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Swing (Special)
Swing (Special) | Kwame Alexander, Mary Rand Hess
Things usually do not go as planned for seventeen-year-old Noah. He and his best friend Walt (aka Swing) have been cut from the high school baseball team for the third year in a row, and it looks like Noah's love interest since fifth grade, Sam, will never take it past the "best friend" zone. Noah would love to retire his bat and accept the status quo, but Walt has got big plans for them both, which include making the best baseball comeback ever, getting the girl, and finally finding cool.To go from lovelorn to ladies' men, Walt introduces Noah to a relationship guru--his Dairy Queen-employed cousin, Floyd--and the always informative Woohoo Woman Podcast. Noah is reluctant, but decides fate may be intervening when he discovers more than just his mom's birthday gift at the Thrift Shop. Inside the vintage Keepall is a gold mine of love letters from the 1950s. Walt is sure these letters and the podcasts are just what Noah needs to communicate his true feelings to Sam. To Noah, the letters are more: an initiation to the curious rhythms of love and jazz, as well as a way for him and Walt to embrace their own kind of cool. While Walt is hitting balls out of the park and catching the eye of the baseball coach, Noah composes anonymous love letters to Sam in an attempt to write his way into her heart. But as things are looking up, way up, for Noah and Walt, the letters set off a chain of events that change everything Noah knows to be true about love, friendship, sacrifice, and fate. In Swing, bestselling authors Kwame Alexander and Mary Rand Hess (Solo) present a free-verse poetic story that will speak to anyone who's struggled to find their voice, and take a swing at life.
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S3V3N
Swing (Blink) | Kwame Alexander
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Pickpick

Pretty good YA written in verse. The storyline was good. It was realistic and not full of fluff or happy endings.

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Singout
Swing | Kwame Alexander, Mary Rand Hess
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My July #bookspin:
1. Girl, Woman, Other
2. The Lion‘s Gaze
3. Lost Children Archive
4. Nature of the Beast
5. Five Little Indians
6. Talk about Race
7. The Salt Path
8. Warlight
9. Chop Suey Nation
10. Bush Runner
11. Where All the Light Tends to Go
12. Well-read Black Girl
13. Death and Life of Great Cities
14. The Innocents
15. How to Pronounce Knife
16. Unsettling Canada
17. The New Jim Crow
18. Hood Feminism
19. Seven
20. Caste

TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!!! 3y
9 likes1 comment
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fredamans
Swing | Kwame Alexander, Mary Rand Hess
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Pickpick
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chlolovesbooks
Swing | Kwame Alexander, Mary Rand Hess
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Pickpick

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5/5

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LeafingThroughLife
Swing | Kwame Alexander, Mary Rand Hess
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It‘s a nice day (if cold...) so switched to audio for a while to get a walk in. I knew these neglected audio books would come in handy eventually. 😀 #StayHome24in48 #24in48

alisiakae I enjoyed this audiobook! 4y
Sweettartlaura @4thhouseontheleft I really liked this one, too 👍🏻 4y
LeafingThroughLife @4thhouseontheleft @Sweettartlaura I‘m liking it so far. Definitely made me smile and laugh a little on my walk, and any smiles and laughs are welcome these days! 🙂 4y
29 likes1 stack add3 comments
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GatlinPozzi
Swing | Kwame Alexander, Mary Rand Hess
Pickpick

Wo. This book was another amazing book written by Kwame Alexander, another novel in verse with an amazing meaning behind it, again, I would recommend it to anyone who likes a captivating read and a novel in verse

MrsBabki I love a novel in verse! I swear I would have read more as a teenager if I had access to that style of writing! 4y
5 likes1 comment
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Meghan1
Swing | Kwame Alexander, Mary Rand Hess
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Mehso-so

Not sure I liked this. There were several storylines running in parallel that didn‘t seem to make sense. What should have been the main storyline got hit right in the last ten pages (and it was HEAVY) and left me feeling lost. The rest of the book was rather saccharine, and all of a sudden, BAM, police brutality!

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Logan_barrantes
Swing | Kwame Alexander, Mary Rand Hess
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Pickpick

Swings about a boy named Noah, who‘s life is a whirlwind of experiences and heartbreak. His best friend, Walt, falls in love just to lead him down a strange path, which ends even worse for both of them. Noah finally gets the girl of his dreams but she dumps him although they like each other, they just have nothing in common. This book is sort of fast paced and the setting is in a school, a suburb, and baseball field. The book makes you read more.

