Description

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…

Twelve-year-old Nick is a football-mad boy who absolutely hates books. In this follow-up to the Newbery-winning novel The Crossover, football, family, love, and friendship take centre stage as Nick tries to figure out how to navigate his parents’ break-up, stand up to bullies, and impress the girl of his dreams. These challenges – which seem even harder than scoring a tie-breaking, game-winning goal – change his life, as well as his best friend’s. This energetic novel-in-verse by the poet Kwame Alexander captures all the thrills and setbacks, the action and emotion of a World Cup match.

Publisher Review

"An obvious love of words, and the way they flow together and create their own rhythm, makes Alexander's work somewhat irresistible. . . To pick up Booked is to find yourself turning page after page, swept along as Nick spills out his story." * New York Times * "A satisfying, winning read" * Kirkus, starred review * "Eminently readable . . . readers will surely love Alexander's joyous word play and celebration of reading" * Booklist, starred review * "Alexander scores again. Emotionally resonant and with a pace like a player on a breakaway." * Publishers Weekly, starred review * "Warm and believable . . . Alexander understands reluctant readers deeply, and here hands them a protagonist who is a smart, reading-averse kid" * Horn Book, starred review *