The Third Quarter in Kwame Alexander's acclaimed novel-in-verse, The Crossover, begins on page 135.
Understanding The Crossover's Unique Structure
The Crossover, a Newbery Medal-winning book by Kwame Alexander, is renowned not only for its compelling story of basketball, family, and growing up but also for its distinctive structural design. Written in verse, the novel mirrors the dynamic progression of a basketball game, dividing its narrative into "quarters" and even an "overtime" section. This innovative approach helps readers follow the chronological development of the characters and the plot, much like how periods in a game mark different phases of play.
The book's division into distinct sections, each starting on a specific page, provides a clear roadmap for readers navigating the story. These divisions are fundamental to the book's rhythm and narrative flow, enhancing the overall reading experience.
Key Sections and Their Starting Pages
To further illustrate the book's structure, here's a breakdown of how the different parts of The Crossover are organized by page number:
| Section | Starting Page |
|---|---|
| Warm-Up | 1 |
| Second Quarter | 87 |
| Third Quarter | 135 |
| Fourth Quarter | 197 |
| Overtime | 223 |
This structured layout allows the author to build tension and develop characters across various stages, leading to a powerful climax and resolution. The Third Quarter specifically marks a significant phase in the story, deepening the plot and character development before heading into the final stages of the narrative.
