This is Kwame Alexander doing what he does best—making poetry feel like a basketball game, fast and rhythmic and impossible to put down. Rebound tackles the heavy stuff (grief, family secrets, growing up) without being a downer, and the 1988 setting gives it enough distance to feel like discovery rather than lecture.
The verse format is a gift for kids who find thick chapter books intimidating, but it's not dumbed down—there's real emotional intelligence here. Charlie's summer with his grandparents feels authentic, messy, and ultimately hopeful. If your kid loved The Crossover, this is a no-brainer. If they haven't read it, this still works beautifully on its own.
The grief theme is real but handled with care—it's about healing, not wallowing. Great for building empathy and showing boys that processing emotions through family, sports, and creativity is exactly the move.






