ALEXANDER
as I began the book tour and reading the book to them, I thought otherwise,” said Alexander, 49, of northern Virginia. “I didn’t know how I could write a sequel, but then I thought, ‘Maybe I could write about a time in my life — a great time — the 1980s.’
“That’s when I knew it had to be a prequel about 12-year-old Charlie (the twins’ father).”
“Rebound,” which was released last week, uses the same verse form as the first book but takes place in the era of “Now & Later candies, Michael Jackson and Members Only jackets.”
On the heels of the book’s release, Alexander, who is also a regular contributor to NPR’s “Morning Edition,” will speak in Columbus on Wednesday evening during an event moderated by Franklin County Commissioner Kevin Boyce. Alexander • Newbery Medal-winning author Kwame Alexander will speak during an event moderated by Franklin County Commissioner Kevin Boyce. The free event will take place at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday at the King Arts Complex, 867 Mount Vernon Ave. For more information, call 614-645-5464 or visit www.kingartscomplex.com.
Alexander spoke to The Dispatch ahead of the event:
Q: Have you always written poetry?
A: Since I was 12 years old when I wrote my mother a poem for Mother’s Day. It was horrible, but she loved it. In high school, I used poetry to get girls to look at me. In college, I studied poetry with (poet) Nikki Giovanni. My ideas, my place in the world — I describe best through poetry.
I met a girl who I didn’t think I had a chance with, but I wrote her a poem every day for a year. I married her. That’s when I saw how poetry could change a life.
Q: Why did you decide to write a young-adult book
— about sports, no less — using verse?
A: First of all, poetry is how I’ve always told stories ... secondly, basketball is poetry in motion. What better way to express the rhythm and energy of basketball than with language that has rhythm and energy?
Thirdly, the white space. (With the poetry form, lines are short and some pages have only a few words.) Kids aren’t intimidated by it. So many kids have told me they’ve never read a book from cover to cover until “Crossover.” The visual nature of (the poetry) excited kids and got them turning the page.
Q: What are children’s initial reaction to the book’s poetry form?
A: I never mention the word poetry. I immediately start reading them a poem. It has rhyming, energy and nine times out of 10 they are excited about it. I like to experience the light bulb going off. They’ll say, “Oh, I’ve got to read this,” or “That’s a poem?”
Q: Why was it important to tell Josh and Jordan’s story?
A: It’s important to tell the stories of how brown and black boys are normal. They live life, love, dance and play like everybody else. I’m not a big fan of calling people ‘others’ or that they’re marginalized. It sounds cliche, but we are all human beings that deserve to be loved and respected.
Q: Why is poetry your chosen medium to write everything from love letters, young-adult novels and even politically charged pieces such as “Take a Knee,” which you did for ESPN last year?
A: Like Langston Hughes said, poetry is like the human soul. Poetry allows heavy, emotional things to be digested since there are so few words and there are metaphors. You can read it, wait, if you think about it, then you can take it or leave it. I’ve given you a feeling. Q: Are you a basketball fan? A: I’m a huge fan of basketball. My favorite player is LeBron James. Kids always ask me what my favorite team is and I always tell them, “Any team LeBron is on.”