Before he was a household name, Cassius Clay was a kid with struggles like any other. James Patterson & Kwame Alexander join forces to vividly depict his life up to age 17 in both prose & verse, including his childhood friendships, struggles in school, the racism he faced, and his discovery of boxing. Learn about Cassius’ family & neighbors in Louisville, Kentucky, and how Cassius began training as an amateur boxer at age 12. Before long, he won his first Golden Gloves bout and began his transformation into the unrivaled Muhammad Ali, one of the greatest sports heroes of all time.