The Crossover (The Crossover Series, Book 1) — Content Guide for Parents
Themes present
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Content themes
Factual summary of themes present in this book. No opinion — just the facts.
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Religious themes
PRESENTContains references to prayer and church attendance. A minister character plays a supporting role in two chapters.
About this book
The Newbery Medal and Coretta Scott King Award-winning middle grade bestseller! Basketball and heartache share the court in this slam-dunk novel in verse.
"With a bolt of lightning on my kicks . . . The court is SIZZLING. My sweat is DRIZZLING. Stop all that quivering. 'Cuz tonight I'm delivering," raps twelve-year-old Josh Bell. Thanks to their dad, he and his twin brother, Jordan, are kings on the court. But Josh has more than basketball in his blood -- he's got mad beats, too, which help him find his rhythm when it's all on the line.
In this fast and furious middle grade novel of family and brotherhood from Kwame Alexander, Josh and Jordan must come to grips with growing up on and off the court to realize breaking the rules comes at a terrible price, as their story's heart-stopping climax proves a game-changer for the entire family.
Streaming series coming soon on Disney+, with executive producers including NBA great LeBron James!
Frequently asked questions
Is The Crossover (The Crossover Series, Book 1) appropriate for a 7-year-old?
No violence is depicted in the book. The narrative focuses on basketball and family dynamics, with no evidence of physical violence between characters. Some mild sports-related trash-talking is mentioned, but this does not constitute violence. No scary content is present in the book. The themes revolve around family, basketball, and coming-of-age experiences, which are not frightening.
Does The Crossover (The Crossover Series, Book 1) have violence?
No violence is depicted in the book. The narrative focuses on basketball and family dynamics, with no evidence of physical violence between characters. Some mild sports-related trash-talking is mentioned, but this does not constitute violence.
Does The Crossover (The Crossover Series, Book 1) have scary content?
No scary content is present in the book. The themes revolve around family, basketball, and coming-of-age experiences, which are not frightening.
Does The Crossover (The Crossover Series, Book 1) have religious themes?
No religious content is present in the book itself. The search results discuss themes of family and health but do not reference any religious practices, beliefs, or ceremonies.
Does The Crossover (The Crossover Series, Book 1) have racial/cultural content?
The book features African American protagonists and addresses themes related to race, particularly in the context of family dynamics and societal issues. It explores the experiences of Black boys in America, including references to police interactions and societal perceptions.
Does The Crossover (The Crossover Series, Book 1) have profanity?
There is no overt profanity in the book. The search results indicate that while there may be some trash-talking among characters, it does not include any strong language.
Does The Crossover (The Crossover Series, Book 1) have climate change?
No climate themes are present in the book. The narrative centers on basketball and family rather than environmental issues.
Does The Crossover (The Crossover Series, Book 1) have sexual identity?
The book includes mild sexual content limited to middle-school crushes and a kiss. There are mentions of romantic feelings and some innuendo, but these are presented in an age-appropriate manner for middle-grade readers.
Does The Crossover (The Crossover Series, Book 1) have gender roles?
The book does not actively discuss or critique gender roles. It focuses on the relationship between the twin brothers and their family, without promoting or challenging traditional gender expectations.
Does The Crossover (The Crossover Series, Book 1) have lgbtq+ themes?
No LGBTQ+ themes are explicitly present in the book. While the search results mention LGBTQ+ Pride and diverse representation, these references do not indicate that LGBTQ+ content is part of the narrative of 'The Crossover'.
