Book Descriptions
for Becoming Muhammad Ali by James Patterson, Kwame Alexander, and Dawud Anyabwile
From Cooperative Children's Book Center (CCBC)
Cassius Clay grew up in a segregated Louisville, with a close family that included a beloved grandfather and lots of friends. His best friend Lucky narrates the prose sections of this novel, while Cassius's sections are in verse. When the theft of his new red Schwinn Cruiser Deluxe bike led Cassius to Joe Martin's gym, it triggered his drive to become a boxer and provided the venue for his early development. This focus on Cassius's childhood and adolescent entry into the amateur boxing world is bookended by his 1958 performance in the Golden Gloves championship bout. Lucky's sections provide insight into his friend's character and context for the cultural and social stage of the time, while Cassius's free verse infuses personality and energy into this accessible account of the boxing superstar as a young person. (Ages 8-12)
CCBC Choices 2021. © Cooperative Children's Book Center, Univ. of Wisconsin - Madison, 2021. Used with permission.
From the Publisher
Two literary heavy-hitters deliver a knockout critically acclaimed, bestselling biographical novel of cultural icon Muhammad Ali.
★ "Utterly delightful...a smash hit."―School Library Journal (starred review) ★ "A knockout!"―Booklist (starred review) ★ "Stellar"―Kirkus Reviews (starred review) ★ "Two heavyweights in the world of books unite."―The Horn Book (starred review) ★ "Powerful."―Publishers Weekly (starred review)
Before he was a household name, Cassius Clay was a kid with struggles like any other. Kwame Alexander and James Patterson join forces to vividly depict his life up to age seventeen in both prose and verse, including his childhood friends, struggles in school, the racism he faced, and his discovery of boxing. Readers will learn about Cassius' family and neighbors in Louisville, Kentucky, and how, after a thief stole his bike, Cassius began training as an amateur boxer at age twelve. Before long, he won his first Golden Gloves bout and began his transformation into the unrivaled Muhammad Ali.
Fully authorized by and written in cooperation with the Muhammad Ali estate, and vividly brought to life by Dawud Anyabwile's dynamic artwork, Becoming Muhammad Ali captures the budding charisma and youthful personality of one of the greatest sports heroes of all time.
Winner of the 2021-2022 Sunshine State Young Readers Award (Grades 6-8) and 2022 Magnolia Book Award, and nominated for six state awards!
★ "Utterly delightful...a smash hit."―School Library Journal (starred review) ★ "A knockout!"―Booklist (starred review) ★ "Stellar"―Kirkus Reviews (starred review) ★ "Two heavyweights in the world of books unite."―The Horn Book (starred review) ★ "Powerful."―Publishers Weekly (starred review)
Before he was a household name, Cassius Clay was a kid with struggles like any other. Kwame Alexander and James Patterson join forces to vividly depict his life up to age seventeen in both prose and verse, including his childhood friends, struggles in school, the racism he faced, and his discovery of boxing. Readers will learn about Cassius' family and neighbors in Louisville, Kentucky, and how, after a thief stole his bike, Cassius began training as an amateur boxer at age twelve. Before long, he won his first Golden Gloves bout and began his transformation into the unrivaled Muhammad Ali.
Fully authorized by and written in cooperation with the Muhammad Ali estate, and vividly brought to life by Dawud Anyabwile's dynamic artwork, Becoming Muhammad Ali captures the budding charisma and youthful personality of one of the greatest sports heroes of all time.
Winner of the 2021-2022 Sunshine State Young Readers Award (Grades 6-8) and 2022 Magnolia Book Award, and nominated for six state awards!
Publisher description retrieved from Google Books.
