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May Read - Red, White, and Whole
By Kristen · 25 posts · 191 views
By Kristen · 25 posts · 191 views
last updated Aug 17, 2021 10:46AM
What Members Thought
Very well written. Fantastic story about family. Great book for reluctant readers. Very deserving of the 2015 Newbery!
Other reviewers have articulated their feelings about this book much better than I can articulate mine. I enjoy novels in verse but am not so big on books featuring sports. That said, this is SO much more than a sports book. It's simply extraordinary for so many reasons and I am thrilled it won the Newbery!
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I really liked this story about two twin brothers who are pursuing different paths for the first time in their lives. One remains whole-heartedly committed to basketball while the other has discovered girls and a special girl in particular. I love when the author describes a basketball game w such fun rhythmic language I can perfectly imagine the flow of the game. The conflicts between the brothers, and between their parents, ring true. They learn that they need each other when tragedy strikes.
Feb 07, 2015
Sheather
rated it
it was amazing
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review of another edition
Shelves:
newbery-winners,
2015
Kwame Alexander has created a masterpiece with this book. Written in prose, this story takes you on an emotional ride as 12-year-old Josh hopes for a championship season, copes with his twin brother abandoning him for a girl, and worries with his mother about his father's health.
Don't be put off because this is poetry! This is book for everyone, not just poetry fans or basketball fans. Get this book into the hands of every middle grader that you can! ...more
Don't be put off because this is poetry! This is book for everyone, not just poetry fans or basketball fans. Get this book into the hands of every middle grader that you can! ...more
Book in verse about the basketball and athletic lives of twin brothers and their former pro father. As the boys enter middle school their lives start to change as one has his first girlfriend and their dad's health concerns become more worrisome. Being part of a team is like having a large extended family when tragedy strikes close to home.
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Opened the book thinking, "Oh, I hope it lives up to the hype but my expectations are unfortunately high." And then the book exceeded those expectations.
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May 29, 2015
Grace
marked it as to-read
