boys have choices in regards to their basketball success, they also have the choice to make up or continue their feud. 10. 0000006505 00000 n 0000009118 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. Why do you think Josh is seemingly more upset about missing the game than his dads health? 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 tells Mom that he looks online and that thats better than a doctor, but Mom angrily insists that she will make an appointment for him. Its not memoir. Though Josh is once again able to use his vocabulary words to make his life make more sense, he also indicates that his ability to effectively communicate is waning. JB is on fire and blazes from baseline to baseline. Refine any search. We are not liable to third-parties. Family relationships are the epicenter of this novel. 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. The Crossover study guide contains a biography of Kwame Alexander, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis. 2 See answers Advertisement loveleefelix2014 Answer: Sad (it's a su!cide note,so it's pretty obvious,but meh)hope this helps. 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. instead, tells him that being early is always better than being a little bit late. Kwame Alexander: "Oh my gosh! 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 His Dad has a heart attack and slips into a coma. Detailed explanations, analysis, and citation info for every important quote on LitCharts. Vondie is suffocated by the defense and JB cant make the shot; the Wildcats are down at the end of the first half. 5m%4|#w gJVxx3@#vwd)}Dt9h'3S? Oh my gosh! At dinner, Mom is still upset about Josh's hair and makes. Vondie passes to, that they're going to go home. He tells Josh it was something he ate, and he changes the subject to how he just got a coaching job at a nearby college. He and JB lock eyes; theres that seeing-a-ghost sensation again. 1090 0 obj <>stream 80). As the family drives to the game, Josh sits in the back with, who has them. 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. I think basketball and is father are reflections of each other. By analyzing how Alexander is able to use voice, word choice, sentence fluency and original ideas to write a powerful story, students will be able to create a story that reflects their own original idea. In this poem, Josh makes efforts to repair the cracked friendship between him and his brother. His mother made him cut off the rest. Josh decides to sit with the team today instead of up with Mom and Dad. As Josh plays in the final game of the season, his Dad dies from a massive heart attack. drives home from the hospital, the car is silent. 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 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. In this poem, the author uses short, choppy lines to convey a sense of urgency; this narrates the story of Joshs dads heart attack. We see how extended family fits into the puzzle and what feelings the main characters has at this time. I mean, because basketball is poetry in motion, and so I thought lets use verse. What thoughts and emotions does Josh express in "Dear Jordan"? To make matters worse, encourages the rest of the team to step up since Josh isn't playing. The Crossover Characters Next Josh Josh Josh is the twelve-year-old protagonist of the novel. Josh isnt a clich; he truly seems to be a living, breathing boy who experiences real feelings of despair, triumph, pride, jealousy, and confusion. 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. This is the new name Josh has for Alexis. "The Crossover THIRD QUARTER to At Noon, in the Gym, with Dad Summary and Analysis". Tomorrow Is the Last Day of School Before Christmas Vacation. Dad's message does much the same thing, though it seems much more in character for Dad. In this way, she tries to distract Josh by talking about anything else to keep him from worrying about Dad. And so, I was like, 'I gotta use this word.' Shes justifiably annoyed with Josh for the way he treated his brother, but she is capable of moving past that and forgiving Josh, even reaching out to him and inviting him to the Duke game at the very end of the novel. Plus he has MJ sheets . This story, about twelve year old Josh and his twin Jordan, is a joyful and dynamic celebration of language. Climax: Dad dies during the championship game Antagonist: Hypertension and death; change Point of View: First-person Extra Credit for The Crossover In "Dear Jordan," the poem describes Josh's apology to his brother and his emptiness without him. ESSENTIAL QUESTION: How does the structure of the poem convey the speaker's message? 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. The Crossover has been winning top prizes and awards in childrens literature. Dad bites into his third donut and, when, out of you what they expect out of their own lives. Josh and, in a hospital and now, Dad hates doctors. We only learn more about her personality towards the end of the book when she comes to dinner with JBs family. Dylan DiPietro: How did you react when you learned that The Crossover won the 2015 Newbury Award? 