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The Crossover #2
Booked
Goodreads Choice Award
Nominee for Best Poetry (2016)National Book Award Long List
New York Times Bestseller
Like lightning/you strike/fast and free/legs zoom/down field/eyes fixed/on the checkered ball/on the goal/ten yards to go/can’t nobody stop you/
can’t nobody cop you…
In this follow-up to the Newbery-winning novel THE CROSSOVER, soccer, family, love, and friendship, take center stage as twelve-year-old Nick learns the power of words as he wrestles with problems at home, stands up to a bully, and tries to impress the girl of his dreams. Helping him along are his best friend and sometimes teammate Coby, and The Mac, a rapping librarian who gives Nick inspiring books to read.
This electric and heartfelt novel-in-verse by poet Kwame Alexander bends and breaks as it captures all the thrills and setbacks, action and emotion of a World Cup match!
New York Times Bestseller
Like lightning/you strike/fast and free/legs zoom/down field/eyes fixed/on the checkered ball/on the goal/ten yards to go/can’t nobody stop you/
can’t nobody cop you…
In this follow-up to the Newbery-winning novel THE CROSSOVER, soccer, family, love, and friendship, take center stage as twelve-year-old Nick learns the power of words as he wrestles with problems at home, stands up to a bully, and tries to impress the girl of his dreams. Helping him along are his best friend and sometimes teammate Coby, and The Mac, a rapping librarian who gives Nick inspiring books to read.
This electric and heartfelt novel-in-verse by poet Kwame Alexander bends and breaks as it captures all the thrills and setbacks, action and emotion of a World Cup match!
314 pages, Hardcover
First published April 5, 2016
About the author
Kwame Alexander
76 books2,988 followersKwame Alexander is a poet, educator, and New York Times Bestselling author of 21 books, including The Crossover, which received the 2015 John Newbery Medal for the Most Distinguished Contribution to American literature for Children, the Coretta Scott King Author Award Honor, The NCTE Charlotte Huck Honor, the Lee Bennett Hopkins Poetry Award, and the Passaic Poetry Prize. Kwame writes for children of all ages. His other works include Surf's Up, a picture book; Booked, a middle grade novel; and He Said She Said, a YA novel.
Kwame believes that poetry can change the world, and he uses it to inspire and empower young people through his PAGE TO STAGE Writing and Publishing Program released by Scholastic. A regular speaker at colleges and conferences in the U.S., he also travels the world planting seeds of literary love (Singapore, Brazil, Italy, France, Shanghai, etc.). Recently, Alexander led a delegation of 20 writers and activists to Ghana, where they delivered books, built a library, and provided literacy professional development to 300 teachers, as a part of LEAP for Ghana, an International literacy program he co-founded.
Kwame believes that poetry can change the world, and he uses it to inspire and empower young people through his PAGE TO STAGE Writing and Publishing Program released by Scholastic. A regular speaker at colleges and conferences in the U.S., he also travels the world planting seeds of literary love (Singapore, Brazil, Italy, France, Shanghai, etc.). Recently, Alexander led a delegation of 20 writers and activists to Ghana, where they delivered books, built a library, and provided literacy professional development to 300 teachers, as a part of LEAP for Ghana, an International literacy program he co-founded.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 2,894 reviews
November 30, 2016
Kwame Alexander, on the heels of his award winning Crossover, has wowed his readers again with Booked, an equally poetic tale about sports as the backdrop for teenaged angst. In Booked, Alexander presents the reader with Nick Hall, a gifted student and soccer player who is coping with his parents' recent divorce. Through his poetry in motion Alexander brings us a quality middle grade kids book that will leave students stupefied and asking their teachers for more books.
Nicholas Hall is a thirteen year old phenom on the soccer field and in the classroom. Alongside his best friend Coby, he has to navigate eighth grade issues from bullying to asking out a cute girl to the spring formal dance. Meanwhile, his parents have both devoted too much time to their chosen professions and decided to get a divorce. Nick allows his home life to get in the way of his performance in the classroom and the soccer field. Alexander relays these complex issues in the form of onomatopoeic poetry that allows adolescents to grasp them on their level. The exchanges between the teens and the parents come in the form of rap and asides rather than traditional dialogue, making the prose fun for students.
Unlike Crossover, where basketball took the largest portion of the book, in Booked soccer is only one of many facets of Nick's busy life. Alexander has him speak in a whirlwind combination of poetry, rap, and text messages in order to relay how life is for a 21st century teenager. Additionally, there are more role models outside of the family which were absent in Crossover. I especially enjoyed reading about Mr. MacDonald the rapper turned school librarian who guides Nick and friends through the angst that comprises most of middle school culture.
I have found a winning author for middle grade students in Kwame Alexander. He has found an award winning formula in mixing sports, poetry, and teenaged problems, and delivers his message to kids in a manner that is pure fun. Teachers if they have not already done so, should be bringing Alexander's books to their classrooms, because these books make reading fun for kids. A true gem of a children's author, I rate Kwame Alexander's Booked 4.5 sparkling stars.
Nicholas Hall is a thirteen year old phenom on the soccer field and in the classroom. Alongside his best friend Coby, he has to navigate eighth grade issues from bullying to asking out a cute girl to the spring formal dance. Meanwhile, his parents have both devoted too much time to their chosen professions and decided to get a divorce. Nick allows his home life to get in the way of his performance in the classroom and the soccer field. Alexander relays these complex issues in the form of onomatopoeic poetry that allows adolescents to grasp them on their level. The exchanges between the teens and the parents come in the form of rap and asides rather than traditional dialogue, making the prose fun for students.
Unlike Crossover, where basketball took the largest portion of the book, in Booked soccer is only one of many facets of Nick's busy life. Alexander has him speak in a whirlwind combination of poetry, rap, and text messages in order to relay how life is for a 21st century teenager. Additionally, there are more role models outside of the family which were absent in Crossover. I especially enjoyed reading about Mr. MacDonald the rapper turned school librarian who guides Nick and friends through the angst that comprises most of middle school culture.
