6yOk5qTo1?WIo(l _MR-a`3+"1@ After the game, in the locker room, unexpected bad event that often results in injuries. This book is also available as a graphic novel! My mom was a school principal My dad played basketball before I was born. Instant PDF downloads. I would use this book with adolescent students as a way to inspire them to explore self-expression through writing. Down on the court, Storm. Dear Jordan from THE CROSSOVER by Kwame Alexander. Josh was estranged from himself when he threw the ball at JB. 4. 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. We see how extended family fits into the puzzle and what feelings the main characters has at this time. He was only 39 and might have had a chance if he had seen a doctor sooner. Josh ruefully says he will talk to Mom since he can see how much it means to Dad, but he adds that she is worried about him. Instead of passing JB the ball when he was wide open, he smashes him in the face with a pass hard enough to draw blood. Kwame Alexander: No, its not autobiography. 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. It would have been great to see more of Alexiss perspective in the story to clarify. Just because he wants to repair his relationship with JB, does not mean he still doesnt have trouble with Alexis. 0000003834 00000 n Josh writes his letter. The apology poem that author Kwame Alexander wrote from Josh to JB in The Crossover is called "Dear Jordan." It's written in two columns and the author says it can actually be read several different ways: top to bottom, left to right or diagonally. And for the first time in my lifeI don't want to be. Complete your free account to request a guide. Again, Dad's willingness to call Josh by his name shows that Dad respects that both of his sons are growing, changing, and taking control of their identities in perfectly normal ways. This again shows how Dad prioritizes basketball over his health. Write an essay for ONE of the following topics: Essay Topic 1. We are not liable to third-parties. (including. From the creators of SparkNotes, something better. As Josh and JB take over caring for their father, the tables turn and suddenly, they're thrown into adult roles. ESSENTIAL QUESTION: How does the structure of the poem convey the speaker's message? Dad wakes up. Dad's bloody nose is another red flag that his health isn't as good as it should be. 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 Childrens Bookshow is a registered charity no. Josh whispers to Dad that JB wont talk to him, and Dad replies that he just has to let the smoke clear. Vondie passes to, that they're going to go home. Tunnell, M. Jacobs, Young, T., Bryan, G. (2016). 0000007127 00000 n Their mom is assistant principal at their school. Hes out cold. Mom and Dad's choice to turn the conversation to JB and his relationship with Miss Sweet Tea shows again that they understand his new relationship is a normal part of his coming of age. Kwame was also the 2018 NEA Read Across America ambassador. He's nearly six feet tall and has a twin, JB. Detailed explanations, analysis, and citation info for every important quote on LitCharts. (LogOut/ "Dear Jordan" from The Crossover A cleave poem about twin brothers and basketball. Dad tries to break the tension by talking about Christmas and the turkey. Mom sits Josh down. Kwame Alexander "Dear Jordan" from THE CROSSOVER by Kwame Alexander. 10. As Josh continues to cast himself as the helper in the family, he begins to see that doing so will actually allow him to be more successful. Dads kneeling weakly on the floor with a pool of vomit below him. a principal. His parents continue to press upon him the value of working hard and the importance of education. He and his twin brother Jordanor JBare basketball stars and are best friends on and off the court. homes for sale in fishersville, va; 22 . Actively Learn provides free ELA, science, and social studies digital contentshort stories, primary sources, textbook sections, science articles, novels, videos, and moreand embeds them with assignments aligned to standards for all 50 states that you can assign immediately or customize for your students. Hi Abby, Once again you have given detailed examination of the authors use of language. No warm-up. This shows how much he respects and leans on his coach to show him the way when he is unsure. Though Josh still thinks highly of Dad, now that he's aware of Dad's unwillingness to care for his health, it suggests that becoming "Da Man" might not be the entirely positive