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. It began with this 12-year-old-boy, who came to be known as Filthy McNasty. You'll also get updates on new titles we publish and the ability to save highlights and notes. Kwame Alexander: Wow, never been asked the question before. Josh that he's mean and doesn't deserve the distinction, especially after what he did to. Advertisement bfordjohnson Then, everything in his world comes crashing down. Other of his many books (hes written 35!) They were missing Josh Filthy McNasty Bell, though, who is this papers Most Valuable Player. Its completely fiction. Use specific, quoted evidence from the poem to explore and illustrate your ideas. The girls' lives are mundane under the, The fifth and sixth graders file down the stairs and into the school library, like they've done hundreds of times before. In this poem, Josh makes efforts to repair the cracked friendship between him and his brother. At the End of Warm-Ups, My Brother Tries to Dunk. Dad jokes about the name. Change), You are commenting using your Twitter account. When JB seems willing to laugh and agrees with Josh's request, it suggests that he sees this as the olive branch that it is and is now willing to start to move forward. When JB is brushing his teeth, Josh steals into their room and lays his outlines down on JBs pillow. Alexander says he came across the name while working on the story. Joshs earlier sense that everything was going well in his life and something bad was certain to happen soon has now revealed itself to have been very prescient. When Dad shifts the conversation to make it about losing his cool rather than his poor health, it shows that he's still trying to ignore his hypertension and wants to keep it a secret from his sons. What news is related in the poem "Article #1 in the Daily News (December 14)"? Vondie has a girlfriend now, too. The Crossover is the story of twins but seventh grader Devon Kibbey noticed that readers get the point of view of only one brother. 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 At the stoplight, JB and Josh look out the window at the same time, and Josh knows what his brother is thinking. Get this assignment written for you by Expert Writers in this subject. He unleashes a killer crossover and everyone is hollering as Dad dribbles to the hoop. atonement in the Crossover using the poem "Dear Jordan" . 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. At 7:45, she asks about the score and how. Josh feels inspired when he is on the court, and this comes out in the rhymes that flow through him when he plays. He asks Jordan to help him and hang out with him again. Mom and Dad are serious, while, few weeks. The score of the Wildcats' first game is 35-18. Ruth Bishop said that poetry has a kind of magic and can help the reader see ordinary things in new ways. InThe Crossover,Alexander takes risks with his writing to authentically represent the culture of Josh, his family and friends. Both Joshs parents and basketball coach provide non-didactic moral education for students to consider. In the locker room. . He's nearly six feet tall and has a twin, JB. is blocked, which results in that part of the heart muscle suffering damage or dying. It refers to a basketball move (described in the . For some adolescents, this is a situation that crops up often. Rebounding / is the art / of anticipating, / of always being prepared / to grab it. The realization that JB is masturbating in the shower again shows Josh that JB is developing much faster than he is, though the lack of judgment in Josh's tone suggests he's becoming more used to the idea of JB changing. can you help me heal, run with me, slash with me like we used to? Josh realizes that sometimes its the things that arent said / that kill you (156). 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. Hes out cold. He wants Dad to talk to Mom because he feels like he needs to be in the playoffs and is letting his teammates down. JB echoes.And the word wenever soundedsweeter. Theyre having a fantastic time, and everyone there is watching. Down on the court, Storm. He was only 39 and might have had a chance if he had seen a doctor sooner. In a letter to JB, written in two columns that can be read together or separately, Josh says that without his brother, he's empty. Mom smiles and says hell be back on the team in no time, but she warns him not to press his luck. 0000029230 00000 n comes for dinner, she asks for seconds of Mom's veggie lasagna. We put their questions a to Kwame Alexander. forever. Detailed quotes explanations with page numbers for every important quote on the site. "Jordan" is thought by most critics to allude to the Jordan River that is important to the people of Israel in the Old and New Testaments. i can no longer fit. Our, "Sooo much more helpful thanSparkNotes. Josh is studying by himself. Eighth grader Amy McGee's letter starts out this way: The apology poem that author Kwame Alexander wrote from Josh to JB in The Crossover is called "Dear Jordan." Symptoms like this suggest that Dad is at high risk for a heart attack or a stroke. (LogOut/ Tomorrow is the Last Day of School Before Christmas Vacation, Usually, Josh helps JB study, but JBs been studying alone lately. Josh is concerned, asking about Moms advice to take it easy. 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. PDFs of modern translations of every Shakespeare play and poem. Instant downloads of all 1699 LitChart PDFs 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. Change). 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. ", 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. the playoffs are in two days, his grades were good, and the team needs him. He wonders if she actually plays. 10. Want to help more children attend our events in the future? / together" (159). Notice that Josh hasn't said anything about being particularly interested in sneakers himself; that's JB's thing. 