I have found a winning author for middle grade students in Kwame Alexander. He has found an award winning formula in mixing sports, poetry, and teenaged problems, and delivers his message to kids in a manner that is pure fun. Teachers if they have not already done so, should be bringing Alexander's books to their classrooms, because these books make reading fun for kids. A true gem of a children's author, I rate Kwame Alexander's Booked 4.5 sparkling stars.
November 9, 2016
Kwame Alexander writes poetry, as in “BOOKED” and children’s fiction. He won a Newbery Medal in 2015 for his book “The Crossover.” Reading “BOOKED” it’s easy to see why. You’d likely think this is written by a teenager. The emotions, concerns, viewpoints all seem to point to that conclusion.
Poems about parents and what a pain they can be, homework (ugh!), awful teachers, not-so-awful teachers, girls, other boys, soccer, lots of soccer, and divorce… and a mom moving to another place far away.
Two of my favourites:
Thought
It does not take
a math genius
to understand that
when you subtract
a mother
from the equation
what remains
is negative.
Out of the Dust
is a story
about a lanky
piano-playing girl
named Billie Jo
whose mother
is gone,
whose father’s heart
and soul
are disappearing
into the dust
that blankets
their Oklahoma town,
and even though
the first 59 pages
rain down
hard on you,
when you get
to page 60
the monsoon comes
and the book is
unputdownable.
Highly recommended
Poems about parents and what a pain they can be, homework (ugh!), awful teachers, not-so-awful teachers, girls, other boys, soccer, lots of soccer, and divorce… and a mom moving to another place far away.
Two of my favourites:
Thought
It does not take
a math genius
to understand that
when you subtract
a mother
from the equation
what remains
is negative.
Out of the Dust
is a story
about a lanky
piano-playing girl
named Billie Jo
whose mother
is gone,
whose father’s heart
and soul
are disappearing
into the dust
that blankets
their Oklahoma town,
and even though
the first 59 pages
rain down
hard on you,
when you get
to page 60
the monsoon comes
and the book is
unputdownable.
Highly recommended
Read
February 10, 2017I really loved Alexander’s award-winning novel The Crossover, a story about twins that excel at basketball but have to navigate high school and homelife. Like The Crossover, Booked is written in verse and is about a young teen named Nick that is a star on the soccer pitch. He’s got a crush on a girl named April but doesn’t have the confidence to approach her. At home, his dad’s an overbearing wordsmith that makes him learn new words from the dictionary every night. Nick finds solace in the ex rapper turned librarian (YES!) named Mac who inspires, challenges and supports him through his troubles. A fast, fun story with hear that both boys and girls should read, can’t wait to book talk the heck outta this thing at the high school library where I work!
–Lucas Maxwell
from The Best Books We Read In January 2017: http://bookriot.com/2017/02/01/riot-r...
____________________
Again, Kwame Alexander delivers a stunning middle grade book in verse following his Newbery winner, The Crossover. In Booked, twelve-year-old Nick navigates girls, soccer, and a family falling apart. He finds peace in poetry, words, and the advice from a rapping school librarian who steals the show with his rhymes and his “I Like Big Books” t-shirts. No word is wasted in this gorgeous book of verse; it’s a must read for every middle grader and beyond.
— Karina Glaser
from The Best Books We Read In May 2016: http://bookriot.com/2016/06/01/riot-r...
–Lucas Maxwell
from The Best Books We Read In January 2017: http://bookriot.com/2017/02/01/riot-r...
____________________
Again, Kwame Alexander delivers a stunning middle grade book in verse following his Newbery winner, The Crossover. In Booked, twelve-year-old Nick navigates girls, soccer, and a family falling apart. He finds peace in poetry, words, and the advice from a rapping school librarian who steals the show with his rhymes and his “I Like Big Books” t-shirts. No word is wasted in this gorgeous book of verse; it’s a must read for every middle grader and beyond.
— Karina Glaser
from The Best Books We Read In May 2016: http://bookriot.com/2016/06/01/riot-r...
May 18, 2017
Warning: This review is really just going to be me gushing profusely at the awesomeness that is this book.
LOVE. LOVE. LOVE. LOVE. LOVE. LOVE. LOVE.
I loved Crossover, and have since pushed it into the hands of nearly every student who enters my library...and I will now be doing the same with Booked. It has the same overall feel of Crossover: some poems feel like rap, some like water, some like a punch in the gut. Various rhyme schemes, poetry types, and even narrative perspectives help make this book amazing.
Other things I loved about this book:
- WORDS--so many great words (and definitions) sprinkled throughout
- BOOKS--books I love are referenced (like All the Broken Pieces--which USED to be my favorite verse novel until I discovered Kwame Alexander), as are books I taught in the classroom (Watsons Go to Birmingham, Long Walk to Water)
- DRAMA--Nick's parents are separating, he's bullied at school, he likes a girl but is afraid to talk to her, his best friend ends up on a different soccer team than him, and he feels relentless pressure from his dad. (See? All the drama.) Then an unfortunate turn of events puts the one thing he loves, soccer, in jeopardy as well.
- THE POEMS...MY GOD THE POEMS--this isn't just a narrative smushed into verse to engage reluctant readers (though they'll be attracted to this one, for sure). The poetry serves a purpose: it creates emotion and leads the reader on a journey right along side Nick. There's no way I enjoy this book near as much as a normal narrative.
I only have one complaint...WHAT WAS IN MR. MAC'S DRAGONFLY BOX?????
LOVE. LOVE. LOVE. LOVE. LOVE. LOVE. LOVE.
I loved Crossover, and have since pushed it into the hands of nearly every student who enters my library...and I will now be doing the same with Booked. It has the same overall feel of Crossover: some poems feel like rap, some like water, some like a punch in the gut. Various rhyme schemes, poetry types, and even narrative perspectives help make this book amazing.