endeavor that Josh once thought it was. Her looks not her personality is what first catches JBs attention. How is this condition highlighted in the narrative? This begins to show Josh that if he starts to make amends with her, he might also get JB back. Joshs mom is the assistant principal at his school, a fact he doesnt love. When JB echoes, Yeah, Dad, can we? (189), the word we has never sounded so sweet to Josh. Again, Josh's desire to help and be a part of the game in some way speaks to his sense of loyalty to Dad and to the rest of the team, especially JB. Kwame Alexander is a poet, educator and New York Times bestselling author, who has won numerous awards including the Newbery Medal for the most distinguished contribution to American Literature for children. However, some parts of the book are written as a lyric poem, which is melodic and soundlike. 10. 0000003945 00000 n The Crossover is flying off library shelves like a half-court sinker. 0000009461 00000 n Copyright 1999 - 2023 GradeSaver LLC. After dinner, Dad takes Josh and. 2 See answers Advertisement loveleefelix2014 Answer: Sad (it's a su!cide note,so it's pretty obvious,but meh)hope this helps. 0000001569 00000 n The Crossoveris a wonderful mentor text for adolescent writers. The way the content is organized, LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in. Kwame is the Founding Editor of Versify, an imprint of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt that aims to Change the World One Word at a Time. Males are mostly depicted in the role of sports hero; strong, popular and at the center of society. When Josh tells the reader about Mom's dislike of standards and giving JB the vocabulary words, Josh demonstrates his growing maturity and that he cares for others. The problem stemmed from Josh's belief that JB had taken his female friend from him. 0000009882 00000 n However, this also means that Dad then isn't properly managing his condition, which puts him at risk of ending up in the hospital for an emergency. On the way home from the hospital, there is no music and no talking. Mom's phone rings and she shrieks. 0000014949 00000 n 0000007152 00000 n Because of this, his request to stop at the sneaker store becomes something he does purely to show JB he sees him and cares about him and the things he's interested in. what motivates joe starks to assume "the ruling chair" in eatsonville . Tomorrow Is the Last Day of School Before Christmas Vacation. And then, of course, I thought, 'What middle grade kid, or teacher for that matter, is gonna know what that word means?'". We see this form emerge in Joshs thoughts about his game. Josh explains that every night after dinner, Dad insists that he and. I don't know He has a book coming out in April about a soccer player who doesnt like to read. . atonement in the Crossover using the poem "Dear Jordan" . Change), You are commenting using your Twitter account. He wants the boys to be their own people, and he wants them to know that becoming someone different is okay and expected. 0000003750 00000 n You'll also get updates on new titles we publish and the ability to save highlights and notes. Reproduced by permission of HarperCollins Publishers. Complete your free account to request a guide. }t>PPbDd# [:~d>L\GA!jlTbwK0mc.k^s0Ox\,b+vG[/awOz*7;+g'z;Z6Q:HL= mRJ+FWc-} WzH0 f"z77^z@5+BG'2WHQ~Iw}G4x}4GvP{6@hOpZk-'I}%G_k@+Kd tJxqcZw/;j 9/D> =f'(tfu@ g8 (^}Q:Kk3j&Re]=(\jcJska-47-ZCH59K5yD+3$W6eSFTi^1h8GPcGvXxiTH}"P;@6sumtuL FUEmp%L_Xtj-XN(6\a'DS>_Uby2L+WnVm7e `67NL"M}lMlX1Z "Xk'joePIh|Z/vB0eAu9Hl cpF^&=?!+y\S^kLS_X71m m'sJ`U"6="-=8{Ud Vondie has a girlfriend now, too. Then, by using Josh's word and sharing a smile with his brother, JB is able to say that he's willing to reopen lines of communication and reconnect with his brother. You can specify conditions of storing and accessing cookies in your browser. It's, The boys each ask how the other is and then, Would not have made it through AP Literature without the printable PDFs. worked--the Wildcats won and dedicated the game ball to Dad. instead, tells him that being early is always better than being a little bit late. PDFs of modern translations of every Shakespeare play and poem. What health problem does Chuck suffer from? PS. 