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Swing (Blink) Hardcover – October 2, 2018

by Kwame Alexander (Author), Mary Rand Hess (Author)
4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 500 ratings
Teachers' pick
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In this YA novel in verse from bestselling authors Kwame Alexander and Mary Rand Hess (Solo), which Kirkus called “lively, moving, and heartfelt” in a starred review, Noah and Walt just want to leave their geek days behind and find “cool,” but in the process discover a lot about first loves, friendship, and embracing life . . . as well as why Black Lives Matter is so important for all.

Best friends Noah and Walt are far from popular, but Walt is convinced junior year is their year, and he has a plan that includes wooing the girls of their dreams and becoming amazing athletes. Never mind he and Noah failed to make their baseball team yet again, and Noah’s crush since third grade, Sam, has him firmly in the friend zone. While Walt focuses on his program of jazz, podcasts, batting cages, and a “Hug Life” mentality, Noah feels stuck in status quo … until he stumbles on a stash of old love letters. Each one contains words Noah’s always wanted to say to Sam, and he begins secretly creating artwork using the lines that speak his heart. But when his art 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, American flags are being left around town. While some think it’s a harmless prank and others see it as a form of protest, Noah can’t 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 important 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 Award-winner Kwame Alexander
  • Features a diverse array of characters and perspectives
  • tackles the biggest social issues of today, including racial prejudice and Black Lives Matter
  • is perfect reading for the classroom or community-wide discussions
  • is a 2020 YALSA Quick Pick for Reluctant Young Adult Readers
  • contains original artwork tied to the story

If you enjoy Swing, check out Solo by Kwame Alexander and Mary Rand Hess.

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Previous page
  1. Print length
    448 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Clarion Books
  4. Publication date
    October 2, 2018
  5. Grade level
    8 - 12
  6. Reading age
    13 years and up
  7. Dimensions
    5.88 x 1.5 x 8.63 inches
  8. ISBN-10
    0310761913
  9. ISBN-13
    978-0310761914
  10. Lexile measure
    HL610L
  11. See all details
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From the Publisher

a,lyrical,story,of,friendship,love,baseball,and,jazz,in,a,world,that's,not,always,so,beautiful,and,r
Swing, Solo

Bestselling authors Kwame Alexander and Mary Rand Hess (Solo) tell a lyrical story about hope, courage, and love that will speak to anyone who’s 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.

Kwame,alexander,swing, solo,

Kwame Alexander

Kwame Alexander is a poet, educator, and the New York Times bestselling author of 28 books, including Swing, Solo, and Rebound, the follow-up to his Newbery Medal-winning middle grade novel, The Crossover. The 2018 NEA Read Across America Ambassador, Kwame is also the host and producer of the literary variety/talk show, Bookish, which airs on Facebook Watch, and the Founding Editor of Versify, an imprint of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Books for Young Readers.

mary

Mary Rand Hess

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.

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1

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Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Gr 8 Up-Seventeen-year-old Noah Wallace is not having any luck. He got cut from the baseball team, again. His secret crush on Samantha Worthington is unrequited. She is dating an oafish baseball rival. Noah's best friend, charismatic Walt Disney "Swing" Jones, has plans for them to get back onto the team and become the kings of cool. Noah gets his inspiration to woo Sam from love letters written during the 1960s, which he finds at a thrift store. The love letters and Swing's vast love for jazz music motivate Noah to repurpose the letters and make them his own. Swing has issues with his future stepfather, meets and falls for slightly older thrift store employee Divya, and awaits the return of his older brother, Moses, from military action in Afghanistan. Noah and Swing's party, an American flag mystery, and Moses's return significantly alter their lives forever. Alexander and Hess strike gold with this fun, witty, and intellectual YA novel. It is a free verse poetic narrative fused with collage art and manga influences. Noah's dialogue differs from the italicized dialogue of the other characters. Readers will fall in love with scene-stealer Swing. Jazz music fans will enjoy this focus and its intersections with art, history, baseball, and literature. VERDICT This important and recommended contemporary YA will inspire young people to find their own voices and take a swing at life. A must-have.-Donald Peebles, Brooklyn Public Libraryα(c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Review

Despite the easy flow of verse, there is a density to this story with its multiple elements. Lively, moving, and heartfelt. — Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Clarion Books; First Edition (October 2, 2018)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 448 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0310761913
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0310761914
  • Reading age ‏ : ‎ 13 years and up
  • Lexile measure ‏ : ‎ HL610L
  • Grade level ‏ : ‎ 8 - 12
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.14 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.88 x 1.5 x 8.63 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 500 ratings

About the authors

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Previous page
  1. Kwame Alexander

    Kwame Alexander

    Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.
    Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

    Kwame Alexander is a poet, educator, publisher, and New York Times Bestselling author of 35 books, including BECOMING MUHAMMAD ALI (co-authored with James Patterson), SOLO, REBOUND, which was shortlisted for prestigious UK Carnegie Medal, The Caldecott Medal and Newbery Honor-winning picture book, THE UNDEFEATED, illustrated by Kadir Nelson, and, his NEWBERY medal-winning middle grade novel, THE CROSSOVER. A regular contributor to NPR's Morning Edition, Kwame is the recipient of numerous awards, including The Lee Bennett Hopkins Poetry Award, The Coretta Scott King Author Honor, Three NAACP Image Award Nominations, and the 2017 Inaugural Pat Conroy Legacy Award. In 2018, he opened the Barbara E. Alexander Memorial Library and Health Clinic in Ghana, as a part of LEAP for Ghana, an international literacy program he co-founded. Kwame is the Founding Editor of VERSIFY, an imprint of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt that aims to Change the World One Word at a Time.

