Several of Kwame Alexander’s poems in this novel employ rhyme and rap. Invite Choose one of your favorites to practice and perform for the class

• “Filthy McNasty” (p. 10)

• “The Show” (pp. 30–31)

• “Ode to My Hair” (p. 33)

• “Man to Man” (p. 59)

• “The Last Shot” (pp. 221–222)

• “Conversation” (pp. 17–19)

• “The game is tied” (p. 36)

• “Mom doesn’t like us eating out” (pp. 41–42)

• “The inside of Mom and Dad’s bedroom closet”

(pp. 44–47)

• “Dad Takes Us to Krispy Kreme and Tells Us His

Favorite Story (Again)” (pp. 63–65)

• “Mom calls me into the kitchen” (pp. 96–98)

• “Phone Conversation (I Sub for JB)” (pp. 106–109)

• “Suspension” (pp. 138–141)

• “I run into Dad’s room” (pp. 165–167)

• “School’s Out” (pp. 188–189)

• “Santa Claus Stops By” (pp. 207–209)

• “Questions” (pp. 210–211)

The poet also incorporates ten poems about “rules” that offer connections between basketball and life throughout the novel. 

• “Basketball Rule #1” (p. 20)

• “Basketball Rule #2” (p. 51)

• “Basketball Rule #3” (p. 66)

• “Basketball Rule #4” (p. 71)

• “Basketball Rule #5” (p. 93)

• “Basketball Rule #6” (p. 129)

• “Basketball Rule #7” (p. 146)

• “Basketball Rule #8” (p. 191)

• “Basketball Rule #9” (p. 214)

• “Basketball Rule #10” (p. 230)

 The author also introduces crucial vocabulary terms through twelve key poems presented at critical intervals throughout the book.

• “cross-o-ver” (p. 29)

• “ca-lam-i-ty” (p. 38–39)

• “pa-tel-la ten-di-ni-tis” (pp. 48–49)

• “pul-chri-tu-di-nous” (p. 55)

• “hy-per-ten-sion” (p. 76)

• “i-ron-ic” (p. 104)

• “tip-ping point” (pp. 118–119)

• “chur-lish” (pp. 142–143)

• “pro-fuse-ly” (p. 154)

• “es-tranged” (p. 187)

• “my-o-car-di-al in-farc-tion” (p. 201–202) 

• “star-less” (p. 229)