Other things I loved about this book:
- WORDS--so many great words (and definitions) sprinkled throughout
- BOOKS--books I love are referenced (like All the Broken Pieces--which USED to be my favorite verse novel until I discovered Kwame Alexander), as are books I taught in the classroom (Watsons Go to Birmingham, Long Walk to Water)
- DRAMA--Nick's parents are separating, he's bullied at school, he likes a girl but is afraid to talk to her, his best friend ends up on a different soccer team than him, and he feels relentless pressure from his dad. (See? All the drama.) Then an unfortunate turn of events puts the one thing he loves, soccer, in jeopardy as well.
- THE POEMS...MY GOD THE POEMS--this isn't just a narrative smushed into verse to engage reluctant readers (though they'll be attracted to this one, for sure). The poetry serves a purpose: it creates emotion and leads the reader on a journey right along side Nick. There's no way I enjoy this book near as much as a normal narrative.
I only have one complaint...WHAT WAS IN MR. MAC'S DRAGONFLY BOX?????
January 5, 2016
What a fun ride! I liked that this book was totally middle grade but still tackled real issues like divorce, bullying etc in a funny yet insightful way :)
April 29, 2016
I'm really torn about this one. It starts off so strong. So very, very strong. The poetry is amazing. Alexander seamlessly blends style and meter and rhythm and the result is infectious.
I was 100% in love with the book, but then it sort of crashed for me.
It started with some weird dings that didn't work :
Ding #1: The school librarian who was teacher of the year, even though he's not a "teacher". I know there are some non-teaching school librarians out there - curse them! They're doing the profession an enormous disservice! - but there's a large portion of us who teach pretty aggressive schedules, especially elementary librarians. That kind of ignorance to the profession rang a little false to me and came across as librarian-baiting. After all, it's librarians who awarded Alexander the Newbery Medal for The Crossover. This is a nitpicky ding, but I take my job seriously, and I teach more than I do anything else.
Ding #2: The second-person-but-not-really narrative construct stopped working, particularly when Alexander would occasionally use "we", which doesn't make sense if the other characters are third person. One of the other characters would have to be first person for that to work, right? Maybe I'm overthinking this? The conceit only really started to lose me when , which itself was a bit of an obvious letdown. An unnecessary plot point, in my opinion.
Ding #3: And the biggest one of them all. What really got to me was the point of the book. After all these Big Issues: , first love, ... it all ends with this weird message. It struck me as totally incompatible with Nick's character. It seemed recklessly slapped together and forced within the confines of an already striking narrative.
Aside from these dings, I really liked the book. It bums me out because I five-star-loved and ate up the first half of the book before it started to fall apart. And even after it was falling apart, I still read most of the book in a single sitting. That's how gripping the narration is.
Make no mistake: Kwame Alexander is a force to be reckoned with, and easily one of the best poets out there. The man can write circles around most other middle grade novels-in-verse authors. His poetry is exciting, all vim and vigor. The man's a singular talent (and he seems like a nice guy to boot - his Instagram account is wonderful).
And I do love that he references several other middle grade books written in verse... especially the lesser known ones, like Rhyme Schemer. It was a sweet, genuine gesture to his fellow poets.
In summary:
The Crossover was Kwame Alexander's slam dunk.
Booked is [insert soccer term that's impressive but maybe not too terribly special here].
I was 100% in love with the book, but then it sort of crashed for me.
It started with some weird dings that didn't work :
Ding #1: The school librarian who was teacher of the year, even though he's not a "teacher". I know there are some non-teaching school librarians out there - curse them! They're doing the profession an enormous disservice! - but there's a large portion of us who teach pretty aggressive schedules, especially elementary librarians. That kind of ignorance to the profession rang a little false to me and came across as librarian-baiting. After all, it's librarians who awarded Alexander the Newbery Medal for The Crossover. This is a nitpicky ding, but I take my job seriously, and I teach more than I do anything else.
Ding #2: The second-person-but-not-really narrative construct stopped working, particularly when Alexander would occasionally use "we", which doesn't make sense if the other characters are third person. One of the other characters would have to be first person for that to work, right? Maybe I'm overthinking this? The conceit only really started to lose me when , which itself was a bit of an obvious letdown. An unnecessary plot point, in my opinion.
Ding #3: And the biggest one of them all. What really got to me was the point of the book. After all these Big Issues: , first love, ... it all ends with this weird message. It struck me as totally incompatible with Nick's character. It seemed recklessly slapped together and forced within the confines of an already striking narrative.
Aside from these dings, I really liked the book. It bums me out because I five-star-loved and ate up the first half of the book before it started to fall apart. And even after it was falling apart, I still read most of the book in a single sitting. That's how gripping the narration is.
Make no mistake: Kwame Alexander is a force to be reckoned with, and easily one of the best poets out there. The man can write circles around most other middle grade novels-in-verse authors. His poetry is exciting, all vim and vigor. The man's a singular talent (and he seems like a nice guy to boot - his Instagram account is wonderful).
And I do love that he references several other middle grade books written in verse... especially the lesser known ones, like Rhyme Schemer. It was a sweet, genuine gesture to his fellow poets.
In summary:
The Crossover was Kwame Alexander's slam dunk.
Booked is [insert soccer term that's impressive but maybe not too terribly special here].
March 2, 2018
"Booked" was poetry. A lot of poetry. This book was talking about Nicholas Hall, a boy in eighth grade who has a life that's quite similar like everyone else's. He explains the ups and downs through a period of time.
For me, I really don't believe that I have anything much in common with Nicholas, his personalities or his hobbies. However, in my opinion, what I have in common with him is the dreadful feeling of not being able to do something we are hope to do. For Nicholas, it was not being able to go the Dallas cup because of his health. For me, it was not being able to go to school because I got sick and caught the flu. And going to school is something I love to do.
Throughout the book, I've always been trying to find a meaning or moral of this book or the theme. Even though what I think of the theme might be completely off, I might never know. I believe what Kwame Alexander is trying to express to us through Nicholas Hall is the fact that life can totally be awful. However, if we stood a little taller, spoke a little farther, walked a few steps extra, we can turn the whole situation around.
For me, I really don't believe that I have anything much in common with Nicholas, his personalities or his hobbies. However, in my opinion, what I have in common with him is the dreadful feeling of not being able to do something we are hope to do. For Nicholas, it was not being able to go the Dallas cup because of his health. For me, it was not being able to go to school because I got sick and caught the flu. And going to school is something I love to do.
