Member Reviews

Twelve-year-old twin brothers, Josh and Jordan are both basketball stars on their school team. Their father used to be a basketball star before his knee injury. Their mother is their school’s principal and the boss at home. Suddenly, she wants all of them to live a healthy lifestyle and for their dad to go to the doctor. Will she succeed? Will a girl come between the brothers? Award-winning illustrator, Anyabwile brings to life the story of Crossover with detailed, engaging, fitting illustrations that will bring this book to a wider audience. The characters are likable and easy to relate to. Together, the two stay true to the cherished narrative. This is a sure win for fans of graphic novels and spots.

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I am not sure I can think of a single book that has had the kind of influence that The Crossover has had over the years in my classroom. The graphic novel version is sure to expand the readership of this amazing story. A slam dunk for sure.

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Great adaptation of the original. Keeps the spirit of the original and adds another layer for study.

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I can see this being a huge hit with my students. Kwame Alexander's books are loved because of the way he writes. The short lyrical lines really resonate with my kids. This book combines all of their favorite things; his writing style and pictures.

It isn't your typical graphic novel. There aren't pages of panels with dialogue. You have all of the lines from Crossover with pictures. It is the perfect blend of novel and comic. I can't wait for this to be available for purchase. I have already preordered 2 from my local comic shop.

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An excellent graphic novel adaptation of the novel originally told in verse. This is definitely a wonderful companion piece and one that teachers would love for primary school classrooms.

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I had not read the original version of The Crossover, so this was my first introduction to the Bell family. And what an introduction it was! The characters are wonderful and the story is brought to life by the wonderful illustrations. I can't imagine reading this book without them!

Thank you to NetGalley for my copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

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I have never read the original, but after reading this adaptation, I plan to. I loved this story. I did not love the digital copy I received. The arc froze after almost every page. Because the book was so good, I continued to read it. I think if I didn't have problems with the arc, the book would have had even more of an emotional impact. I look forward to rereading a better copy once the book is released.

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Much like the original book, The Crossover, the graphic novel is written lyrical style. The illustrations add a special element and will increase engagement for visual learners. The story follows twin brothers that play basketball together, but are always at odds with each other as they grow together (and apart) on and off the court. It will tug at your heart, knock you down and bring you back together again. Highly relatable and incredibly engaging- this is a great book to keep in stock in middle and high school classrooms/libraries!

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Strong graphic novel adaptation. The art is spare and bold, a perfect compliment to the text. I still prefer the full text, but fans of graphic novel adaptations or those readers who struggle with the length of the original content are likely to be big fans.

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A-maz-ing! I have to admit that I was worried about reading a graphic novel adaptation of one of my favorite books, The Crossover. I was blown away. I thought Dawud Anyabwile's illustrations were brilliant and told Kwame Alexander's story beautifully. Readers will be drawn to the text as much as the graphics and format. I can't wait to share this with readers.

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this title.

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