    Kwame's most recent book is LIGHT FOR THE WORLD TO SEE: A THOUSAND WORDS ON RACE AND HOPE. Find out more info on Kwame and where he'll be at www.KwameAlexander.com.

    See more on the author's page
  2. Mary Rand Hess

    Mary Rand Hess

    Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.
    Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

    Mary Rand Hess is a poet, playwright, screenwriter, mixed-media artist, and New York Times bestselling author of notable and award-winning books such as Solo and Swing (HarperCollins), coauthored with Newbery Medalist Kwame Alexander, Animal Ark: Celebrating Our Wild World in Poetry and Pictures (National Geographic Children’s Books), also coauthored with Kwame Alexander and Deanna Nikaido, Little Larry Goes to School (National Geographic Children’s Books), written with renowned photographer Gerry Ellis, and The One and Only Wolfgang: From Pet Rescue to One Big Happy Family, coauthored with Steve Greig of @wolfgang2242 Instagram fame. Her picture books, Belong (HarperCollins) and Quiet is Strength (Rocky Pond Books) are forthcoming in 2024 and 2025. Mary lives in the Los Angeles area with her husband, two wildly creative sons, and one quirky dog (who sings while she plays the piano). In her spare time, she loves to wander in nature, compose on the piano, listen to music, read and collect books, mentor aspiring writers, create mixed media art, and spend time with family, friends, and her dog. She can't imagine a world without mountains and the sea, stories, poetry, and rock and roll. Visit her at www.maryrandhess.com or @maryrandhess on Instagram.

    See more on the author's page
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Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars
4.5 out of 5
500 global ratings
Beautiful and Gripping #HUGLIFE
5 Stars
Beautiful and Gripping #HUGLIFE
Kwame Alexander and Mary Rand Hess have done it again! He’s gotten into the mind of today’s teens and written a beautiful, real story, complete with friendship, love, struggle, and heartbreak. He’s hit on some of society’s darkest issues and given us light and comfort, too.Swing is superb. Swing is enchanting. Swing will leave you bewildered and ready for the good fight.#HUGLIFE
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Top reviews from the United States

Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars An amazing
Reviewed in the United States on December 12, 2022
Verified Purchase
I rated this book 5 stars because Kwama Alexander got his point across. By saying even if it does work out at least you try but mend those friendships because those can last forever but life will not. There are also so many levels to it because he respects how difficult people 's life’s can be but he doesn’t make fun of life. I like the love note. They have different textures like dictionary art or printed out pieces of paper. I also love the last poem. It is in 2 different columns but it doesn’t matter how you read them it all makes sense. The last thing I love about it is how it is a realistic fiction and it sadly could happen one day. but probably not.
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Reading Teacher Writes
5.0 out of 5 stars SWING will HIT you in your head, and your heart!
Reviewed in the United States on October 4, 2018
Verified Purchase
In another amazing collaboration from Kwame Alexander and Mary Rand Hess, we follow Noah and his best friend, Walt through the ups and downs of high school life. Noah and Walt are NOT on the school baseball team, but Walt hits the batting cages with fierce commitment and passion, channeling his love of jazz to help him find his SWING. Noah is a faithful friend and follower, while working on his own passions, especially his love for Sam, a beautiful BFF he’s known since “forever” ago. Sam has a boyfriend, though—none other than the buff baseball star of the team, Cruz.

When Noah finds a birthday gift for his mom at a local thrift store, he also finds his courage in the box — the words of old love letters that were left inside. Noah copies the words for his love, longing to live the life that Cruz now has. When Walt delivers one of the letters to Sam, however, the three friends’ relationships start to change.

Meanwhile, the neighborhood is dealing with bigger issues — there’s life and love, and then there’s allegiance and angst. Patriotic duty vs. empathetic obligation towards our fellow man. Kwame and Mary SWING the readers thinking around, fluctuating with hard-hitting emotion that leaves one breathless, wondering about our own lives in the midst of all that is good and evil. Our own little lives — up against the global society.

What I loved about Swing: I loved ALL the characters in Swing, right down to the grandma who is supposed to be keeping an eye on Noah while his parents are away, and Floyd, Walt’s “love doctor” cousin. Swing will remind adults of their high school days, and help current students find ways to deal with their feelings, all while helping us think about our place on this earth.

