Swing

(Paperback)

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New York Times bestselling authors Kwame Alexander and Mary Rand Hess (Solo) tell this lyrical story about hope, courage, and love that speaks to anyone whos struggled to find their voice. And the surprise ending shines a spotlight on the issues related to our current social divide, challenging perspectives and inspiring everyone to make their voice heard.

When America is not so beautiful, or right, or just, it can be hard to know what to do. Best friends Walt and Noah decide to use their voices to grow more good in the world, but first theyve got to find cool.

Walt is convinced junior year is their year, and he has a plan to help them woo the girls of their dreams and become amazing athletes. Never mind that he and Noah failed to make the high school baseball team yet again, and Noahs love interest since third grade, Sam, has him firmly in the friend zone. Noah soon finds himself navigating the worlds of jazz, batting cages, the strange advice of Walts Dairy Queen-employed cousin, as well as Walts Hug Life mentality. Status quo seems inevitable until Noah stumbles on a stash of old love letters. Each page contains the words hes always wanted to say to Sam, and he begins secretly creating artwork using the lines that speak his heart. But when his private artwork 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

At the same time, numerous American flags are being left around town. While some think its a harmless prank and others see it as a form of peaceful protest, Noah cant 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.

As the personal and social tensions increase around them, Noah and Walt must decide what is really true when it comes to love, friendship, sacrifice, and fate.

Swing:

• Is written by New York Times bestselling author and Newbery Medal and Coretta Scott King Honor Book Award-winner Kwame Alexander
• Is a young adult fiction novel told through Kwames one-of-a-kind free-verse poetry
• Is ripe with themes of hope, courage, and love
• Masterfully combines jazz, art, baseball, friendship, and love into what many are calling Kwames best book yet
• Tackles some of the most painful social issues of today, including racial prejudice

Reviews

'This important and recommended contemporary YA will inspire young people to find their own voices and take a swing at life. A must-have.' --School Library Journal, starred review * School Library Journal *
'Despite the easy flow of verse, there is a density to this story with its multiple elements. Lively, moving, and heartfelt.' --Kirkus, starred review * Kirkus, starred review *
'...this novel packs a punch into its shocking and extremely powerful ending straight from today's headlines.' --Booklist * Booklist *

Author Bio

Kwame Alexander is the New York Times Bestselling author of 32 books, including The Undefeated; How to Read a Book; Solo; Swing; Rebound, which was shortlisted for prestigious Carnegie Medal; and his Newbery medal-winning middle grade novel, The Crossover. He's also the founding editor of Versify, an imprint that aims to Change the World One Word at a Time. Visit him at KwameAlexander.com Mary Rand Hess is a poet, mixed-media artist, screenwriter, and New York Times bestselling author of Solo and Animal Ark: Celebrating Our Wild World in Poetry and Pictures, both coauthored with Kwame Alexander.