Rebound / by Kwame Alexander ; illustrations by Dawud Anyabwile.

Enhanced descriptions from Syndetics:

From the New York Times bestselling author Kwame Alexander comes Rebound, the dynamic prequel to his Newbery Award-winning novel in verse, The Crossover.

Before Josh and Jordan Bell were streaking up and down the court, their father was learning his own moves. Chuck Bell takes center stage as readers get a glimpse of his childhood and how he became the jazz music worshiping, basketball star his sons look up to.

A novel in verse with all the impact and rhythm readers have come to expect from Kwame Alexander, Rebound goes back in time to visit the childhood of Chuck "Da Man" Bell during one pivotal summer when young Charlie is sent to stay with his grandparents where he discovers basketball and learns more about his family's past.

This prequel to the Newbery Medal- and Coretta Scott King Award-winning The Crossover scores.

Excerpt provided by Syndetics

May 28, 1988 The game is on at the park. The stars are out. It's close to dark. Hoop Kings SOARing          in the SKY           so high           so fly like they Got Wings (it's like the blacktop is a box SPRING ) Hey, Charlie, you see what he did with that THING! my best friend, Skinny, yells T    W        I           R               L                   I                      N                          G and WHIRLING the ball                    so sweet it's like a bee s t i n g (Ouch!) He just Swished in your Face. Stung you like a can of mace These boys so fly they're outta SPACE! C'mon, Charlie, I got next. Let's hoop, Skinny says, jumping up from the sidewalk. Nah, I gotta get home for dinner, I lie. I used to play H.O.R.S.E. against my father, and sometimes I won, but when I tried playing on a team, I'd get too nervous to shoot, too scared of the ball (like the time I missed a pass and got hit up- side the head). Sometimes, I wish I was a superhero, superfly like Quicksilver speed-racing down the court sleek as a sports car faster than NASCAR, leaving all my sadness in the dust--far, far away from now. Wish I could soar score throw down a monster dunk like I was Thor. Wish I could elevate my name with game so good it's hall of fame! Wish I could forget all the pain. Yeah, that's what I wish . . . Excerpted from Rebound by Kwame Alexander All rights reserved by the original copyright owners. Excerpts are provided for display purposes only and may not be reproduced, reprinted or distributed without the written permission of the publisher.

Reviews provided by Syndetics

School Library Journal Review

Gr 3-7-After losing his father to a heart attack, Chuck Bell is having a hard time coming to terms with his loss. When he and his mom have a big argument, she sends him to live with his grandparents, whom he barely knows, for the summer. Grandpa is a little old school, but has a good heart. Grandma is the peacemaker. Narrator Ron Butler brings Chuck's world to life with his unique intonations and narrative pacing. He easily navigates the rhythm of the verse and helps listeners relate to Chuck. The characters are well developed, interesting, and realistic. The non-rhyming verse is catchy and engaging. VERDICT Fans of realistic fiction, family stories, and sports will enjoy listening to this audiobook. Recommended for any library collection.-Kira Moody, Salt Lake County Library Services © Copyright 2019. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Booklist Review

*Starred Review* It's the end of the school year in 1988, and Charlie Bell is flattened by the death of his father. Charlie tries to hide in the pages of his comic book collection, much to his mother's despair. Finally she ships him off to stay with his grandparents for the summer. At first it's just a fresh form of misery, as Charlie's acidic grandfather goads him into physical activity in the stifling heat. Then his cousin Roxie coaxes him onto the basketball court. It's the combination of family, friends, and mad new skills that finally help Charlie begin to rebound from his father's death. Charlie Bell is the father of twins Jordan and Josh Bell, stars of Alexander's Newbery Medal-winning novel Crossover (2014). Fans of Crossover will remember that Chuck Da Man Bell played professional basketball, and they'll be intrigued by his initial resistance to learning the game. But this is an Alexander production, so the plot, as rich and satisfying as it is, is outdazzled by the brilliance of wordplay and syntax. There is a rhythm to each page, whether it's the snappy give-and-take of dialogue, the throbbing of Charlie's bottomless melancholy, or the rushing excitement of a basketball game. In addition, comics-style illustrations by Emmy-­winning artist Anyabwile bring Charlie's fantasies of basketball glory to life. Librarians who delighted at Crossover's popularity will be thrilled with this pitch-perfect follow-up. HIGH-DEMAND BACKSTORY: Alexander is unstoppable, and his fans will be too. Have extra copies at the ready.--Colson, Diane Copyright 2018 Booklist

Horn Book Review

In this prequel to Alexanders Newbery Medalwinning The Crossover (rev. 5/14), its the summer of 1988, and twelve-year-old Charlie Bell would rather roller-skate with his two best friends or escape into the pages of his beloved Fantastic Four comics than confront the hole in his life created by the sudden death of his father. While spending the summer with his grandparents outside of Washington, DC, Charlie makes mistakes, rediscovers his extended family, and finds solace on the basketball court. Readers of The Crossover will be instantly drawn in to this origin story of protagonists Josh and JBs father, Chuck Da Man Bell. A story filled with preteen angst, peer pressure, realistic family dynamics, and first romance is elevated to uncommon heights by a visceral exploration of grief and a search for confidence that pays off in spectacular ways. The narrative is propelled by the staccato rhythmic poetry with which readers of Alexanders previous middle-grade books are familiar. The poetry shines, especially when it brings readers into Charlies inner narrative: Sometimes, I wish / I were a superhero / so I could fight back / against all the / doom / and the gloom / thats trying / to destroy / me. Anyabwiles occasional full-page or double-page-spread comics explode off the page, providing paneled visualizations for many of the energetic poems featuring fast-paced basketball action. A coda set thirty years later written by Chuck to his twin sons Josh and JB is a poignant and eloquent summation of the themes and events of this excellent novel. eric carpenter (c) Copyright 2018. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Kirkus Book Review

In this prequel to Newbery Award-winning The Crossover (2014), Alexander revisits previous themes and formats while exploring new ones.For Charlie Bell, the future father of The Crossover's Jordan and Josh, his father's death alters his relationship with his mother and causes him to avoid what reminds him of his dad. At first, he's just withdrawn, but after he steals from a neighbor, his mother packs a reluctant Charlie off to his grandparents near Washington, D.C., for the summer. His grandfather works part-time at a Boys and Girls Club where his cousin Roxie is a star basketball player. Despite his protests, she draws him into the game. His time with his grandparents deepens Charlie's understanding of his father, and he begins to heal. "I feel / a little more normal, / like maybe he's still here, / in a / as long as I remember him / he's still right here / in my heart / kind of way." Once again, Alexander has given readers an African-American protagonist to cheer. He is surrounded by a strong supporting cast, especially two brilliant female characters, his friend CJ and his cousin Roxie, as well as his feisty and wise granddaddy. Music and cultural references from the late 1980s add authenticity. The novel in verse is enhanced by Anyabwile's art, which reinforces Charlie's love for comics.An eminently satisfying story of family, recovery, and growing into manhood. (Historical verse fiction. 10-12) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.