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Kwame Alexander

クワメ・アレクサンダー

Kwame Alexander

Profile

Gender
Male
Born
1968-08-21 （Manhattan, New York, U.S.）
Nationality
United States
Languages
English
Residence History
Manhattan, New York, U.S. → Virginia, U.S. → Washington, D.C.

Career

Occupations
Children's book author, Poet
Active Years
1994-
Influenced By
Nikki Giovanni

Education

Virginia Tech
Country: United States
Started pre-med studies, later took a writing class with poet Nikki Giovanni which influenced his literary path.

Awards

Newbery Medal
2015
Work: The Crossover
Organization: Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC)
Result: Winner
Coretta Scott King Author Honor
2015
Work: The Crossover
Organization: American Library Association (Coretta Scott King Book Awards)
Result: Honor
Pat Conroy Legacy Award
2017
Organization: Southern Independent Booksellers Alliance (SIBA)
Result: Winner
Newbery Honor
2020
Work: The Undefeated
Organization: Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC)
Result: Honor
Coretta Scott King Book Award (Illustrator)
2020
Work: The Undefeated
Organization: American Library Association (Coretta Scott King Book Awards)
Result: Winner (award credited to illustrator Kadir Nelson; associated with作)
Rebecca Caudill Young Reader's Book Award
2017
Work: The Crossover
Organization: Rebecca Caudill Young Reader's Book Award committee
Result: Winner
Children's and Family Emmy Award for Outstanding Young Teen Series
2023
Work: Adaptation of The Crossover
Organization: National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences
Result: Winner
School Library Association Children's Choice Award
2024
Work: Unspoken (published in UK) / An American Story
Organization: School Library Association
Result: Winner

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

The Crossover

2014 Children's literature / Verse novel

A verse novel centered on basketball, family and coming-of-age; told in poetic, rhythmic verse about twin brothers and their relationships.

FamilyComing of ageSports (basketball)Identity
Adaptations
  • [Television series] The Crossover (TV adaptation) (2023)

Booked

2016 Children's literature / Poetry

A novel in verse following a young boy dealing with soccer, family, and the challenges of adolescence.

FriendshipComing of ageSports

The Undefeated

2019 Picture book / Poetry

A poetic picture book celebrating African American history, resilience, and pride, illustrated by Kadir Nelson.

HistoryResilience and prideCommunity

Rebound

2018 Young adult / Prequel in verse

A prequel to The Crossover, exploring the protagonist's early life and family background in verse.

Family historyComing of ageSports

The Door of No Return

2022 Historical verse novel / Young adult

A historical verse novel set in Ghana in 1861, told from the perspective of 11-year-old Koffi.

HistoryColonialism and tradeBoyhood and growth

Becoming Muhammad Ali

2020 Children's / Biographical poetry

A poetic reimagining of Muhammad Ali's life for young readers.

BiographyPerseveranceSocial justice

Bibliography

  • Tough Love: Cultural Criticism and Familial Observations on the Life and Death of Tupac Shakur (ed.)
  • Do the Write Thing (with Nina Foxx)
  • Kwame Alexander's Page-to-Stage Writing Workshop
  • He Said, She Said: A Novel
  • The Crossover
  • Booked
  • The Playbook: 52 Rules to Aim, Shoot, and Score in This Game Called Life
  • Solo
  • Rebound
  • Swing
  • The Undefeated
  • How to Read a Book
  • Acoustic Rooster and His Barnyard Band
  • An American Story (published in UK as Unspoken)
  • The Door of No Return
  • Why Fathers Cry at Night: A Memoir in Love Poems, Letters, Recipes, and Remembrances

Adaptations

  • The Crossover (TV series adaptation)

Style & Themes

Literary Style
Poetic, rhythmic verse (emphasis on rhyme and rhythm)Accessible, colloquial voice for young readersInfluence of spoken-word and performance poetry
Recurring Motifs
Family bondsSports (especially basketball)Self-formation and identityAfrican American history and pride

Legacy

Kwame Alexander is widely recognized for his poetic verse novels and children's poetry, inspiring young readers and promoting interest in poetry and reading. Through his Bookinaday workshops and media contributions he has contributed to literacy education and has received multiple major children's literature awards.

Archives

  • Preliminary Guide to the Kwame Alexander Papers, Special Collections Research Center, Gelman Library, The George Washington University

In Popular Culture

  • Adaptation of The Crossover won a Children's and Family Emmy Award

Trivia

  • Runs the Bookinaday program to introduce children to writing and publishing.
  • Won the 2015 Newbery Medal for The Crossover (award year 2015).
  • Received an honorary doctorate from American University in 2024.