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. When JB is brushing his teeth, Josh steals into their room and lays his outlines down on JBs pillow. Joshs interior state as he contemplates these changes in his life is a testament to Alexanders ability to capture the complexity of a teenager. So it was chronological. Our, "Sooo much more helpful thanSparkNotes. I can feel what some of the experiences in the book are like for Josh because I can draw on my own life experiences to empathize with him. It began with this 12-year-old-boy, who came to be known as Filthy McNasty. "My students can't get enough of your charts and their results have gone through the roof." (including. hb```b``Uf`c`] B@16%h0 > `]!hP;"eqb1ij5,`F0_.X63KhXdt@D&HBDPPI0 a`X," B 2&a They are like two stars / stealing sun and like two brothers / burning up. He admits he is empty: he is the goal with no net. At dinner, Mom is still upset about Josh's hair and makes. She and Coach try to control Dad. Its made-up. At first, Josh doesnt love the nickname, but it takes on a special meaning when it becomes a code between him and his Dad when he is on the court; a signal he is doing well. Dear Jordan. In Dear Jordan, we see the authors use of similes and metaphors in the letter Josh writes to JD in order to convey how sorry he is. In this activity, they will complete a Poem Analysis & Compare/Contrast Paired Text Activity. Josh and, in a hospital and now, Dad hates doctors. As a consequence for his actions, his mom suspends him from the team. With six seconds to go, the Wildcats are up sixteen points. Dad reminds the boys of how, when they were seven, asks when the big game is, and Josh asks why he never took him and, points out that the big game is tomorrow, Dad wants to know if he and, goes to the library alone, shoots free throws and eats donuts alone. Dad sighs that the boys are getting older and they will manage. hbbd``b`$n zb1LL@k# #@ # _ Choose only one theme and only one poem. Josh's stay in the hospital while caring for his sick father, his father's eventual demise further made him lonely and he frantically sought to repair the relationship. Kwame Alexander: I like to think that basketball is like poetry in motion. 3. This leads me to wonder if the stereotypes are portrayed the way they are in order to show accuracy; maybe its more the question of whose voice is missing. 0000007875 00000 n You'll also get updates on new titles we publish and the ability to save highlights and notes. Charles's financial troubles were causing Dee Dee a lot of crises. Its fiction but certainly there are parts of my life that I remembered and drew from. All rights reserved. His mother made him cut off the rest. I think Josh was the first character I wrote. We put their questions a to Kwame Alexander. 0000009118 00000 n Disclaimer: We are a custom writing service that provides customized for assistance purposes only. He calms down, but suddenly his nose gushes blood. Complete your free account to access notes and highlights. The boys know theyre getting books like they always do for Christmas, but Dad tells them hes proud of how theyve done in school so they can pick out a gift and hell get it for them. Speaking of Alexis, even though the main characters of this book are obviously boys, Alexander does not make Alexis merely an object of desire or a dull cipher. Use specific, quoted evidence from the poem to explore and illustrate your ideas. One day in school, JB passes a note to Josh to give to a girl he really likes, who Josh nicknames Miss Sweet Tea. Josh states that somewhere betweencamaraderieandimbecile I tap her beige bare shoulder with the note (pg. Josh and JB generally get along; but they have very different personalities. Second, Alexander increases the sense of foreboding when it comes to Chuck (JBs seeing-a-ghost expression is telling). At Rutland Town School, the students put themselves in Joshs shoes and tried writing their own letters to Jordan, whose nickname is JB. I also see many students who are similar to Josh lean on their relationships with their sport coaches for stability. They are like "two stars / stealing sun" and "like two brothers / burning up. Its completely fiction. 