Booked

New York Times Bestseller · National Book Award Longlist · 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 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 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!