Throughout the book, I've always been trying to find a meaning or moral of this book or the theme. Even though what I think of the theme might be completely off, I might never know. I believe what Kwame Alexander is trying to express to us through Nicholas Hall is the fact that life can totally be awful. However, if we stood a little taller, spoke a little farther, walked a few steps extra, we can turn the whole situation around.
April 13, 2016
I loved Kwame's Newbery Medal winning book The Crossover, and I liked this one even more.
August 21, 2024
✰ 3.25 stars ✰
“Nicholas, the world is an infinite sea of endless possibility.
Yeah, well, it feels like there’s a big freakin’ hole in my ship, Dad.”
Reading in verse has the ability to have you move in tandem to the rhythm of the words. Kwame Alexander's poetry doesn't only sway - it literally moves . I like how he changes the trajectory of his word choice and depiction. How he enlarges on the words that matter to twelve-year-old Nick Hall - the distinct phrases and remarks that hit deeper than others. And Nick's story in Booked - while not on par of the same emotional level as his predecessor - was still a heartfelt coming-of-age narrative that will resonate deeply with everyday teenagers who face the same hurdles he learns to overcome through the help of his family and friends and the power of words. 🫶🏻🫶🏻
“It does not take
a math genius
to understand that
when you subtract
a mother
from the equation
what remains
is negative.
How is she gonna
fix this shattered heart,
you wonder?”
Nick's voice reverberated with honesty and compassion. From his tender and heartwarming feelings for his first crush, to his abget and conflicted thoughts on his parents' impending divorce, to his passionate and spirited emotions for playing soccer, to his heartfelt and sincere remarks with his best friend, Cody, the words bounced across the pages with agility and grace at a fast-paced beat that kept my interest till the end. 🤌🏻🤌🏻 'We’re sorry, honey./ Yeah, me too. Sorry some horse’s needs are more important than mine.' 😢 I felt Nick's pain, his hurt, his joy, his anger, and his excitement. His relationship with his eccentric teachers was a unique one, and his friendships with Cody and April were electric and heartwarming - ones that thrummed with genuine compassion.
There was a great balance between humor and seriousness - one that delighted in quirky foreign words I would have never learned had not it been for Nick forced to read his father's dictionary for the past four years, while also touching upon the more heavy topics, such as that of Nick unable to openly express how much pain he's carrying around - despite how it was interpreted differently than what was intended. I enjoyed the descriptive ways in which the author depicted his love for football; how passionate he was in competing, how he existed solely on the field, and nothing else mattered. 🔥⚽
Not the bullies that tormented him, not the flaying emotions for the girl he was crushing on, not the sadness over his parents breaking up, not even the lingering destructive pain he was facing, that he covered up as food poisoning, and well, there's more to that, but still. 🥺 It was all very engaging and spirited; writing that just carried with a buoyancy of youthful spirit that was believable and enjoyable. 'Being afraid is normal. The only fight you really have to win is the one against the fear.' I sympathized with him on every level, laughed at his quirky sense of humor, cringed at his moments of awkwardness, smiled at his laidback rivalry, but most of all, felt deeply for how he was not prepared for his ideal family to fall apart as quickly as it did. 💔💔
“We all laugh, and it feels
like love is back,
like home again,
just like it’s supposed
to feel.”
As much as it feels petty to show your aggression, I'm glad Nick did not shy away from showing his mother how deeply affected and hurt he was by her decision to choose her career over staying with him - '... and it’s probably not fair that you haven’t responded, but hey, life isn’t fair.' 😅 I liked that both parents carried the guilt and burden of how deeply their divorce affected him, while also still trying to be as encouraging and supportive as possible. It tied together in a believable way, that while the pain still existed, Nick's involvement in other parts of his life proved to be a worthwhile distraction to help him better accept these changes. ❤️🩹❤️🩹 And Nick does grow up - in a very short span of time, he takes the necessary steps to be braver and bolder to be someone who won't regret that he did not act when he could. That he missed out on opportunities or challenges that he would have probably avoided in the past, had it not been for these life-changing moments that gave him the insight and the strength he so desperately needed. 🫂
The ending was... rather abrupt, unfortunately. 😕 I know it is not realistically plausible to believe that all of Nick's problems could be resolved so easily - and that his acceptance of his parents' divorce would take time, but it just didn't feel like I drew closure from it. It carried upwards towards a crescendo that did not quite reach the peak of emotional intensity that I would have liked it to have been. It left me a bit befuddled, to be honest, in regards to certain parts of Nick's issues... Or maybe it's just me. 🤷🏻♀️ Regardless, it was still an engaging read, one that had me bouncing on the waves of Nick's path to self-discovery and self-growth on the importance of learning to stand up for himself and face his fears head-on. ✨
“Nicholas, the world is an infinite sea of endless possibility.
Yeah, well, it feels like there’s a big freakin’ hole in my ship, Dad.”
Reading in verse has the ability to have you move in tandem to the rhythm of the words. Kwame Alexander's poetry doesn't only sway - it literally moves . I like how he changes the trajectory of his word choice and depiction. How he enlarges on the words that matter to twelve-year-old Nick Hall - the distinct phrases and remarks that hit deeper than others. And Nick's story in Booked - while not on par of the same emotional level as his predecessor - was still a heartfelt coming-of-age narrative that will resonate deeply with everyday teenagers who face the same hurdles he learns to overcome through the help of his family and friends and the power of words. 🫶🏻🫶🏻
“It does not take
a math genius
to understand that
when you subtract
a mother
from the equation
what remains
is negative.
How is she gonna
fix this shattered heart,
you wonder?”
Nick's voice reverberated with honesty and compassion. From his tender and heartwarming feelings for his first crush, to his abget and conflicted thoughts on his parents' impending divorce, to his passionate and spirited emotions for playing soccer, to his heartfelt and sincere remarks with his best friend, Cody, the words bounced across the pages with agility and grace at a fast-paced beat that kept my interest till the end. 🤌🏻🤌🏻 'We’re sorry, honey./ Yeah, me too. Sorry some horse’s needs are more important than mine.' 😢 I felt Nick's pain, his hurt, his joy, his anger, and his excitement. His relationship with his eccentric teachers was a unique one, and his friendships with Cody and April were electric and heartwarming - ones that thrummed with genuine compassion.