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 And when I was born he was a PhD. In the list of Things I Learn at Dinner, Alexander gives her even more nuance in terms of divorced parents, a coping mechanism (She shoots hoops at the Rec to relax" [172]), and troubles of her own (Her mom doesnt want her playing basketball" [172]). Ruth Bishop said that poetry "has a kind of magic and can help the reader see ordinary things in new ways." Get up to speed on the news Vermont is talking about, delivered to your inbox every weekday morning. Josh says that earlier, he walked into the gym covered in mud. In some ways, Joshs parents defy these stereotypes as Dad stays home with the boys and his mom is an educated, smart assistant principal. Vondie giggles. Both are skilled basketball players. patrick sandoval parents; sauerkraut and dumplings origin; what happened to nike flyknit racer. Doing this will take away students enjoyment of the story further supporting their belief that poetry is uninteresting. When I walk onto the court I prefer silence so I can watch, react, surprise. They are teammates in every sense of the word; able to wordlessly communicate on the court to become the stars of the team. forever. What does he think, I'm stupid? 0000007406 00000 n I mean, what better way to capture that movement from the court, and to put that on the page, than through poetry? Find related themes, quotes, symbols, characters, and more. How does the structure of the poem convey the speaker's message? Dad is yelling from the stands and Mom is trying to calm him down. He also likely recognizes that by hearing what the doctor has to say, he'll be able to better help Mom in encouraging Dad to make healthy choices. However, I will tell you this. Alexis went to Nike Hoops Camp for Girls; she knows how to do a crossover; her parents are divorced; she shoots hoops at the rec center to relax; she smells like sugarplums; her sister goes to Duke. 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. 0000001668 00000 n Or what is his goal? The silence Josh refers to is also a metaphor for JB himself, which turns it around to mean that Josh feels he'll die without his brother too. PDF downloads of all 1699 LitCharts literature guides, and of every new one we publish. Jordan insists that everyone call him JB. After the funeral, Josh makes another attempt to reconcile with JB when JB gives him his fathers championship ring by saying, We Da Man. The author leaves us with the sense that the brothers will find their way back to each other. He also co-founded LEAP for Ghana, an International Literacy Program. ;0&0a= 9!AlF_,@Q X26XAn9 yXdPM? Not affiliated with Harvard College. She runs past the boys' room and when, pull through and sends his love. LitCharts Teacher Editions. He also wonders how to apologize to, his best to make up for what he did. The Crossover, by award-winning children's book author and poet Kwame Alexander, was published in 2014 and won the 2015 Newbery Medal and Coretta Scott King Award Honor for children's literature. I think it was very insightful inThe Crossoverto include the relationship Josh had with his coach. Its life changing. 0000002088 00000 n Mom and Dad's closet is off limits. When JB asks for seconds of salad, it shows that he recognizes that eating well is a good way to impress girls. Now lets go get some doughnuts (pg 92). Kwame Alexander: Wow, never been asked the question before. Josh chooses to give her the note for his brother and takes the rap for cheating. The two-column structure used in the Crossover's poem "Dear Jordan" is a symbol of: question about the great Gatsby chapter 2: Alexis calls 911 and JB rushes to get water to splash Dads face. Exposing students to verse novels such as this allows them to explore the artistic elements that combine to evoke personal and powerful emotions in the reader. 0000008677 00000 n By bringing up Dad's championship ring again, Josh reminds the reader that his goal in life is to one day be good enough to wear the ring. For example, when Joshs dad is pulled over by the police officer for a broken taillight, Josh is worried he is going to go to jail. dear jordan poem the crossover. i6rUU-jIT "/}N3t,neS>3%#O;(a46"poKR}l'ySlaAOEtV6`=vL nq. Want to help more children attend our events in the future? Why do you think Josh is seemingly more upset about missing the game than his dads health? Given that Dad's dad died in the hospital of hypertension, it's understandable that Dad is unwilling to seek help out of fear. But Im not there. The original text plus a side-by-side modern translation of. atonement in the Crossover using the poem "Dear Jordan" . So, if I could figure out what to do with a sequel to make it still compelling and meaningful and significant and keep it in that era. -Graham S. Though Josh offers no insight into JB's thought process, it's worth considering that Josh's violent pass likely came as a surprise and was therefore even more hurtful than it might have been. (LogOut/ This is a life lesson that many young readers have a strong reaction to and would welcome the opportunity to discuss in a safe environment to voice their anger, fear and outrage. 