Review - The Crossover by Kwame Alexander

Much as I hate the term "reluctant reader", there's no denying that it does refer to a certain category of kids, for whom books are generally more chore than charm. In some circles "reluctant reader" is automatically equated with boys, which I feel is a shame because there are lots of boys who devour books every bit as avidly as their female counterparts. But tonight's pick is one that will appeal to both boys who love to read and those who don't, and to pretty much anyone who enjoys a well-told, fast-paced story.

The book in question is the winner of the Newbery medal this year, Kwame Alexander's The Crossover. This book was kind of revolutionary as a win for lots of reasons - sports! boys! African Americans! novel in verse! Take any one of those items on its own, no biggie. But put all of that together in one book and you have a dark horse that still swept the big prize, and very deservedly so.

The Crossover tells the story of Josh Bell, who with his twin brother Jordan forms the heart and soul of their school's basketball team. The boys are tough and they've got basketball in their blood, as their dad is a former bball star. And at the start of the story, things are going pretty great for the pair. But then little things start to come between them, and aggressions flare up on the court and off. Pretty soon the two are adrift, apart, and not even Dad's famous basketball rules provide the guidance they need to keep on playing.

I won't say more because the impact of this story really needs to come firsthand. Suffice to say that the ending was a surprise, and yet totally authentic with the way Alexander set up the story. I struggled a bit at first with the sports terms but that's not something that's likely to bug the target audience (let's face it, I'm a middle-aged white librarian with nary a basketball reference to fall back on). And yet, even though this isn't the sort of thing I myself would be drawn to, I was absolutely bowled over by the voice here. It's incredible, as are the characters - realistic, conflicted, flawed and so human you can't believe it.

The Crossover is a quick read that will keep even those -- yes, I'll say it -- reluctant readers turning pages. But don't think that just because the book moves quickly that it's a throw-away. Far from it - in fact, Alexander's created a set of characters that will remain with the reader even once the last page has been turned.

The Crossover by Kwame Alexander, published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Ages 9-12
Source: Library
Highly recommended

Chapter Book Review - Charlie Joe Jackson's Guide to Not Reading by Tommy Greenwald

Spend a little time in the world of kid lit and you'll come across the phrase "reluctant reader" almost everywhere. I use it myself, and what I notice is that often when we say "reluctant reader", what we really mean is boys. Boys often are the ones we have to encourage, cajole, plead with to read something, anything. There's a lot of speculation about why it is -- social stigmas (reading is "girly", maybe?), lack of material that appeals to them, competition from other activities such as video games. I tend to think there are a lot of factors involved. Whatever the reason, many boys seem to hit a wall in their enjoyment of reading, where suddenly it is no longer a desirable activity.

Enter Tommy Greenwald's Charlie Joe Jackson's Guide to Not Reading, a book written ostensibly for kids who don't like to read and will do anything to avoid it. Charlie Joe has had a pretty sweet deal going, wherein he buys snacks for his friend Timmy McGibney and in return Timmy does all Charlie Joe's reading. But then Timmy calls the whole deal off and Charlie Joe is scrambling to figure out another option, one that won't result in him having to actually (gasp!) read his own books. Charlie Joe hatches a plan but there are some unintended consequences that even this crafty middle schooler didn't see coming, and pretty soon, as you might expect, it's all Charlie Joe can do to keep avoiding books.

This is a fast and funny read, narrated by Charlie Joe himself who is attempting to write a book that nonreaders will relate to. Charlie Joe is someone most boys will relate to -- he's pretty average, has plenty of friends and potential romances to boot. It's refreshing that Charlie Joe gets along well with his family, and even though some of his exploits land him in trouble at home, he still likes his parents and even his older sister. The sidebars that Charlie Joe includes (25 exclusive non-reading tips!) add plenty of humor to the plot, such as tip #16, "sports are just as educational as reading", and tip #3, "there are always ways to get out of reading". Illustrations by J.P. Coovert add to the Diary of a Wimpy Kid feel, and this is one that will appeal to Wimpy Kid and Dork Diaries fans, for the artwork, the quick pace and the honestly funny narrative style.

Of course there's a lesson hidden within the plot, and most kids will know what it is before they crack the cover. But fortunately Greenwald never veers into schmaltz and avoids the obvious "now Charlie Joe is a reading fool" type of resolution. For that reason and many others, Charlie Joe is a narrator that will resonate with those reluctant readers, and even those who love books of all kinds. Plenty of promise here for more Charlie Joe outings, and I think he's a character readers can easily return to again.

Charlie Joe Jackson's Guide to Not Reading by Tommy Greenwald, published by Roaring Brook Press
Ages 8-12
Source: Library
Sample quote: "The librarian, Ms. Reedy, was an old friend of mine, even though she represented everything evil. Back in the old days, she was the librarian at my elementary school, and she used to try anything to get me to read. One time in first grade, she sat me down and had me listen to a song called 'Grab a Book and Go,', all about the joys of reading. One of the verses went 'Snuggle in your bed, the day is near its end. All alone, but you're not alone, a book can be a friend.' I've never quite forgiven her."
Recommended