0000020561 00000 n 4. Its wonderful. His favorite player is Michael Jordan, but he doesn't want people to think he's sweating him. Dad tries to break the tension by talking about Christmas and the turkey. ;0&0a= 9!AlF_,@Q X26XAn9 yXdPM? Dr. Rudine Sims Bishop makes the point that in multicultural literature, a characters humanity should come through. Take a look! JB only went to one. 0000001216 00000 n endstream endobj 1085 0 obj <>stream I mean, what better way to capture that movement from the court, and to put that on the page, than through poetry? 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. Her first job in professional radio was at WVMX in Stowe, where she worked as News Director and co-host of The Morning Show. Change), You are commenting using your Facebook account. Teach your students to analyze literature like LitCharts does. The words and rhythmic flow of these words on the page depict Joshs inner thoughts; his flow on the court. Both are skilled basketball players. Alexis calls 911 and JB rushes to get water to splash Dads face. Cha c sn phm trong gi hng. She runs past the boys' room and when, pull through and sends his love. 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. Da's pulse is gone. 0000007406 00000 n She also asks where, where it's stuck, wedged between the rim and the backboard. And, eventually after maybe a draft of it I knew that I wanted him to have a twin brother. For example, Alexis is mostly described by her looks and her loyalty to JB. 3. Though we see female characters present in the story, they are only secondary characters that further define the role of the male in the story. Now that Josh's actions have hurt someone, his sense of loneliness gets even worse. Josh, 15 On the surface level, this quote refers to Josh's hairhis beloved dreadlocks that he feels differentiate him from others and give him power and charisma on the court. JB comes running out of the bathroom.What'd she say, Josh? Get up to speed on the news Vermont is talking about, delivered to your inbox every weekday morning. He admits he is empty: he is the goal with no net. When he's able to steal the ball out of Josh's crossover, it speaks to the skills he still has on the court and the progress that Josh still has to make in order to become Da Man.. Mom then sighs that they are done, and Josh asks what the consequences are. Dad is joking and telling stories about Italy. His nosebleed and his vomiting are finally enough to get him to let Crystal make him a doctors appointment, but, as the reader will see, it is too little, too late. Vondie passes the ball to Josh and Josh passes to. 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. 0000010269 00000 n Matthew Goulette: Is this story based on your life or someone you know? 0000003945 00000 n Josh watches, Vondie brings the ball up the court, but the defense presses close. He even uses the word churlish to describe himself. Zip. Now can you go make my French toast please?. Suddenly, Josh sees, team in Italy. We advise our products to be used with proper referencing. %PDF-1.4 % Copyright 2014 by Kwame Alexander. Mom gently chides him for eavesdropping but laughs when he says he learned that strategy from her. He almost dunks, but an elbow comes up and fouls him to the floor. pro-fuse-ly. 0000012066 00000 n 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. Josh's concern and desire to go to Dad's doctor's appointment show that he's continuing to grow up and become more interested in other people aside from himself. The dialect, slang and colorful personalities of Josh and his family members makes me feel like I am reading about a real family. Seventh grader Dylan DiPietro wonders how that feels. PS. One of those actions leads Josh to write an apology letter to his brother. hbbd``b`$n zb1LL@k# #@ # _ Kwame Alexander is a poet, educator, and theNew York Timesbestselling author. 0000038553 00000 n Write an essay for ONE of the following topics: Essay Topic 1. Kwame Alexander "Dear Jordan" from THE CROSSOVER by Kwame Alexander. 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. 0 6yOk5qTo1?WIo(l _MR-a`3+"1@ Complete your free account to access notes and highlights. 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. 0000016479 00000 n The Crossover is a wonderful mentor text for adolescent writers. This again shows how Dad prioritizes basketball over his health. 0000044218 00000 n His suggestion to write JB a letter again speaks to the power of words and communication. Its fiction but certainly there are parts of my life that I remembered and drew from. In particular, it begins to align him with Dad, who is still highly regarded even though he's also not playing. Hes getting flyer, climbing the sky, exploding across the lane, crissing and crossing the ball, and taking the break. Josh also has a strong relationship with his basketball coach and receives much guidance and support from him as well. Because the only thing that matters is swish.Because our backboard is splintered. This book is also available as a graphic novel! First Quarter Quotes To get ready for the season, I went to three summer camps. My mom was a school principal My dad played basketball before I was born. The Wildcats are up by two now. Kwame regularly speaks at conferences and universities all over the world. gives a fry each to Josh and Vondie and then tells Josh that he and, Sweet Tea's divorced parents are estranged.