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. The way the content is organized. Childrens Literature, Briefly(6th ed.). Theyre having a fantastic time, and everyone there is watching. 0 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. Their dad is a former professional baller. Seeing the proverbial ghost again suggests that things are about to change. As Josh plays in the final game of the season, his Dad dies from a massive heart attack. The paired text students will look at is Michael Jordan's 2003 Retirement Letter, also titled "Dear Basketball."In 2015, Bryant announced his retirement . And so, I was like, 'I gotta use this word.' 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. At lunch, Coach comes over to where Vondie and Josh are and gives Josh a lecture about making up with his brother. However, by asking Dad to call him by his real name instead of "Filthy," Josh begins to take control of the kind of person he wants to be going forward by dictating how people talk about him. PDFs of modern translations of every Shakespeare play and poem. This book presents a realistic view of family life; the constant cycle of joys and hurdles. . thinking less and less aboutbasketball, and more and more aboutGIRLS. His life is broken like puzzle pieces and he can no longer fit. Previously, in "Dear Edward" episode 7, we saw Edward get to know Mahira, Jordan's girlfriend. So, certainly there are some things from my life that have probably creeped into this book. How did the structure of the poem "Dear Jordan" on page 130 help us learn more about Josh and JB's relationship? 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. Its wonderful. Instant PDF downloads. By staying engaged with the team during his suspension, Josh is able to show them that he still cares for them and wants to support them. The fact that Josh was driven to (unintentional) violence at all speaks to the intensity of his feelings, which are made even more intense by the fact that Josh is entering puberty and starting to grow up. Struggling with distance learning? 1162410. In particular, it begins to align him with Dad, who is still highly regarded even though he's also not playing. I'm not paying attentionto anything he's sayingor to the dummy. 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. I danced around my room. 0000010269 00000 n I agree with you that this book has a WEALTH of useful elements (language, theme, characters, etc) and one needs to make sure not to overanalyze but also allow for the enjoyment AND connection of the reader with the story, the language and the characters. I mean, because basketball is poetry in motion, and so I thought lets use verse. what this means for his family--Dad won't be around to play basketball with him and. Sometimes / you have to / lean back / a little / and / fade away / to get / the best / shot (191). I was going to sort of remember what I went through during that age and I sort of knew that that was going to be the point of view, from his perspective. Identical twinsare no different from everyone else,except we look andsometimes soundexactly alike. This family creates a strong foundation for the boys to continuously go back to as they seek to find their way through the muck of adolescence. 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. Kwame regularly speaks at conferences and universities all over the world. Essay Topics. Change). Dad's decision to make the boys play together speaks to Dad's belief that the boys' shared love of basketball might be enough to help them turn their relationship around. On page 26, he says, JB likes to taunt and trash talk during games like Dad used to do when he played. He asks Jordan to help him and hang out with him again. Dad's message does much the same thing, though it seems much more in character for Dad. Showing this tiny bit of positive regard suggests that JB is now willing to listen to Josh and rebuild their relationship. How are family relationships depicted? n :BSlGrm He adds that Mom said Josh could play if they make it to the championship game. Use specific, quoted evidence from the poem to explore and illustrate your ideas. 