Overview

In this electrifying follow-up to Kwame Alexander's Newbery winner The Crossover, soccer, family, love, and friendship take center stage. A New York Times bestseller and National Book Award Longlist nominee. 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 bends and breaks as it captures all the thrills and setbacks, action and emotion of a World Cup match. ""A novel about a soccer-obsessed tween boy written entirely in verse? In a word, yes. Kwame Alexander has the magic to pull off this unlikely feat, both as a poet and as a storyteller. "" --The Chicago Tribune Can't nobody stop you Can't nobody cop you... ILA-CBC Children's Choice List- ALA Notable Children's Book - Book Links' Lasting Connections - Kirkus Best Book - San Francisco Chronicle Best Book- Washington Post Best Book- BookPage Best Book

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9781328596307

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Reviews

2017 ILA-CBC Children's Choice List Book Links' Lasting Connections 2016 Kirkus Best of 2016 Nerdy Book Club Nerdies 2016 Poetry/Novels in Verse New York Times Bestseller San Francisco Chronicle Best of 2016 Washington Post Best of 2016 BookPage Best of 2016 A novel about a soccer-obsessed tween boy written entirely in verse? In a word, yes.Kwame Alexander has the magic to pull off this unlikely feat, both as a poet and as a storyteller. --The Chicago Tribune This lively, touching middle school soccer story is full of fun. --Common Sense Media * A satisfying, winning read. --Kirkus, starred review * Alexander skillfully juggles verse styles to realistically capture Nick's humor and smarts, passion for soccer, and vulnerability when being bullied, having surgery, or facing his parents' troubled marriage. Emotionally resonant and with a pace like a player on a breakaway... -- Publishers Weekly, starred review * Alexander understands reluctant readers deeply, and here hands them a protagonist who is himself a smart, reading-averse kid who just wants to enjoy the words that interest him on his own terms. With accessible poetic forms and engaging formatting, Booked 's pages will be turned swiftly and enthusiastically. -- Horn BookMagazine, starred review * Middle-school readers and their advocates will surely love Alexander's joyous word play and celebration of reading. -- Booklist, starred review Newbery-winning poet Alexander once again brings to life a novel in verse that equally captures the rapid-fire excitement of a soccer match and the palpable pain of a young boy whose family is falling apart. Another winning goal for Alexander and middle school readers alike. --School Library Journal This is a fantastic book with a never-ending supply of new words like onomatophobia and yobbery that will leave readers full of new words and ideas. This is an absolute must-have for any library serving tweens. -- VOYA A powerful story that will leave the reader breathless, right to the very end. -- BookPage Children's Top Pick--No Source

National Book Award longlist 2017 ILA-CBC Children's Choice List Book Links' Lasting Connections 2016 Kirkus Best of 2016 Nerdy Book Club Nerdies 2016 Poetry/Novels in Verse New York Times Bestseller San Francisco Chronicle Best of 2016 Washington Post Best of 2016 BookPage Best of 2016 A novel about a soccer-obsessed tween boy written entirely in verse? In a word, yes.Kwame Alexander has the magic to pull off this unlikely feat, both as a poet and as a storyteller. --The Chicago Tribune This lively, touching middle school soccer story is full of fun. --Common Sense Media * A satisfying, winning read. --Kirkus, STARRED review * Alexander skillfully juggles verse styles to realistically capture Nick's humor and smarts, passion for soccer, and vulnerability when being bullied, having surgery, or facing his parents' troubled marriage. Emotionally resonant and with a pace like a player on a breakaway... -- Publishers Weekly, STARRED review * Alexander understands reluctant readers deeply, and here hands them a protagonist who is himself a smart, reading-averse kid who just wants to enjoy the words that interest him on his own terms. With accessible poetic forms and engaging formatting, Booked 's pages will be turned swiftly and enthusiastically. -- Horn BookMagazine, STARRED review * Middle-school readers and their advocates will surely love Alexander's joyous word play and celebration of reading. -- Booklist, STARRED review Newbery-winning poet Alexander once again brings to life a novel in verse that equally captures the rapid-fire excitement of a soccer match and the palpable pain of a young boy whose family is falling apart. Another winning goal for Alexander and middle school readers alike. --School Library Journal This is a fantastic book with a never-ending supply of new words like onomatophobia and yobbery that will leave readers full of new words and ideas. This is an absolute must-have for any library serving tweens. -- VOYA A powerful story that will leave the reader breathless, right to the very end. --BookPage Children's Top Pick--No Source

