How are Josh and JB changing in the book Crossover by Kwame Alexander? Use events and details from the text to support your ideas. (2 points)

Answer 1

In the book Crossover by Kwame Alexander, both Josh and JB undergo significant changes throughout the story.

Firstly, Josh, who is the main character, starts off as a young basketball prodigy with a strong bond with his twin brother JB. However, as the story progresses, he begins to question his priorities and the pressure he feels from his father to focus solely on basketball. This internal conflict is evident when Josh receives his first crush's phone number but doesn't call her because he believes it could distract him from the game. This demonstrates a change in Josh's mindset, revealing his growing concerns about sacrificing other aspects of his life for basketball.

Furthermore, Josh experiences a significant change when his brother JB starts to drift away from him. Earlier in the book, the brothers were inseparable, sharing the court and supporting each other's dreams. However, JB becomes involved with a different friend group and starts ignoring Josh, focusing more on music than basketball. This rejection hurts Josh deeply and forces him to re-evaluate his own identity outside of his relationship with his brother.

Additionally, another transformation occurs when Josh's father, Chuck, suffers from a heart attack. This event shatters Josh's view of his father as invincible and emphasizes the importance of family and friends, rather than solely pursuing athletic success. Josh begins to value his father's advice and guidance more, eventually learning to find a balance between his love for basketball and his love for his family.

To summarize, Josh and JB undergo various changes throughout the book Crossover by Kwame Alexander. Josh questions his priorities and the pressure he feels from his father, JB starts to drift away from his brother, and the heart attack of their father leads Josh to re-evaluate his perspective on life. These events and details from the text highlight the growth and transformation of the characters.