46 pages 1 hour read

Mary Rand Hess, Kwame Alexander

Swing

Fiction | Novel/Book in Verse | YA | Published in 2018

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Before You Read

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Super Short Summary

In Swing by Kwame Alexander and Mary Rand Hess, high school juniors Noah and Walt "Swing" Jones navigate friendship, passions, and personal challenges. Walt chases his baseball dreams and spreads his love for jazz and "hug life" philosophy, while Noah secretly wrestles with his artistic talents and feelings for their friend Sam. This young adult novel, told in verse, creatively intertwines jazz and poetry. Themes of violence, death, police brutality, and systemic racism are included.

Reviews & Readership

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Review Roundup

Swing by Mary Rand Hess and Kwame Alexander is a compelling mix of prose and poetry that explores themes of friendship, love, and baseball. Many readers appreciate its heartfelt narrative and relatable teenage characters. However, some note that the blend of styles can be disorienting. Overall, it’s praised for its emotional depth and engaging storytelling.

Who should read this

Who Should Read Swing?

Readers who enjoy Swing by Mary Rand Hess and Kwame Alexander are typically teens or young adults who appreciate contemporary stories with themes of friendship, love, and personal growth. Fans of Jason Reynolds' Long Way Down or Angie Thomas' The Hate U Give will likely find this book compelling.

RecommendedReading Age

12+years

Book Details

Genre

Realistic Fiction

Romance

Topics

Sports

Music

Themes

Emotions/Behavior: Love

Life/Time: Coming of Age