The Crossover

“‘Cause when FILTHY gets hot

He has a SLAMMERIFIC SHOT

It’s

Dunkalicious CLASSY

Supersonic SASSY

and D

 O

 W

 N right

 in your face

mcNASTY.”

The playfulness of the word choice and the placement of words on the page support Josh’s confident tone and create stops and turns and differences in volume, much like a basketball game in action.

“1. ever since I watched

the clip of Dad

posterizing

that seven-foot Croatian center

on ESPN’s Best Dunks Ever;

soaring through the air – his

long twisted hair like wings

carrying him

high above

the rim – I knew

one day

I’d need

my own wings

to fly.”

The number one reason Josh wears dreadlocks is that he idealizes his father. He wants to be just like him, down to the wing-like locs. The pride Josh has about his hair runs deep, which is why it is devastating for him to lose his locs later in the story.

“JB’s the second

most phenomenal baller on our team.

He has the better jumper, but I’m the better

slasher. And much faster. We both

pass well. Especially to each other.

To get ready for the season, I went

to three summer camps. JB only went to

one. Said he didn’t want to miss Bible school.

What does he think, I’m stupid? Ever since

Kim Bazemore kissed him in Sunday school,

he’s been acting all religious,

thinking less and less about

basketball, and more and more about

GIRLS.”

Josh establishes his bond with his twin brother, JB, by showing what a great team they make. The differences he highlights widen into what they choose to do with their free time, which foreshadows the major split between these two brothers: girls.