The Crossover by Kwame Alexander

The Newbery Medal (2015) on the front cover of this hardbound book caught my eye in the "Little Library" box down the street. When I first opened it, I was a little put off because it's written in verse. I wondered how a plot or characters could effectively unfold in free form poetry. I shouldn't have worried, though, because the characters really DO come alive, and the plot is excellent!

Twin boy basketball players tell their story and it's surprisingly moving to read. It's also a very quick page-turner because there's so much white space on each page. Despite that, though, the characters are real, and the writing is very clever and descriptive. I liked it enough that I'm giving it to Melissa and Gabe to share...they will love the basketball lingo and plays as well as the family drama that unfolds. I think the author did a particularly great job describing what happens to a young teen who discovers girls for the first time. Very enjoyable read!

The Color of Water: A Black Man's Tribute to His White Mother by James McBride

My long-time friend Jack Sweeder has been writing his memoirs and poetry steadily since he retired. He is a big believer in the power of memoir-writing. I've enjoyed reading his stories of growing up Catholic in Philadelphia. We don't have as many phone conversations as we did when we were both involved in instructional technology, but when we do, we TALK. And recently we had a great conversation where he INSISTED that I read this book. "You will thank me!"

Well, I had a bit of a slow start. There was so much to deal with in this person's life that was so depressing, I had to force myself to stick with it. But it was so unique, so personal, and so different than any world I have known, that I persevered. And it wasn't long before this woman's amazing courage and grit won me over. It's a fascinating story, and yes, I thank you, Jack! The window into the world of urban struggle among the poor is written clearly and without sentimentality. The various racial issues of a white woman in a black world are enlightening to read about...I also loved the triumph of her faith in all situations. She gave it all for her kids...and they prospered.