Name: ____________________________ Date: ________________ Period: ___________

Reading Guide 4, Crossover pages 89-134

The Crossover by Kwame Alexander

Characters Words to know

Josh Bell crossover character trait tension

JB Bell character content simile
Dad calamity sense of self metaphor
Mom patellar tendonitis form descriptive language
Vondie Little hypertension conflict Academic Writing
Sweet Tea inference ironic

Write using the rules of Academic Writing

-write in full sentences
-correct use capitals and lower case letters
- use periods
- no you, I, us or we unless the question asks for your thoughts

1. Compare the two poems, “Conversation. The first is Josh’s conversation with his brother on
pages 89 and 90 with the second is his conversation with his father on pages 91 and 92. In the
comparison, be sure to include how JB’s relationship with Sweet Tea is affecting Josh. (89-92)

*2. Analyze what Josh means in the poem, “Basketball Rule #5”. Explain why this conclusion
you reached. (93)
3. In the poems, “Showoff” and “Out of Control”, Josh is observing his dad and his brother at a
basketball game. Determine and explain what Josh is thinking about his dad and brother in
these two poems. This requires the reader to use inference. Inference: drawing conclusions
based on knowledge of the story and the characters.

4. Describe what mom is asking Josh to understand in “Mom calls me into the kitchen”. (pg
96/97)

*5. Do you think Josh’s mom is making a fair request to Josh, who is a young boy? You can use
“I” in your answer. (pg. 96/97)

7. In the poems “35-18” and “Too Good” the Kwame Alexander, the author, contrasts good
and bad. Identify where Kwame Alexander contrast good and bad and summarize two
examples. Why does he doe this? (pg. 99 and 100)
8. Explain why Kwame Alexander contrasts good and bad in the poems in question 7.

*8. Summarize what happens in poem “I’m on the Free Throw Number Twenty-Seven”. (pg.
101)

9. In the poem, “He probably” on page 103, Josh and JB responds to what happens to Chuck
Da Man Bell in “Free Throw Number Twenty-Seven” (pg 101). Describe how the two brothers
respond.

9. The poem, “i-ron-ic” (pg 104) gives a definition of ironic. Why is it ironic that JB can’t talk to
Sweet Tea? Hint: ironic is the opposite of what is expected or what should be true (pg. 103)
10. In the poems “This is Alexis -- May I Please Speak to Jordan?” and “Phone Conversation (I
Sub for JB), describe what happens and how Josh handles the phone call. (pgs. 105-109).