Kwame Alexander is a #1 New York Times bestselling author of 47 books, including Booked; The Brainstormerz; The Mighty Macy; Black Star, a Coretta Scott King Author Honor Book; J vs. K, an illustrated novel he penned with Jerry Craft; and The Crossover, his Newbery Medal-winning novel turned Emmy® Award-winning Disney+ TV series. He regularly shares his passion for literacy, books and the craft of writing around the world, including Ghana, West Africa, where he opened the Barbara E. Alexander Memorial Library and Health Clinic. A recipient of the 2025 NAACP Image Award, Kwame is the founder of the literacy non-profit One Word at a Time. You can visit him at KwameAlexander.com

Spring 2017 Kids' Indie Next List -- "Inspired Recommendations for Kids from Indie Booksellers"   "The volume reads like a series of locker- room pep talks by a coach with stories to tell and advice to give..." —Horn Book   “A stirring collection of 52 motivational poems-as-rules…” —Publishers Weekly    "The advice never feels heavy-handed, and the author's voice shines through... This will appeal to fans of Alexander's previous middle-grade novels as well as young sports fans." —Kirkus   “Alexander uses sports as a metaphor for life in this earnest gathering of personal reminiscences.” —Booklist —

Kwame Alexander is a #1 New York Times bestselling author of 47 books, including Booked; The Brainstormerz; The Mighty Macy; Black Star, a Coretta Scott King Author Honor Book; J vs. K, an illustrated novel he penned with Jerry Craft; and The Crossover, his Newbery Medal-winning novel turned Emmy® Award-winning Disney+ TV series. He regularly shares his passion for literacy, books and the craft of writing around the world, including Ghana, West Africa, where he opened the Barbara E. Alexander Memorial Library and Health Clinic. A recipient of the 2025 NAACP Image Award, Kwame is the founder of the literacy non-profit One Word at a Time. You can visit him at KwameAlexander.com

Spring 2017 Kids' Indie Next List -- "Inspired Recommendations for Kids from Indie Booksellers"   "The volume reads like a series of locker- room pep talks by a coach with stories to tell and advice to give..." —Horn Book   “A stirring collection of 52 motivational poems-as-rules…” —Publishers Weekly    "The advice never feels heavy-handed, and the author's voice shines through... This will appeal to fans of Alexander's previous middle-grade novels as well as young sports fans." —Kirkus   “Alexander uses sports as a metaphor for life in this earnest gathering of personal reminiscences.” —Booklist —

Kwame Alexander is a #1 New York Times bestselling author of 47 books, including Booked; The Brainstormerz; The Mighty Macy; Black Star, a Coretta Scott King Author Honor Book; J vs. K, an illustrated novel he penned with Jerry Craft; and The Crossover, his Newbery Medal-winning novel turned Emmy® Award-winning Disney+ TV series. He regularly shares his passion for literacy, books and the craft of writing around the world, including Ghana, West Africa, where he opened the Barbara E. Alexander Memorial Library and Health Clinic. A recipient of the 2025 NAACP Image Award, Kwame is the founder of the literacy non-profit One Word at a Time. You can visit him at KwameAlexander.com

Spring 2017 Kids' Indie Next List -- "Inspired Recommendations for Kids from Indie Booksellers"   "The volume reads like a series of locker- room pep talks by a coach with stories to tell and advice to give..." —Horn Book   “A stirring collection of 52 motivational poems-as-rules…” —Publishers Weekly    "The advice never feels heavy-handed, and the author's voice shines through... This will appeal to fans of Alexander's previous middle-grade novels as well as young sports fans." —Kirkus   “Alexander uses sports as a metaphor for life in this earnest gathering of personal reminiscences.” —Booklist —