Newbery Winner-2015
I admit-the only reason I checked this book out of the library to read was because it won the Newbery Award this year. I am so glad I did!
**Highly, highly recommend it.
Told in verse form, Josh shares with readers a few months of his life. He and his twin brother play basketball together-receiving lots of pointers from their famous basketball player father.
Then life changes for Josh-his dad's health is deteriorating, his brother has a girlfriend and he estranges himself from his twin brother. For the first time in his life, he feels alone and must choose how to play the game of life.
The family unit is a strong one-where the parents care, are involved and make sure their sons experience the necessary consequences.
Lots of basketball terms but even I understood most of it.
Interspersed are Mr. Bell's (the dad) basketball rules (which can be applied to life) and vocabulary words which Josh defines.
Strategies: inferring, figurative language (lots of it!), connections, cause/effect, main idea, check for understanding
So clever and unique! I loved the use of figurative language and variety of poetry.
Points to discuss: heart disease/ heart attacks, death, Josh catches his brother Jordan kissing his girlfriend Alexis
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