2017 ILA-CBC Children's Choice List Book Links' Lasting Connections 2016 Kirkus Best of 2016 Nerdy Book Club Nerdies 2016 Poetry/Novels in Verse New York Times Bestseller San Francisco Chronicle Best of 2016 Washington Post Best of 2016 BookPage Best of 2016 A novel about a soccer-obsessed tween boy written entirely in verse? In a word, yes.Kwame Alexander has the magic to pull off this unlikely feat, both as a poet and as a storyteller. --The Chicago Tribune This lively, touching middle school soccer story is full of fun. --Common Sense Media * A satisfying, winning read. --Kirkus, starred review * Alexander skillfully juggles verse styles to realistically capture Nick's humor and smarts, passion for soccer, and vulnerability when being bullied, having surgery, or facing his parents' troubled marriage. Emotionally resonant and with a pace like a player on a breakaway... -- Publishers Weekly, starred review * Alexander understands reluctant readers deeply, and here hands them a protagonist who is himself a smart, reading-averse kid who just wants to enjoy the words that interest him on his own terms. With accessible poetic forms and engaging formatting, Booked 's pages will be turned swiftly and enthusiastically. -- Horn BookMagazine, starred review * Middle-school readers and their advocates will surely love Alexander's joyous word play and celebration of reading. -- Booklist, starred review Newbery-winning poet Alexander once again brings to life a novel in verse that equally captures the rapid-fire excitement of a soccer match and the palpable pain of a young boy whose family is falling apart. Another winning goal for Alexander and middle school readers alike. --School Library Journal This is a fantastic book with a never-ending supply of new words like onomatophobia and yobbery that will leave readers full of new words and ideas. This is an absolute must-have for any library serving tweens. -- VOYA A powerful story that will leave the reader breathless, right to the very end. -- BookPage Children's Top Pick

2017 ILA-CBC Children's Choice List Book Links' Lasting Connections 2016 Kirkus Best of 2016 Nerdy Book Club Nerdies 2016 Poetry/Novels in Verse New York Times Bestseller San Francisco Chronicle Best of 2016 Washington Post Best of 2016 BookPage Best of 2016 A novel about a soccer-obsessed tween boy written entirely in verse? In a word, yes.Kwame Alexander has the magic to pull off this unlikely feat, both as a poet and as a storyteller. --The Chicago Tribune This lively, touching middle school soccer story is full of fun. --Common Sense Media * A satisfying, winning read. --Kirkus, starred review * Alexander skillfully juggles verse styles to realistically capture Nick's humor and smarts, passion for soccer, and vulnerability when being bullied, having surgery, or facing his parents' troubled marriage. Emotionally resonant and with a pace like a player on a breakaway... -- Publishers Weekly, starred review * Alexander understands reluctant readers deeply, and here hands them a protagonist who is himself a smart, reading-averse kid who just wants to enjoy the words that interest him on his own terms. With accessible poetic forms and engaging formatting, Booked 's pages will be turned swiftly and enthusiastically. -- Horn BookMagazine, starred review * Middle-school readers and their advocates will surely love Alexander's joyous word play and celebration of reading. -- Booklist, starred review Newbery-winning poet Alexander once again brings to life a novel in verse that equally captures the rapid-fire excitement of a soccer match and the palpable pain of a young boy whose family is falling apart. Another winning goal for Alexander and middle school readers alike. --School Library Journal This is a fantastic book with a never-ending supply of new words like onomatophobia and yobbery that will leave readers full of new words and ideas. This is an absolute must-have for any library serving tweens. -- VOYA A powerful story that will leave the reader breathless, right to the very end. -- BookPage Children's Top Pick

Author Information

Kwame Alexander is a poet, educator, and the NYT bestselling author of 25 books, including the Newbery Medal-winning The Crossover, which also received the Coretta Scott King Author Award Honor, The NCTE Charlotte Huck Honor, and the Lee Bennett Hopkins Poetry Award, and the Paterson Poetry Prize. www.kwamealexander.com

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