{"title":"Kwame Alexander","description":null,"products":[{"product_id":"solo","title":"Solo","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003eSolo \u003c\/em\u003eby Kwame Alexander and Mary Rand Hess is a \u003cem\u003eNew York Times\u003c\/em\u003e bestseller! \u003cem\u003eKirkus Reviews\u003c\/em\u003e said \u003cem\u003eSolo\u003c\/em\u003e is, “A contemporary hero’s journey, brilliantly told.” Through the story of a young Black man searching for answers about his life, \u003cem\u003eSolo\u003c\/em\u003e empowers, engages, and encourages teenagers to move from heartache to healing, burden to blessings, depression to deliverance, and trials to triumphs\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eBlade never asked for a life of the rich and famous. In fact, he’d give anything not to be the son of Rutherford Morrison, a washed-up rock star and drug addict with delusions of a comeback. Or to no longer be part of a family known most for lost potential, failure, and tragedy, including the loss of his mother. The one true light is his girlfriend, Chapel, but her parents have forbidden their relationship, assuming Blade will become just like his father.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIn reality, the only thing Blade and Rutherford have in common is the music that lives inside them. And songwriting is all Blade has left after Rutherford, while drunk, crashes his high school graduation speech and effectively rips Chapel away forever. But when a long-held family secret comes to light, the music disappears. In its place is a letter, one that could bring Blade the freedom and love he’s been searching for, or leave him feeling even more adrift.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eSolo\u003c\/em\u003e:\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eIs written by \u003cem\u003eNew York Times\u003c\/em\u003e bestselling author and Newbery Medal and Coretta Scott King Book Award-winner Kwame Alexander\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eShowcases Kwame’s signature intricacy, intimacy, and poetic style, by exploring what it means to finally go home\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAn #OwnVoices novel that features a BIPOC protagonist on a search for his roots and identity\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eReceived great reviews from \u003cem\u003ePublishers Weekly\u003c\/em\u003e, \u003cem\u003eSchool Library Journal\u003c\/em\u003e, \u003cem\u003eBooklist\u003c\/em\u003e, and \u003cem\u003eKirkus.\u003c\/em\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIf you enjoy \u003cem\u003eSolo\u003c\/em\u003e, check out \u003cem\u003eSwing\u003c\/em\u003e by Kwame Alexander and Mary Rand Hess.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Kwame Alexander","offers":[{"title":"Paperback","offer_id":53143018242339,"sku":"9780310761884","price":12.79,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0930\/2258\/5123\/files\/9780310761884.jpg?v=1741125278"},{"product_id":"swing","title":"Swing","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIn this YA novel in verse from bestselling authors Kwame Alexander and Mary Rand Hess (\u003cem\u003eSolo\u003c\/em\u003e), which \u003cem\u003eKirkus \u003c\/em\u003ecalled “lively, moving, and heartfelt” in a starred review, Noah and Walt just want to leave their geek days behind and find “cool,” but in the process discover a lot about first loves, friendship, and embracing life . . . as well as why Black Lives Matter is so important for all.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eBest friends Noah and Walt are far from popular, but Walt is convinced junior year is their year, and he has a plan that includes wooing the girls of their dreams and becoming amazing athletes. Never mind he and Noah failed to make their baseball team yet again, and Noah’s crush since third grade, Sam, has him firmly in the friend zone. While Walt focuses on his program of jazz, podcasts, batting cages, and a “Hug Life” mentality, Noah feels stuck in status quo … until he stumbles on a stash of old love letters. Each one contains words Noah’s always wanted to say to Sam, and he begins secretly creating artwork using the lines that speak his heart. But when his art becomes public, Noah has a decision to make: continue his life in the dugout and possibly lose the girl forever, or take a swing and finally speak out.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAt the same time, American flags are being left around town. While some think it’s a harmless prank and others see it as a form of protest, Noah can’t shake the feeling something bigger is happening to his community. Especially after he witnesses events that hint divides and prejudices run deeper than he realized.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAs the personal and social tensions increase around them, Noah and Walt must decide what is really important when it comes to love, friendship, sacrifice, and fate.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eSwing\u003c\/em\u003e:\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eis written by \u003cem\u003eNew York Times\u003c\/em\u003e bestselling author and Newbery Medal and Coretta Scott King Award-winner Kwame Alexander\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFeatures a diverse array of characters and perspectives\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003etackles the biggest social issues of today, including racial prejudice and Black Lives Matter\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eis perfect reading for the classroom or community-wide discussions\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eis a 2020 YALSA Quick Pick for Reluctant Young Adult Readers\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003econtains original artwork tied to the story\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003cp\u003eIf you enjoy \u003cem\u003eSwing\u003c\/em\u003e, check out \u003cem\u003eSolo\u003c\/em\u003e by Kwame Alexander and Mary Rand Hess.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Kwame Alexander","offers":[{"title":"Paperback","offer_id":53162035675427,"sku":"9780310761945","price":12.79,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0930\/2258\/5123\/files\/9780310761945.jpg?v=1741186159"}],"url":"https:\/\/epicreads.com\/collections\/kwame-alexander.oembed","provider":"Epic Reads","version":"1.0","type":"link"}