How does the structure of the poem convey the speaker's message? Josh realizes that sometimes its the things that arent said / that kill you (156). Teach your students to analyze literature like LitCharts does. Dear Jordan Josh writes his letter. Mom gently chides him for eavesdropping but laughs when he says he learned that strategy from her. / together" (159). Literary Awards: Newbery Award (2015), Correta Scott King Award (2015), Focus: Poetry; Contemporary Realistic Fiction. With this reading, it's easier to see that both boys are currently nursing hurt feelings and likely don't want to be fighting, but don't know how to bridge the gap. 23-12. What does he think, I'm stupid? We advise our products to be used with proper referencing. We see how angst ridden sibling rivalries can be and how challenging those relationships can be for both parents and children. hbbd``b`$n zb1LL@k# #@ # _ Dad is heading for the hoop when he stops short, screams, clutches his chest, and drops the ball. With Dad no longer in the bleachers, it suggests that he'll be the one in trouble this time, while JB was the one who suffered last time. The score of the Wildcats' first game is 35-18. Keen editors and support staff will supervise the task for you to guarantee Quality and ORIGINAL paper that scores high. include his brilliant coming of age novel Rebound (published by Andersen Press). I also see many students who are similar to Josh lean on their relationships with their sport coaches for stability. He smiles at Mom, gives, happy. Sure. At the End of Warm-Ups, My Brother Tries to Dunk. 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. Josh thought that forever was far away, but he knows now forever is close. The problem stemmed from Josh's belief that JB had taken his female friend from him. a7[6se7U>rcf[,+*@j3(9 Pulchritudinous! Though Josh never says so outright, this moment also suggests that he may have inherited or learned his love of English from Dad as well. He knows that this means, to Dad. They are like two stars / stealing sun and like two brothers / burning up. JB sweats profusely when Miss Sweet Tea walks into the room. 0000038553 00000 n Published by on October 25, 2020. How Do You Spell Trouble? This also offers hope that, if Josh can catch the ball next time, he might be able to make things better. 0000016558 00000 n I don't know What thoughts and emotions does Josh express in "Dear Jordan"? Detailed quotes explanations with page numbers for every important quote on the site. together. 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. When JB and Josh are in a fight, she takes JBs side without question because this is the expectation for her as a girlfriend. I think basketball and is father are reflections of each other. 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. 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. The Crossover study guide contains a biography of Kwame Alexander, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis. I would say there are some gender stereotypes present in the book. The two - column structure used in the Crossover's poem "Dear Jordan" stands for; Josh and JB's broken relationship The two-column structure used in Dear Jordan symbolizes the broken relationship between the two brothers Josh and JB. He did not mean to get upset, he offers. 0000001668 00000 n Unfortunately, that wouldnt be a middle grade novel. LitCharts Teacher Editions. After dinner, Dad takes Josh and. 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. Refine any search. 16 0 obj <> endobj xref 16 46 0000000016 00000 n She also asks where, where it's stuck, wedged between the rim and the backboard. 0000003226 00000 n JB comes running out of the bathroom.What'd she say, Josh? Dad replies sadly that he let them down, and Josh asks what he should do. What does her reacti Kwame Alexander: Wouldnt it be cool to write a sequel where theyre playing high school basketball, and they go to college and get drafted into the NBA? Josh, mine it. Teach your students to analyze literature like LitCharts does. ", 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. Change), You are commenting using your Facebook account. This again shows how Dad prioritizes basketball over his health. He also co-founded LEAP for Ghana, an International Literacy Program. JB and Josh are estranged, but Dads making them play a three-on-three tomorrow at the rec center. Its not memoir. When Dad holds his chest, it's a signal that he's not okay and he's likely lying to Josh. With his eyes on a future at Duke, Josh seems to have it all. A cleave poem about twin brothers and basketball. Josh and JB made a bet.. Josh lost, and JB got to cut off five of his dreadlocks. He wants the boys to be their own people, and he wants them to know that becoming someone different is okay and expected. They're the big kids at Beeman, In 1944, a disastrous explosion rocked a Naval base in California called Port Chicago. We raised nearly 7000 in our online auction! pro-fuse-ly. Josh wants a world outside of basketball, and he wants his relationship with JB to remain unchanged. His postscript reads that he's sorry. Creating notes and highlights requires a free LitCharts account. Complete your free account to access notes and highlights. Its a novel-in-verse about identical twins Josh and Jordan who are basketball stars at their middle school. Suduiko, Aaron ed. 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. Theyre having a fantastic time, and everyone there is watching. Can JB run with him, help him heal, slash with him like they used to? So I didnt get the cool dad, I got the academic scholar dad that made me read books. Coach, Dad, and the crowd all scream for Josh to pass the ball. Use specific, quoted evidence from the poem to explore and illustrate your ideas. Josh and, in a hospital and now, Dad hates doctors. The words and rhythmic flow of these words on the page depict Joshs inner thoughts; his flow on the court. Asked by jayionna m #1050276 on 9/23/2020 9:09 PM Last updated by jill d #170087 on 9/23/2020 9:41 PM She and Coach try to control Dad. More books than SparkNotes. For some adolescents, this is a situation that crops up often. Her looks not her personality is what first catches JBs attention. At 7:45, she asks about the score and how. 