There was a great balance between humor and seriousness - one that delighted in quirky foreign words I would have never learned had not it been for Nick forced to read his father's dictionary for the past four years, while also touching upon the more heavy topics, such as that of Nick unable to openly express how much pain he's carrying around - despite how it was interpreted differently than what was intended. I enjoyed the descriptive ways in which the author depicted his love for football; how passionate he was in competing, how he existed solely on the field, and nothing else mattered. 🔥⚽
Not the bullies that tormented him, not the flaying emotions for the girl he was crushing on, not the sadness over his parents breaking up, not even the lingering destructive pain he was facing, that he covered up as food poisoning, and well, there's more to that, but still. 🥺 It was all very engaging and spirited; writing that just carried with a buoyancy of youthful spirit that was believable and enjoyable. 'Being afraid is normal. The only fight you really have to win is the one against the fear.' I sympathized with him on every level, laughed at his quirky sense of humor, cringed at his moments of awkwardness, smiled at his laidback rivalry, but most of all, felt deeply for how he was not prepared for his ideal family to fall apart as quickly as it did. 💔💔
“We all laugh, and it feels
like love is back,
like home again,
just like it’s supposed
to feel.”
As much as it feels petty to show your aggression, I'm glad Nick did not shy away from showing his mother how deeply affected and hurt he was by her decision to choose her career over staying with him - '... and it’s probably not fair that you haven’t responded, but hey, life isn’t fair.' 😅 I liked that both parents carried the guilt and burden of how deeply their divorce affected him, while also still trying to be as encouraging and supportive as possible. It tied together in a believable way, that while the pain still existed, Nick's involvement in other parts of his life proved to be a worthwhile distraction to help him better accept these changes. ❤️🩹❤️🩹 And Nick does grow up - in a very short span of time, he takes the necessary steps to be braver and bolder to be someone who won't regret that he did not act when he could. That he missed out on opportunities or challenges that he would have probably avoided in the past, had it not been for these life-changing moments that gave him the insight and the strength he so desperately needed. 🫂
The ending was... rather abrupt, unfortunately. 😕 I know it is not realistically plausible to believe that all of Nick's problems could be resolved so easily - and that his acceptance of his parents' divorce would take time, but it just didn't feel like I drew closure from it. It carried upwards towards a crescendo that did not quite reach the peak of emotional intensity that I would have liked it to have been. It left me a bit befuddled, to be honest, in regards to certain parts of Nick's issues... Or maybe it's just me. 🤷🏻♀️ Regardless, it was still an engaging read, one that had me bouncing on the waves of Nick's path to self-discovery and self-growth on the importance of learning to stand up for himself and face his fears head-on. ✨
December 1, 2015
Just like The Crossover does with basketball, soccer circumvents what Booked is really about: family relationships, this time the main character Nick is dealing with his parent's impending divorce and a strained relationship with his parents, particularly his father.
While it doesn't have the same bounce and groove of The Crossover, Booked is a fantastic stand-alone follow-up to Alexander's Newbery-winning novel in verse. I especially loved the character of Mr. MacDonald, AKA "The Mac," the rapping librarian.
What I love most about Alexander's work is that he has made it cool for kids to be lovers of words and language. Booked only further strengthens that conviction. While I try to tell this to my students, Alexander's books are actually showing it to them.
Other things I loved about Booked:
How the title has multiple, layered meanings throughout the story
The subtle and not-so-subtle homages to the poetry of Langston Hughes
While it is mentioned in passing and with lowercase letters, Alexander gives a shoutout to the Nerdy Book Club
Nerds and Words is a great name for a book club. I kind of want to steal it. :)
Booked hits store shelves on April 5, 2016
While it doesn't have the same bounce and groove of The Crossover, Booked is a fantastic stand-alone follow-up to Alexander's Newbery-winning novel in verse. I especially loved the character of Mr. MacDonald, AKA "The Mac," the rapping librarian.
What I love most about Alexander's work is that he has made it cool for kids to be lovers of words and language. Booked only further strengthens that conviction. While I try to tell this to my students, Alexander's books are actually showing it to them.
Other things I loved about Booked:
How the title has multiple, layered meanings throughout the story
The subtle and not-so-subtle homages to the poetry of Langston Hughes
While it is mentioned in passing and with lowercase letters, Alexander gives a shoutout to the Nerdy Book Club
Nerds and Words is a great name for a book club. I kind of want to steal it. :)
Booked hits store shelves on April 5, 2016
February 14, 2016
Amazing and unputdownable!
Kwame writes another book that will be so relatable to kids everywhere!
Nick loves soccer, doesn't enjoy to read...yet, has the best librarian in the world aka The Mac, has a crush on April, deals with his parents divorce, and has a best friend and soccer buddy named Coby.
It won't disappoint. Read it!
Kwame writes another book that will be so relatable to kids everywhere!
Nick loves soccer, doesn't enjoy to read...yet, has the best librarian in the world aka The Mac, has a crush on April, deals with his parents divorce, and has a best friend and soccer buddy named Coby.
It won't disappoint. Read it!
February 27, 2017
the main character is nick hall. A bright 8th grader. I like this book personally because it has the same written style as the crossover, he also is my favorite author. I dont like the part when there is the twin bullies at school.
February 16, 2016
Once again, I am reminded of the dazzling power of a verse novel. What Kwame Alexander accomplishes and creates in so few words is astonishing. Every word and character moves with energy and color in real life tones and voices. Relationships, individuals, talk, silence, fear and fun hit the pages and me with force. So…..let’s just jump in and get Booked!
Twelve year old, Nick Hall is a daydreaming word genius just itching to get out of class and back on the soccer field. You will laugh, hurt, and long right along with him as he tries to deal with bullies at school, divorce at home, and a crush on his dream girl in his heart. Can Nick tackle everything life has to throw at him right now?