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. You're twins, not the same person.But that doesn't mean he has to stop loving me. 0000006505 00000 n (LogOut/ His life is broken like puzzle pieces and he can no longer fit. The original text plus a side-by-side modern translation of. This further allows students to practice at life as they experience Joshs reactions to conflict relevant to their own lives in the story. endstream endobj 1085 0 obj <>stream I have never had this worry. What, isn't that what you wanted, Filthy? %%EOF His life seems broken now, and he feels as though he doesn't fit anywhere. As Josh begins to think of himself as a member of a choir and finds the ability to cheer for JB, he also begins to recognize that the rest of the team is made up of players who are also very good and deserving of recognition. Amy is an award winning journalist who has worked in print and radio in Vermont since 1991. Miss Sweet Tea calls 911 while, The doctor pats Jordan and me on the back and says. and Tells Us His Favorite Story (Again). The Wildcats are up by two now. 0000003226 00000 n Joshs Basketball Rules that appear throughout the book are a great way to get students to engage with the message of the book and think about how they could apply these lessons to their own lives. Apology Poem and Epistolary Poem "Dear Jordan" (p. 159) Found Poems "Article #1 in the Daily News (December 14)" (p. 155) "Article #2 in the Daily News (January 14)" (p. 225-226) . So I didnt get the cool dad, I got the academic scholar dad that made me read books. Evidence: He has one pair of Air Jordan sneakers for every month of the year including Air Jordan 1 Low Barack Obama Limited Editions, which he never wears. endstream endobj startxref Kyle DelBianco: Why did you choose to write the book in poetry form? On page 185, Coach shares with Josh that he got into a fight with his brother in high school and now they are estranged. Because he's relying on physical communication and violence to express himself, he's less successful and therefore, more upset. Im still reacting to it. As the boys walk home from practice, Josh peppers, After dinner. Can JB run with him, help him heal, slash with him like they used to? And, eventually after maybe a draft of it I knew that I wanted him to have a twin brother. From the creators of SparkNotes, something better. 0000011426 00000 n This offers some hope that his eventual return will be accepted by all. And Iwonder what's in the notes. He's alone because, game. As the family drives to the game, Josh sits in the back with, who has them. Advertisement bfordjohnson Take a look! Joshs Dad gives him the nickname Filthy McNasty. As Josh pulls out the book, he sees Miss Sweet Tea and, also afraid that Mom will reach her tipping point and ban basketball if he and, tomorrow, concerned about Dad, and hates how his hair feels, he can't sleep mostly because, Surprised. Struggling with distance learning? His Dad has a heart attack and slips into a coma. Best summary PDF, themes, and quotes. Josh is busy taking his vocabulary test when, Josh doesn't pay any attention to his teacher or the dummy and instead he watches, Conversation. He cares for it meticulously every day, and this is why he declines, The game is tied. 0000028950 00000 n 0000039010 00000 n The Crossover study guide contains a biography of Kwame Alexander, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis. Dads blood pressure was so high during the game that his nose started bleeding profusely. 0000014880 00000 n The doctor tells. Definitions and examples of 136 literary terms and devices. Cha c sn phm trong gi hng. Teachers and parents! Vermont Public's News CoverageGovernment & Politics | The Vermont Economy | Criminal Justice & Public Safety | Arts & Culture | Education | Health | Energy & Environment | Food & Agriculture | Series & Specials, Investigations | Brave Little State | Vermont Edition | New England News Collaborative (NENC) | VPR Archive. As an example, he says that if, them from the restaurant. That it was going to be a 12-year-old boy. Family relationships are the epicenter of this novel. 0000012743 00000 n Josh does not have much to say but apologizes. What does the postscript say in "Dear Jordan"? The racially segregated Navy base had dangerous and unfair working, For this month's Dorothy's List, seventh graders at Green Mountain Union in Chester have been reading the novel Unfriended by New York author Rachel, Subscribe To 'The Frequency,' Our Daily Morning Newsletter, Dorothy's List: 'The Scandalous Sisterhood Of Prickwillow Place'. My wife and I danced My daughter, whos seven-years-old, in second grade, she woke up and she came in the room and said, Whats all the commotion for? And we said, Daddy just won the Newbury Medal. And she said, Yay!
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