Why you should read Swing: You will laugh with, and long for, the characters. You’ll reminisce, and maybe even renew your friendships from high school. You’ll cry. You’ll think. You’ll want to be a better person after reading Swing.
6 people found this helpful
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V. Joy Palmer
4.0 out of 5 stars Swing will tug on the heartstrings!
Reviewed in the United States on November 14, 2018
Verified Purchase
I fell in love with the lyrical, poetic writing style of this dynamic duo, Kwame Alexander and Mary Rand Hess, in Solo...

And Swing did NOT disappoint! In fact, I think the authors raised their awesome bar to a whole new awesome level!

Swing follows the journey of best friends Walt and Noah from Noah's viewpoint. Their mission? Find their cool! Who among us hasn't tried to find their cool? I know I have! One of my favorite features was getting to see and study the artwork that Noah creates! Those details really pulled me into the story in a way that so few stories have. I also loved the jazz references. Whether you're a jazz novice or the Chairman of the Board to seventeen different jazz clubs, readers will find these references to be fun, inspiring, and profound! Walt and Noah's hilarious, awkward, and vulnerable moments will result in a ripple effect, encouraging all who read their journey to embrace a "hug life" philosophy!

The underlying message of Swing tackles some of the most painful social issues of the day. Race, prejudice, and division build until...until the reader closes the back cover with tears in their eyes. Swing took a painful subject and gave it a face and a name, hopes and dreams. And how can anyone not break when that is shattered? If only we could look at everyone like that...

Four Stars ~ Swing's powerfully poetic narrative will tug on heartstrings and hopefully inspire conversations. Swing is general-market fiction, but there are powerful faith/God messages mixed into the story. Swing is (to my knowledge) a standalone novel, but if Kwame Alexander and Mary Rand Hess write another book, I'll read it. Period.

Disclaimer ~ In accordance with FTC regulations, I was offered a eBook copy of this book from the author/publisher. I also purchased my own hardback copy from Amazon. I was not compensated, nor was a positive review required. All opinions expressed are my own.
2 people found this helpful
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Great Kid Books
5.0 out of 5 stars Finding your voice, expressing your feelings -- through poetry, art & baseball
Reviewed in the United States on December 13, 2018
Verified Purchase
Noah, Walt and Sam (Samantha) have been best friends since elementary school, but ever since they got to high school, Noah hasn't been able to figure out how to tell Sam that he really likes her. No matter how much Walt (aka Swing) encourages him to take a chance, Noah struggles to express his feelings for Sam. Inspired by love letters he finds in a thrift store, Noah finally starts to put his feelings onto paper using both art and poetry. While I related to Noah, I was utterly charmed by Swing's humor and optimism. Readers will want to talk when they reach the end--be there for them, as they find their voice about the larger issues impacting our society.
One person found this helpful
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Mrs. Horton
5.0 out of 5 stars Great author!
Reviewed in the United States on October 21, 2019
Verified Purchase
My 13yr old son enjoys reading. Kwame's books are some of his favorite. Reads in a weeks time easily. Currently owns 3 of his books so far. The only downside if I had to pick, the endings tend to be sad. Positive is, it exposes teenagers to different formats of reading, expands vocabulary and events could be of real life events; giving pause to teenagers who read.
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Kathryn B. Wilson (Deltona)
5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful and Gripping #HUGLIFE
Reviewed in the United States on October 7, 2018
Verified Purchase
Kwame Alexander and Mary Rand Hess have done it again! He’s gotten into the mind of today’s teens and written a beautiful, real story, complete with friendship, love, struggle, and heartbreak. He’s hit on some of society’s darkest issues and given us light and comfort, too.

Swing is superb. Swing is enchanting. Swing will leave you bewildered and ready for the good fight.

#HUGLIFE
Customer image
Kathryn B. Wilson (Deltona)
5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful and Gripping #HUGLIFE
Reviewed in the United States on October 7, 2018
Kwame Alexander and Mary Rand Hess have done it again! He’s gotten into the mind of today’s teens and written a beautiful, real story, complete with friendship, love, struggle, and heartbreak. He’s hit on some of society’s darkest issues and given us light and comfort, too.

Swing is superb. Swing is enchanting. Swing will leave you bewildered and ready for the good fight.

#HUGLIFE
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One person found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

Lizzie
5.0 out of 5 stars Useful!
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 10, 2021
Verified Purchase
A really useful teacher's guide. Separated into sensible sections meaning you can dip in and out as necessary. Thoroughly recommend
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Alana
4.0 out of 5 stars Really good, but
Reviewed in Canada on March 23, 2019
Verified Purchase
I love this author and often recommend his books to my students (grade 8). But you should know that this book is less about baseball and more about love and relationships. That doesn't make it bad--but if you get it for the sports aspect (many of his other books focus on sports), you might be disappointed. I really liked it--but I'm not a baseball player.
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