Soccer splits and weaves through the heart of this story. A sport and passion that holds the story and topics together and on point. Humor, bullies, friends, family, competition, and trash talk all come into play. But Mr. Alexander fits it all in without feeling crowded or overwhelmed in a fun, distinctive verse style. Poetry and words jump, flash, and shine across the page in bold type, capital letters, italics, footnotes and more. This book is a gift to readers! And the words. Oh, the words!
Flummoxed. Ragabush. Sweven. Twain. Malapropism. Wordbound.
Booked is FULL of weird and wonderful words and boy-o-boy do I adore word magic! Mr. Alexander certainly knows how to spin the magic word wheel round and round. His words stir up wonder and inspiration. Words that are fun to say and use—like zazzy and yobbery. My favorites were hellkite and one particular “L” word I don’t want to spoil, and onomatophobia. Onomatophobia! How cool is that word rolling off your tongue?! There are so many words to love here. Cachinnate to mewling! Verbomania to wordbound! If you love words—love their letters, shapes, and sounds—you MUST read this book.
The words and topics will get readers thinking and talking. Divorce and bullying are unfortunately very common in our world, so young readers will recognize and identify with Nick’s fears and confusion.
”as confused
as a chameleon
in a bag
of gummy worms”
The only point I questioned was the juxtaposition of two relationships. One couple was willing to bend and compromise with the changing river of life while the other was not. What does that say about the couple unwilling to bend? What does it say to Nick? Maybe that was the point—to show readers that some people can’t change or compromise. See! There is a lot to see and discuss.
“Nick, the river is always turning and bending. You never know where it’s going to go and where you’ll wind up. Follow the bend.”
One of my favorite ingredients in this story was the humor. Nick’s voice made me laugh out loud! The things he said and imagined in is head will make you smile and giggle. From the cheering crowds to the poetry to the “NOOOOOOOOs”. Haha….I loved being in Nick’s head. All the characters jump to life with such strong, clear voices. Every single one! Maybe with Nick’s friends, family, words and books all teaming up to help—Nick will make it through. Make his goals and dreams come true! I hope so.
A powerful novel sure to attract readers.
Highly recommended.
**Quotes taken from ARC**
March 21, 2022
A middle grades book, Booked was such a pleasant surprise to me! Books really can be written for middle
schoolers and maintain a universal appeal. The book is beautifully written in a lyrical, poetry style. The feelings and meanings are transmitted so intensely. I laughed aloud in the first paragraph of the book! The reader ion audio is wonderful.
Booked is the story of a boy whose dad is a linguistics professor and mom stays at home, although she was a professional horse trainer. He is eighth grade and plays soccer quite seriously. As he approaches high school age, he goes through some serious changes in life. His feelings and attempts to deal are so human and so relatable. I loved every minute of this short book. Thank you, Mr. Alexander, for your beautiful heart and ability to put that into words. I’ll be reading more from him—especially after that cliffhanger!
schoolers and maintain a universal appeal. The book is beautifully written in a lyrical, poetry style. The feelings and meanings are transmitted so intensely. I laughed aloud in the first paragraph of the book! The reader ion audio is wonderful.
Booked is the story of a boy whose dad is a linguistics professor and mom stays at home, although she was a professional horse trainer. He is eighth grade and plays soccer quite seriously. As he approaches high school age, he goes through some serious changes in life. His feelings and attempts to deal are so human and so relatable. I loved every minute of this short book. Thank you, Mr. Alexander, for your beautiful heart and ability to put that into words. I’ll be reading more from him—especially after that cliffhanger!
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August 31, 2019Here is a brief blurb of the book Booked. Nick is an ordinary 12-year-old kid who has a not so ordinary dad. His dad is a word fanatic and forces Nick to learn and read new words every day. Nick likes playing soccer and he has a best friend who also likes playing soccer. Both of their teams make it into a prestigious soccer tournament. At the same time, Nick struggles with his relationship with his parents and also struggles to confront the girl of his dreams. He starts getting bullied but ends up meeting a cool librarian that helps him through the struggle and helps him read some books. Can we overcome all the struggles and be the best son and soccer player he wants to? Read to find out!
September 26, 2016
Continuing in the style of his first book this is such a great story. There is a genuine lack of books for young teenage boys who enjoy sport but don't love to read. Kwame Alexander is here to help solve the problem. His characters are charming and fun. There is a richness in the stories and I love how he made vocabulary a real feature of this one.
May 31, 2016
This book-in-verse (or is it verse-in-book? novel-in-verse? or a novel inverse? or inverse novel? I shouldn't be writing a book review last crazy week of school) about a boy who loves soccer and is dealing with the divorce of his parents. Kwame Alexander can pound out images and rhythms that will make you beat through the pages like a drummer. While "Crossover," the 2015 Newbery Winner was on basketball this one is on soccer. Except the sport takes back seat to the power of words as Nick Hall learns to use them against teachers, parents, wooing a girl, and friends at school. He says he hates words since his dad is a professor and "verbomaniac" who has written a dictionary he's making Nick memorize. But Nick likes words. If he didn't he wouldn't fling around words like "limerence," "codswallop," or "ragabash". This story might leave you with "onomatophobia", but it sure is a heck-of-alot of fun.
Twelve-year-old Nick Hall daydreams in class getting the teacher's unwanted attention. He uses words in a clever way to charm her on to Team Nick before using the same technique to get a girlfriend. Although shy and scared of girls, his words come through for him in the end. His mom and dad are splitting up and he goes through grief as his athletic mom leaves to train horses in Kentucky. When he expresses how upset he is he finds the power of words to bring his mom back and find some equilibrium in a rough time. Cody is his soccer friend who he joke-brags with they are on rival soccer teams and will play each other in a prestigious tournament. When things fall apart, the rapping librarian hooks Nick onto reading and a book club where he discovers books help him articulate what he's going through in his life at the moment (and win the girl of his dreams).