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. They will be able to relate to the topic, theme, setting and emotion conveyed in the story. Now lets go get some doughnuts (pg 92). JB is playing like Superman, and he gets the team to the championship with his lightning plays. are down by seven. 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. are gone. 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. Zip. 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. Kwame regularly speaks at conferences and universities all over the world. The heart attack Chuck suffers during the one-on-one game at the end of this section is not the last warning we hope it is: rather, its a sign that there is no going back. Sure, writers, we write from observation, imagination, experience. is wrong. The paired text students will look at is Michael Jordan's 2003 Retirement Letter, also titled "Dear Basketball."In 2015, Bryant announced his retirement . 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. Josh feels inspired when he is on the court, and this comes out in the rhymes that flow through him when he plays. Generally, this type of poem focuses on personal moments or feelings or image laden scenes (Tunnell et al. His dad revives and spends nineteen days in the hospital as Josh tries to get used to his new existence alone without JB who used to be his best friend. I would use this book with adolescent students as a way to inspire them to explore self-expression through writing. Alexis calls 911 and JB rushes to get water to splash Dads face. Cha c sn phm trong gi hng. 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 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]). 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. Dad falls, his eyes roll, and Josh screams. 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. Notice that Josh hasn't said anything about being particularly interested in sneakers himself; that's JB's thing. Its wonderful. "Dear Jordan" from The Crossover A cleave poem about twin brothers and basketball. Whether youre looking for The Tell-Tale Heart, The Hate U Give, The Gettysburg Address, or current science articles and simulations, Actively Learn is the free go-to source to help you guide your students' growth in critical thinking all year. Detailed explanations, analysis, and citation info for every important quote on LitCharts. Teacher Editions with classroom activities for all 1699 titles we cover. Pre-made quizzes on The Crossover Eight Week Quiz D that include 5 multiple choice and 5 short answer questions for a quick in-class quiz. Dad is yelling from the stands and Mom is trying to calm him down. Mom and Dad are serious, while, few weeks. 0000001569 00000 n Osborne-Bartucca, Kristen. 2020 Pro Custom Essays. Kwame Alexander is a poet, educator, and theNew York Timesbestselling author. drives home from the hospital, the car is silent. Mom says its not about his grades: its about how he behaves going forward. You'll be able to access your notes and highlights, make requests, and get updates on new titles. She asks him sternly if hes lost his mind, and she says boys who dont have self-control end up behind bars. 0000031472 00000 n 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. 0000029230 00000 n GradeSaver, 9 September 2019 Web. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one: ). I mean, because basketball is poetry in motion, and so I thought lets use verse. The Crossoveris a wonderful mentor text for adolescent writers. 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. The doctor tells. Reproduced by permission of HarperCollins Publishers. Thus, readers come to know how the power of words and vibrant language evoke deep emotional responses as we read about Joshs life. At one point, Josh begs his Dad to intervene and talk to JB, to which he replies, Filthy, if some girl done locked up JB, hes going to jail. The title of this book (The Crossover) is an important phrase and idea throughout the book. The original text plus a side-by-side modern translation of. Dad's heart attack here makes it clear that Mom is right: Dad shouldn't play anymore if he wants to preserve his health. He admits he is empty: he is the goal with no net. Oh my gosh! June 22, 2022; Posted by . 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'. If you have read this book, can you tell me what poetic type the poem "Dear Jordan" is. Kwame believes that poetry can change the world and he uses it to inspire and empower young people around the world. 0000003834 00000 n Before the three-on-three, Josh challenges Dad to a quick one-on-one. The inside of Mom and Dad's bedroom closet. Dad races down the stairs to yell at the ref that what happened to, call the doctor or else. worked--the Wildcats won and dedicated the game ball to Dad. If you could take one poem out of The Crossover to represent one of the themes in the book, which one would it be and why? One night while on the way to a game, Joshs Dad gets pulled over for a broken taillight. Use specific, quoted evidence from the poem to explore and illustrate your ideas. ;0&0a= 9!AlF_,@Q X26XAn9 yXdPM? 1090 0 obj <>stream Dad passes to Josh, Josh passes to, use it in another sentence, he wonders why pulchritudinous Miss Sweet Tea is talking to, Walking Home. There is so much to unpack in this wonderfully written book that it would be easy to stop and analyze every single page; the figurative language, the formatting, the authors message. Want to help more children attend our events in the future? 