Mr. Alexander

has done it again with Swing.  And I think that this one deserves a Newbery or a Printz.  As always, incredible story full of heart and truth and one that needs to be read, by everyone.  Are there "adult" books that are written so well?  This is also co-written with the poet Mary Rand Hess, like Solo.  Very funny and touching and heart-breaking.  It will appeal to well, everyone.  Baseball fans, poetry fans, people who grieve, people who fall in love.  People of every age. 

Walter Dean

Solo by Kwame Alexander solidified a suspicion I had about Alexander. Alexander is the new Walter Dean Myers, the new Sherman Alexie, the new Gary Paulsen.  He is the new amazing.  And while it might seem cool to put him up there with those big names, I want to make sure that it is clear that I don't mean it in a "good job, dude, you are getting there, you made the big time!" kinda way, because Alexander probably always was this good.  And when I say good I mean masterful.  So I mean no, "good going kid" by that at all.  I simply think he is one of the best.