The end doesn't tell the reader what was in the mysterious dragonfly box. A dragonfly symbolizes change and self-realization which is Nick's character arc in the story. If I had time I'd look into rappers. I'm sure the author is doing more with the verses than I can tell but I'm on a break away - I have a parent waiting for this book at the circulation desk and I'm trying to write this as fast as I can. If I shoot this review over the goal or you think it is ragabash, that's why. (Ah... I see on my Goodreads shelf that I usually use novel-in-verse. Long day.)
Twelve-year-old Nick Hall daydreams in class getting the teacher's unwanted attention. He uses words in a clever way to charm her on to Team Nick before using the same technique to get a girlfriend. Although shy and scared of girls, his words come through for him in the end. His mom and dad are splitting up and he goes through grief as his athletic mom leaves to train horses in Kentucky. When he expresses how upset he is he finds the power of words to bring his mom back and find some equilibrium in a rough time. Cody is his soccer friend who he joke-brags with they are on rival soccer teams and will play each other in a prestigious tournament. When things fall apart, the rapping librarian hooks Nick onto reading and a book club where he discovers books help him articulate what he's going through in his life at the moment (and win the girl of his dreams).
The end doesn't tell the reader what was in the mysterious dragonfly box. A dragonfly symbolizes change and self-realization which is Nick's character arc in the story. If I had time I'd look into rappers. I'm sure the author is doing more with the verses than I can tell but I'm on a break away - I have a parent waiting for this book at the circulation desk and I'm trying to write this as fast as I can. If I shoot this review over the goal or you think it is ragabash, that's why. (Ah... I see on my Goodreads shelf that I usually use novel-in-verse. Long day.)
February 28, 2016
This book is a lyrical masterpiece! It will make any book lover swoon with its allusions to other novels & pop culture! This book filled my nerdy book club loving heart! This book will appeal to so many readers for so many different reasons - a must read of 2016! It tackles tough issues while offering up some laugh out loud moments! It's an "unputdownable" read! Preorder your copies - now! You will not be disappointed!
April 7, 2018
This book was definitely good and I would recommend it to my friends. I thought that the conflicts in this book were interesting and it made it really hard to put the book down. Overall this book was really good.
May 28, 2016
A review to come soon, but I have to say that the librarian in this book is a rock star.
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February 24, 2021It's a delight to listen to Kwame recite his poetry so passionately! YA literature is not my thing, especially when it deals with teenage angst, but when it comes to Kwame's Crossover series, I enjoy the very thing I dislike. I don't think I'll enjoy it half as much as I do if I actually read it, but the audiobook is so entertaining!!
March 7, 2016
Wow, Kwame, you did it again! Booked was un-be-liev-a-ble!
Nick Hall LOVES soccer! His world revolves around it. He and best friend, Coby, play travel soccer, FIFA online, and watch the pros play on ESPN. Unfortunately, the opposite can be said for reading. Nick despises it! He is forced to read books in English like The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, and doesn't want any part of it. Plus, he is forced to read a dictionary of weird words which was written by his father, a linguistic professor. Then, there's Mr. MacDonald, AKA The Mac, a former Grammy-winning rap producer turned school librarian whose goal is to get a book into Nick's hands.
Booked has middle school drama, girl crushes, parent issues, bullies, and a lot of great references to modern culture. Beautifully written in typical Kwame-style, this book will have you laughing, crying, and wishing for the best for all the characters. I cannot wait for Booked to be released so everyone can read this!
Nick Hall LOVES soccer! His world revolves around it. He and best friend, Coby, play travel soccer, FIFA online, and watch the pros play on ESPN. Unfortunately, the opposite can be said for reading. Nick despises it! He is forced to read books in English like The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, and doesn't want any part of it. Plus, he is forced to read a dictionary of weird words which was written by his father, a linguistic professor. Then, there's Mr. MacDonald, AKA The Mac, a former Grammy-winning rap producer turned school librarian whose goal is to get a book into Nick's hands.
Booked has middle school drama, girl crushes, parent issues, bullies, and a lot of great references to modern culture. Beautifully written in typical Kwame-style, this book will have you laughing, crying, and wishing for the best for all the characters. I cannot wait for Booked to be released so everyone can read this!
March 20, 2016
This book was wonderful. It's not a sports book, like I originally dreaded, but a narrative told in verse in such a clever a beautiful way that I'm still thinking about it several hours after finishing. Nick is a boy in middle school who plays soccer, and likes a girl, and gets bullied, and deals with parents who are ruining his life (divorce is actually the worst when you're a teenager in my personal opinion/experience). I haven't read The Crossover, but I surely will now. I want to make everyone I know read this and introduce kids to poetry in this way and use words like: callipygous, seven, and wordbound in my everyday life. Using malapropisms is going to be my new hobby. I need someone else I know to read this if only so that we can talk about what's in the box at the end. Would recommend to anyone who hasn't read poetry in a while and wants to remember why they shouldn't go so long without it. It's on shelves April 5! Dismember to get a copy! (That was a malapropism! I think!)
November 15, 2015
A really relatable story that hits on a lot of issues - family problems, first crushes, friendly? competition, bullying - without overwhelming the reader. I can see some of the influence Alexander's own father had on him in Nick's father who insists that he develop his vocabulary and read (even though Nick doesn't think he likes to read). I want all the literary t-shirts and hoodies that the librarian Mr. Mac has in the book. ;) Some of these poems here are just brilliant and I can't wait to share this one with kids.
December 28, 2016
I loved all the different poetry styles that were used. Plus, there's a cool librarian!
January 31, 2016
To be released in April of 2016, "Booked" by Kwame Alexander delivers on all levels. Starting with the cover, which will draw potential readers in with its simplicity and the promise of soccer and action, the book is spot on.