0000014949 00000 n Being named the MVP even though he's currently suspended speaks to how good a player Josh is. Missing the game is similar to not attending to his father. While it's unclear if Coach is also a twin, his advice still shows that he understands the power of the sibling relationship to either move mountains or destroy everything. Josh tries talking to JB, but JB does not reply; its been five days. Tunnell, M. Jacobs, Young, T., Bryan, G. (2016). Mom then sighs that they are done, and Josh asks what the consequences are. The characters listen to the same music as they do, covet the same shoes, use the same slang. Joshs life and his humanity, as opposed to just reading about it. His life seems broken now, and he feels as though he doesn't fit anywhere. But then, things start to unravel as JB starts to get more interested in girls. Hi Abby, Once again you have given detailed examination of the authors use of language. I have never had this worry. Josh is making moves and dribbling; Dad gets the ball, winks, dips, and sweats. At lunch, Coach comes over to where Vondie and Josh are and gives Josh a lecture about making up with his brother. Theyre not alone. The Crossover Characters Next Josh Josh Josh is the twelve-year-old protagonist of the novel. Definitions and examples of 136 literary terms and devices. 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. He and his own brother are estranged, and he does not want JB and Josh to be like that. 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 0000011131 00000 n Josh is studying by himself. He adds that Mom said Josh could play if they make it to the championship game. 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. First, his churlish and aggressive behavior toward his twin has almost severed their relationship. Article #1 in the Daily News (December 14). Some of the language and experiences are counter to my own, which gives me a realistic glimpse into the life of an African American family. How does he apologize to his twin brother for being churlish and almost breaking his nose? When Mom and Josh are washing dishes, he asks when Dads appointment is. 80). Joe Anderson: Will there be a sequel with Josh and Jordan playing high school basketball? Mom tries to reassure him that JB will always love him. game against Olive Branch Junior High, and that the team seemed unhurt by Josh's absence. Copyright 1999 - 2023 GradeSaver LLC. How did the structure of the poem "Dear Jordan" on page 130 help us learn more about Josh and JB's relationship? Now that Josh's actions have hurt someone, his sense of loneliness gets even worse. 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.. 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. The Question and Answer section for The Crossover is a great 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. He's alone because, game. The Crossover Summary The narrator of the novel (which is told in verse) is Josh Bell, an 8th-grade boy. His suggestion to write JB a letter again speaks to the power of words and communication. (including. Josh wants in, but Mom warns him not to interfere. 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. Joshs Dad gives him the nickname Filthy McNasty. Mom insists that Dad call Dr. Youngblood. When JB asks for seconds of salad, it shows that he recognizes that eating well is a good way to impress girls. Hes out cold. Josh chooses to give her the note for his brother and takes the rap for cheating. He almost dunks, but an elbow comes up and fouls him to the floor. endstream endobj 1084 0 obj <>stream Her first job in professional radio was at WVMX in Stowe, where she worked as News Director and co-host of The Morning Show. 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. Josh has trouble separating the two. 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. They were missing Josh Filthy McNasty Bell, though, who is this papers Most Valuable Player. This seems to support the stereotype that girls intellect and personality are secondary to their looks. Mom tells Jordan she wants to meet his new friend; Dad chimes in that they want to meet the girl who took JB away. Said he didn't want to miss Bible school. He's nearly six feet tall and has a twin, JB. To get ready for the season, I wentto three summer camps. By doing so we are pulled into Joshs life in the most intimate way; allowing us to make connections to our own lives and experiences. It refers to a basketball move (described in the . 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. 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 PDF downloads of all 1699 LitCharts literature guides, and of every new one we publish. "The Crossover THIRD QUARTER to At Noon, in the Gym, with Dad Summary and Analysis". In other words, this interest shows that Josh recognizes that the doctor isn't bad, and that unlike Dad he knows he should trust the doctor/. 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. 2016, pg 98). How are family relationships depicted? In this poem, Josh makes efforts to repair the cracked friendship between him and his brother. Outside their classroom, seventh and eighth graders at Rutland Town School are bounce passing and showing off their basketball moves, including the move their latest read was named for the crossover. 0000044218 00000 n "Filthy McNasty" is described as being what mythical creature in the poem by the same name? Males are mostly depicted in the role of sports hero; strong, popular and at the center of society. %PDF-1.4 % Complete your free account to request a guide. Josh watches, Vondie brings the ball up the court, but the defense presses close. 0000003945 00000 n Joshs interior state as he contemplates these changes in his life is a testament to Alexanders ability to capture the complexity of a teenager. Profusely means to pour forth in great quantity. 0000007875 00000 n Detailed explanations, analysis, and citation info for every important quote on LitCharts. At the stoplight, JB and Josh look out the window at the same time, and Josh knows what his brother is thinking. Josh is thrilled to get to play, as he knows that when he and. VPR's coverage of arts and culture in the region. Dad apologizes to his family for losing his cool as. Not affiliated with Harvard College. He wants Dad to talk to Mom because he feels like he needs to be in the playoffs and is letting his teammates down. / together (159). The students at St. Etheldreda's School for Young Ladies are there to learn to behave as proper maidens should. During November we'll be sharing our love of poetry, by focussing on an excellent children's poet each week.