Rebound is the prequel to Kwame Alexander’s book Crossover, but Rebound can be read as a stand-alone book.

These portions and the graphic novel panels depicting Chuck’s daydreams help enhance his narrative voice and his dreams of success. Alexander uses different poetic techniques to emphasize sounds, emotions, and dialogue. However, the story flows well and has many fast-paced basketball scenes.

However, Percy is serious and kind when Chuck is struggling the most, but Percy never comes off as preachy.Īlexander’s writing style is unique, and it switches between poetry and graphic novel panels. His grandfather, Percy, uses humor and tough love to help Chuck come to terms with his father’s death. The book is told from Chuck’s perspective, but his grandparents are a large focus of the story. As Chuck learns about basketball and how his family members deal with loss, he begins to understand the world outside his emotions. Told in free-verse poetry and graphic novel panels, Rebound shows the turbulent healing process after tragedy strikes. This book is a good introduction into poetry for younger readers. The graphic novel panels help build excitement in the basketball/daydream sequences and give a different look into Chuck’s imagination. The poetry might be off-putting to some readers, but the flow is similar to reading prose fiction thanks to his free verse. The family helps Chuck come to terms with his emotional turbulence, and the end shows him as a happy adult who learned how to cope.Ĭhuck’s story pairs well with Alexander’s creative narrative styles. The narrative emphasizes this shared humanity rather than suppressing the trauma that the family has endured. This story presents the multifaceted nature of grief through Chuck and his family. Chuck realizes that his grandparents are suffering after their son’s death as well, and Chuck makes an emotional connection with them. However, Chuck’s attitude towards life adjusts as his grandparents and cousin, Roxie, teach him wisdom and basketball. With the help of his friends and relatives, Chuck also learns about his family’s past.Ĭhuck is an emotional 12-year-old who disobeys his mother and gets into trouble with his friend, Skinny. When his mom sends him to his grandparents’ house for the summer, Chuck finds healing through basketball. Ever since Chuck “Da Man” Bell’s father died, Chuck’s turbulent emotions are holding him back from his relationships.

The rebound book