Written by Kwame Alexander, The Crossover enraptures readers’ attention, commanding its presence through its fiery and intense verses of poetry. The novel, written about basketball stars and twin brothers Josh and Jordan who grow apart, may initially seem to be a generic middle-school novel. Looking deeper, however, will reveal an intricately written, dimensional story full of depth. In particular, the “Basketball Rules” never fails to inspire with its simple yet profound life lessons interspersed throughout the book. The most significant life lessons in The Crossover consist of the importance of identity, devotion to one’s passions, and acceptance of setbacks. Throughout the story, The Crossover emphasizes the importance of identity through …show more content…
Take it to the hoop” (214). Through the “Basketball Rules”, Alexander perpetuates that being fearless, and unabashedly committed to one’s dreams, is crucial–that even trying is enough, as it grants a chance for new possibilities—through Chuck Bell. For the twins, Chuck is their anchor, emanating unwavering support and conviction for them and fueling their ambition towards basketball; they realize their prowess in applying themselves because of him. Chuck believing in his sons and reminding them to work towards their passions proves how striving towards one’s passions is a core life lesson in the novel. A recurring lesson in The Crossover is learning to accept tragedies for self-improvement. Though some may argue that this is not a motif in the story, several characters turn a new leaf in the book, learning from their mistakes and shifting into better people. When Josh punches JB in the face and is consequently kicked off the basketball team, he learns to accept what happened and works towards improving his attitude since it was his impulsiveness that stripped him of the sport and team he loved (141). One of Josh’s additions to the “Basketball Rules” states, “A loss is inevitable [...] [, but] true champions learn to dance through the storm”