“Dribble, fake, shoot, miss, dribble, fake, shoot, miss, dribble, fake, shoot, miss, dribble, fake, shoot, swish,” writes Newbery Award-winning poet and author, Kwame Alexander. “Eventually, you’re gonna make it. You just gotta keep shooting,” he continues.

The Brooklyn and Virginia raised writer has published over a dozen works, several of which connect to his love for sports.

Published in 2014, his novel "The Crossover," follows middle-school aged twin basketball players, Josh and Jordan. The novel is entirely written in verse from Josh’s perspective. The novel tackles subjects every pre-teen faces, from relationships with his parents to preparation for his future basketball career. Alexander uses poetry to effectively illustrate Josh’s realizations and lessons he learns as time goes on. “I tried to keep in mind what it’s like to be a middle-school student dealing with all the woes and wonders of the tween and teen years — love, loss, friendship, family, school, homework,” he adds in an interview with the Washington Post.

Following its release in March of 2014, "The Crossover" won the 2015 Newbery Award.

Another work of Alexander’s titled "Booked" follows the life of another young athlete. “Nick Hall lives and breathes soccer. But when he’s sidelined by an injury, his word-loving father takes the opportunity to try to instill a love of reading into his reluctant son.” Like "The Crossover," "Booked" is written in verse and discusses the importance of family, friendship, and “the true power words can have on the off the page.”

Alexander’s newest novel, "Rebound," released April 2 2018, documents the life of Chuck “Da Man” Bell, the twins’-Josh and Jordan’s father in "The Crossover." As an ode to his reader’s, Alexander felt it was necessary to build up Chuck’s character to explain his relationships with his sons and basketball. The book begins with a flashback to Chuck’s first time at basketball camp, where the foundation for his love for the sport began.

“I wanted to write a book that I would’ve wanted to read when I was in middle school. One way to hook me at that age … is through sports. And sports are a great metaphor for our lives,” said Alexander to ESPN's The Undefeated.

As a strong believer in poetry’s ability to change the world, Alexander “uses it to inspire and empower young people around the world. Sports, for Alexander, is one way to gain their attention.”

All of Alexander’s books are available on Amazon, IndieBound, and Barnes and Noble in several versions, including in ebook and audiobook forms.