"The Crossover" by Kwame Alexander

This award-winning verse novel has a grounding in Basketball and Hip Hop.  And it says something that despite the fact that I am not into either Basketball or Hip Hop, I enjoyed it.  Did take me a while to get into it, given the number of references early on that I did not get.  But there is power in this family story -- it is, in the end, a story about family -- which has a universal appeal.  Two twin brothers, Jordan and Josh, are seventh grade b-ball phenoms who fall for their first girl.  As in, they fall for the ~~same~~ girl.  And they fall for her while in the playoffs.  As imagined, this doesn't go well.  Far beyond the sibling rivalry, however, is the story of a father and son, of growing up, and of love despite the odds.  Like most verse novels, there is a tendency to skim the pages.  Don't.  The rhythms and subtleties of the tale could be missed.  Also, take time to "look" at the pages, as some of the work borders on concrete poetry.  It is a story which pulled me in unexpectedly -- sweet and funny and real until an ending comes which I both expected and hoped against hope wouldn't happen.  I was grabbing at the tissues with both hands.  Don't let the basketball/male themes throw you off.  This is truly a book for everyone.

"El Deafo" by Cece Bell

FINALLY got a copy of this uber-popular graphic novel that nearly every student in APS seems to have read this year.  The semi-autobiographical story is that of Cece as a child, when an early illness left her with hearing loss.  The resultant hearing aides (think 1970s) was so big and bulky that it made her feel very self-conscious and isolated.  But that isn't really the point of the tale.  It's a story about growing up and making friends (or not).  Ms. Bell's chapters show a realistic slice of life that all can relate to.  There is the friend who seems nice, but isn't, the friend who bosses you around, the friend who looks down on you -- and putting up with it all because having a friend is better than being lonely, which can feel like a big bubble separating you from the world.  Somehow, the graphic novel format is perfect for this, with Cece's character marching around in a bubble, looking lost.  Interestingly enough, it's more engaging than it is depressing or sad.  The bright colors and slick pages are enticing and help brighten the mood and put the narrative in perspective.  With the characters portrayed as rabbits (kinda, sorta), there is additional universal appeal because the book, while good for mid-ranges (grades 4 to 8) is not clearly defined as a "girl book" or "boy book."  We get it -- growing up isn't nearly as fun as adults think, and the day to day struggles make you want to fantasize about having the power to really make a change in your life -- which you can't.  Brava to Ms. Bell for sharing her struggles with us, including a brutal honesty that even her main character messes up (a lot).  A very worthy and appealing read on multiple levels.  This one deserves the fame.

"The Book With No Pictures" by B.J. Novak

For a book with only words (NO pictures!) this read-aloud left me somewhat wordless.  It is hysterically funny.  One can hear the ridiculousness coming off of every page.  At a recent book event, one parent mentioned that her son (older than one might think for this book) has read it over and over and over.  Very easy to see why.  I was tempted to myself.  Others mentioned hearing their kids laughing out loud while sitting and reading it (yes, I did too).  Don't want to go on and on here -- saying too much would ruin it, but you simply have to check this one out and/or read it aloud to a child.  No matter what your skill level, this will be the best read-aloud you've ever done.  And I dare you not to laugh.