'Booked' asks tweens to consider the idea that being smart could be cool
What makes a good book for boys? Perhaps an obvious answer might be, 鈥淎 sports story.鈥� Although if Kwame Alexander鈥檚 writing is any indication, books for boys work best when sports act as a vehicle for universal messages about the challenges of growing up.
In his Newbery medal-winning book, 鈥淭he Crossover,鈥� Alexander uses poetry to tell the story of twin brothers Josh and JB 鈥� reigning basketball champs at their middle school. But like any masterful piece of writing, the story on the surface of 鈥淭he Crossover鈥� 鈥� the basketball story 鈥� really functions as a metaphor for narrator Josh鈥檚 journey through a rocky period with his brother, and with their father鈥檚 failing health.
Alexander takes a similar approach in his newest title, Booked, although in this verse-driven narrative, the sport is soccer. And main character Nick isn鈥檛 dealing with a parent with health issues, but with the health of his parents鈥� relationship. In other words, if 鈥淭he Crossover鈥� was about loss, then 鈥淏ooked鈥� is about change.
Twelve-year-old Nick鈥檚 life revolves around soccer. It鈥檚 his passion. His identity. True to a middle school mentality, it鈥檚 also the way Nick thinks he can impress the girls. But there鈥檚 more to Nick than soccer, and Alexander handles this revelation deftly, showing us a character who鈥檚 ready to accept, and grow into, the parts of himself that previously made him uncomfortable. The idea that it鈥檚 OK to be smart emerges organically in this story, and as Nick鈥檚 comfort level with his own intelligence increases, the reader gets the message, too.
This isn鈥檛 to say that 鈥淏ooked鈥� is didactic. Although of Alexander鈥檚 two books, it鈥檚 definitely the more message-driven. Besides nudging his readers to consider the possibility that being smart is cool, Alexander also hammers themes about literacy and poetry: Namely, that all books, even books written in verse, are 鈥渂ooks for boys.鈥�
When we meet him at the beginning of the story, Nick is a reluctant reader 鈥� partly because he鈥檚 squirming under his father鈥檚 hard-driving academic influence, and partly because he has better things (like soccer) to do. However, with the help of a book-wielding fairy godfather, and the attentions of a cute girl, Nick is drawn into the world of stories, specifically stories in verse. If readers of 鈥淏ooked鈥� wonder what to tackle next, Alexander slips an entire reading list into the pages of this book. Parents and librarians take note!
What Alexander does so well is to drop these messages, like breadcrumbs, along the way, while keeping the focus of the story on the emotional issues that any reader in this demographic can relate to. Nick鈥檚 journey isn鈥檛 just one of self-acceptance. He also deals with bullies, the break-up of his parents鈥� marriage, and the emotional ups and downs of friendships and relationships.
All of this is accomplished with Alexander鈥檚 trademark humor and energy. When Nick鈥檚 concerned parents take him to see a shrink, the related poem earns the title, 鈥淒octor Fraud,鈥� while the poems describing Nick鈥檚 prowess on the soccer pitch practically hum with intensity. For readers who appreciate emotional depth, the poetry exploring Nick鈥檚 relationship with his mom offers poignancy 鈥� and a variation in the book鈥檚 rhythm.
All of which is to say that while 鈥淏ooked鈥� will definitely appeal to boys, its themes are universal. Because in Alexander鈥檚 capable hands, what makes a good book for boys, actually makes a good book for any reader who needs the reassurance that in spite of the challenges, he 鈥� or she 鈥� can still win at the game of growing up.
Jenny Sawyer is co-founder of the educational website聽聽and writes frequently about children's literature.