Once that potential reader cracks the cover, he or she will be reeled in by language that positively dances on the page, and find much more than soccer! Alexander employs a variety of poetic forms to tell the story of twelve year old Nick Hall and his family. Because of the sparsity of words (lots of white space on each page), the book moves quickly (I read it in one sitting) and will be unthreatening for reluctant readers. The fact that the protagonist is a reluctant reader himself, much to his professor, "verbomaniac" father's chagrin, is also a plus here. "Booked" teaches us about the power of words and of reading (Nick's dad says, "I give you the dictionary so you'll know the world better, son. So you'll BE better." ). Through Nick, the reader will also explore issues of divorce, loss, friendship, bullying, standing up, regret, family, education, and more. The "lessons" here are positive and uplifting - despite the challenges that Nick faces. I loved the fact that the story includes characters of color. I loved the fact that boys cry in the story. I loved the positive, present, supportive adult characters. I love the fact that teachers are made human.
Though the protagonist is identified as a twelve year old middle schooler, he could just as easily have been a high school student. And the book will definitely appeal to high schoolers! Buy lots of copies!
TEACHERS: "Booked" is a testament to your power! It is an ode to words and great literature! It would be an excellent addition to the classroom to teach vocabulary, poetic forms, malapropisms, epistolary literature, etc.
Once that potential reader cracks the cover, he or she will be reeled in by language that positively dances on the page, and find much more than soccer! Alexander employs a variety of poetic forms to tell the story of twelve year old Nick Hall and his family. Because of the sparsity of words (lots of white space on each page), the book moves quickly (I read it in one sitting) and will be unthreatening for reluctant readers. The fact that the protagonist is a reluctant reader himself, much to his professor, "verbomaniac" father's chagrin, is also a plus here. "Booked" teaches us about the power of words and of reading (Nick's dad says, "I give you the dictionary so you'll know the world better, son. So you'll BE better." ). Through Nick, the reader will also explore issues of divorce, loss, friendship, bullying, standing up, regret, family, education, and more. The "lessons" here are positive and uplifting - despite the challenges that Nick faces. I loved the fact that the story includes characters of color. I loved the fact that boys cry in the story. I loved the positive, present, supportive adult characters. I love the fact that teachers are made human.
Though the protagonist is identified as a twelve year old middle schooler, he could just as easily have been a high school student. And the book will definitely appeal to high schoolers! Buy lots of copies!
TEACHERS: "Booked" is a testament to your power! It is an ode to words and great literature! It would be an excellent addition to the classroom to teach vocabulary, poetic forms, malapropisms, epistolary literature, etc.
October 4, 2018
Read for my fall 2o18 YA class, and maybe the "youngest" book we have read. Alexander's Crossover I liked better. Both are verse novels, with a focus on boys, this one Nick at 12, a soccer player with sometimes estranged parents, a best friend who plays on the opposing team, and a girl he likes. He gets appendicitis. He's bullied. He's mentored by Mac.
Nick's mom works with horses, but his Dad is a linguist who has written a dictionary, which Nick is reading. He hates English but with the influence of Dad he becomes a wordsmith and expert in malapropism, and with the influence of the girl and Mac and Dad he becomes more of a reader.
Nick prefers books with "lots of space on the page" which is to say few words, which just happens to be what this book is like, huh! Few words on each page, arranged in a column, sometimes in rhyme. As you can see, Alexander in Crossed and Booked is trying to reach reluctant readers such as Nick who like sports and hate to read, and I am guessing he might pull this off with this strategy.
I dunno, I thought it was all right, not that memorable in terms of anything that goes on, but there is a certain energy Alexander brings to the character I think 6th graders will like. I will pass it on to some tweens to see what they think.
Nick's mom works with horses, but his Dad is a linguist who has written a dictionary, which Nick is reading. He hates English but with the influence of Dad he becomes a wordsmith and expert in malapropism, and with the influence of the girl and Mac and Dad he becomes more of a reader.
Nick prefers books with "lots of space on the page" which is to say few words, which just happens to be what this book is like, huh! Few words on each page, arranged in a column, sometimes in rhyme. As you can see, Alexander in Crossed and Booked is trying to reach reluctant readers such as Nick who like sports and hate to read, and I am guessing he might pull this off with this strategy.
I dunno, I thought it was all right, not that memorable in terms of anything that goes on, but there is a certain energy Alexander brings to the character I think 6th graders will like. I will pass it on to some tweens to see what they think.
January 31, 2016
Another great mix of family, friends, budding romance, sports, and the honoring of learning. I love the message to young readers to not be afraid to show your intelligence.
My niggling complaint? Too much of the soccer action is off-stage. Perhaps I'll just have to write a rap book talk in the style of the book's librarian, The Mac! Even so, I've ordered multiple copies for my middle school libraries and will still have a waiting list. Alexander scores another goal, this time with his foot instead of with a flick of the wrist.
My niggling complaint? Too much of the soccer action is off-stage. Perhaps I'll just have to write a rap book talk in the style of the book's librarian, The Mac! Even so, I've ordered multiple copies for my middle school libraries and will still have a waiting list. Alexander scores another goal, this time with his foot instead of with a flick of the wrist.
May 10, 2016
My students, my son, my husband and pretty much every person I know is going to love this.
With a blend of unique verse styles, Alexander paints a picture of the complexity of teenage life. What he does so well is communicate the confusing reality that often the world we think is paramount as teenagers is actually minute compared to what really matters.
This story is perfect for every teenager and speaks of love and forgiveness and adapting to the unexpected challenges of life.
With a blend of unique verse styles, Alexander paints a picture of the complexity of teenage life. What he does so well is communicate the confusing reality that often the world we think is paramount as teenagers is actually minute compared to what really matters.
This story is perfect for every teenager and speaks of love and forgiveness and adapting to the unexpected challenges of life.
August 26, 2017
I love this novel-in-verse. The rhythm and flow makes readers want to turn page after page.
I love the hip school librarian. He wears all the funny reading shirts like "Put your FACE in a BOOK."
I love the relatability for students. Characters struggle with bullying and relationship issues.
I love the humor. There were text messages and jokes that made me laugh out loud.
A must read! Especially for those who like soccer.
I love the hip school librarian. He wears all the funny reading shirts like "Put your FACE in a BOOK."
I love the relatability for students. Characters struggle with bullying and relationship issues.
I love the humor. There were text messages and jokes that made me laugh out loud.
A must read! Especially for those who like soccer.
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