The Crossover Reading Comprehension Questions
by Kwame Alexander
Part of the The Crossover series · Book 1 of 3
Book Summary
The Crossover tells the story of twin brothers, Josh and Jordan Bell, who are basketball stars on and off the court. Written in verse, the book explores their strong bond, their love for basketball, their relationship with their former professional basketball player father, and how their lives change when a new girl comes between them and their father's health takes a turn for the worse. It's a story about family, growing up, jealousy, forgiveness, and dealing with loss.
Reading Comprehension Questions
Use these 14 questions to check understanding and spark deeper thinking about The Crossover.
1.What are the names of the twin brothers who love to play basketball?
2.What was Josh's special nickname on the basketball court?
3.What happened to Josh because he threw the basketball at JB?
4.What does the word 'jealous' mean when Josh feels it about JB and Alexis?
5.In the story, what does 'suspension' mean for Josh?
6.What does it mean for the brothers to 'reconcile' after their big fight?
7.Why do you think Josh felt left out when JB started spending time with Alexis?
8.What can you infer about Chuck Bell's health before he collapsed?
9.How did the family crisis with their dad's health help Josh and JB?
10.What is an important lesson Josh learns about anger in the story?
11.What is a main theme about family that the Bell brothers learn by the end of the story?
12.How can you tell that Josh changed from the beginning of the story to the end?
13.What would you do if you saw your best friend feeling left out like Josh did?
14.How do you think playing basketball helped Josh and JB cope with their dad's death?
Key Vocabulary
Important words from The Crossover to discuss with your child.
Discussion Prompts
Great conversation starters for parents and teachers reading The Crossover with children.
What was your favorite part of The Crossover? Why did it stand out to you?
If you could talk to any character from The Crossover, who would you choose and what would you ask them?
How did The Crossover make you feel? Can you describe a moment that surprised you?
Would you recommend The Crossover to a friend? What would you tell them about it?
What lesson or message do you think Kwame Alexander wanted young readers to learn from this story?
More in the The Crossover Series
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Frequently Asked Questions
What reading level is The Crossover?
The Crossover by Kwame Alexander is recommended for grades 1-3 readers with an AR level of AR 4.5. It's an excellent choice for building reading comprehension skills at this level.
What are good comprehension questions for The Crossover?
ReadBuddy provides 14 carefully crafted comprehension questions for The Crossover, covering literal comprehension, vocabulary, and inference skills. These questions help students engage deeply with the story.
How can I use The Crossover for reading practice?
Read the book together or independently, then use ReadBuddy's comprehension questions to check understanding. Focus on vocabulary words, discuss character motivations, and encourage your child to make connections to their own experiences.
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