MissYaremcio Thank you for the review Logan! This post was needing the genre and the reccomdation but overall great work! 4y
1 like2 comments
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MsLeah8417
Swing | Kwame Alexander, Mary Rand Hess
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September 2019 Reading Wrap-Up

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MsLeah8417
Swing (Blink) | Kwame Alexander
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Pickpick

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
#kwamealexander
#swing
#read
90/75

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LoverofLit
Swing | Kwame Alexander, Mary Rand Hess
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Pickpick

This book was beautiful to listen to. Part lyrics and poetry, part narration, this book was a perspective you don't see often; that of two black teenage boys who love baseball, jazz, and are trying to figure out the secrets of girls before prom. Highly recommend
#Booked2019
@Cinfhen @BarbaraTheBibliophage @4thhouseontheleft
Genrebusting

alisiakae I listened to this over the summer! 5y
Cinfhen I‘ve heard it‘s really good 5y
36 likes2 comments
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UnabridgedPod
Swing | Kwame Alexander, Mary Rand Hess
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Pickpick

I'm so glad that I listened to Kwame Alexander read his novel (with Mary Rand Hess), Swing. It's the first time I've experienced his verse via audio, and his reading brought this book to vivid life the story of seventeen-year-old Noah and his best friends Walt and Sam. Walt, who wants to be known as Swing, desires to be a baseball star, loves jazz, and is "famous" for knowing the way that famous people died. (continued in comments)

UnabridgedPod Noah has loved Sam forever, but she's in a relationship with Cruz, a baseball star at their high school. Walt urges Noah to tell Sam about how he feels, but Noah can't gather the courage. Alexander starts there and then moves through these characters' lives with an eye for the small details that bring them and their friendships to life. Strong, moving novel--this would be a great read (or listen!) for high school students. 5y
16 likes1 stack add1 comment
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Sweettartlaura
Swing | Kwame Alexander, Mary Rand Hess
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Pickpick

4.5 ⭐️ - loved it 🙌🏻

I listened to this via the #audiobooksync program. I was beginning to think I just can‘t enjoy YA - most of the choices so far have been meh 🤷🏻‍♀️ to me.

But THIS knocked it outta the park ⚾️!
I hope & pray there are kids like Walt, Noah, & Sam in every town today - kids who still believe in love, kindness, respect, hard work, & friendship & family.
And I hope we‘re building them a better ending than these kids get 😔

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BookNightOwl
Swing | Kwame Alexander, Mary Rand Hess
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Pickpick

Swing is a story about friendship, first crushes and trying to live a normal life in our world today. This story is very easy to read because it is written in verse form and beautifully so. I enjoyed the story and was full of hope and even sadness.
4⭐⭐⭐⭐

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alisiakae
Swing | Kwame Alexander, Mary Rand Hess
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Pickpick

Kwame Alexander is fast becoming a must-read author for me, and the audiobook was fantastic. Especially in regards to the ending, I think it is best heard through Kwame‘s narration. The friendship between Noah and Walt really made this story shine.

Finished this on my morning walk today!
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️⭐️

#bfcr2 #audiobook

Clwojick I enjoyed this one, but not as much as 5y
alisiakae @Clwojick I haven‘t read Solo, but I loved Crossover, a little more than this one. I saw a lot of reviewers on GR didn‘t like the ending, but I think Kwame wrote it that way on purpose, to demonstrate how senseless, heartbreaking events like that can happen unexpectedly and out of nowhere. (edited) 5y
alisiakae Also using this one for #booked2019 #genrebusting. I consider Kwame‘s contemporary fiction middle grade novels told in verse definitely qualify for this prompt! @Cinfhen @BarbaraTheBibliophage 5y
See All 6 Comments
Cinfhen 👍🏻 5y
BarbaraTheBibliophage Nice choice and review! 📘 🎉 ❤ 5y
83 likes6 comments
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alisiakae
Swing | Kwame Alexander, Mary Rand Hess
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Listening to Swing as I eat breakfast this morning! One of my #bfcr2 goals is 30 servings of fruits and veggies each week. It‘s our last day in the AirBnb, so fresh food is in low supply this morning. Threw in some dried apple crisps to get a serving of fruit in. 😃 #teamfitlit #booksandbreakfast

It‘s hard to tell from the audio version this a a story in verse.

Clwojick Yummmmm. 🤗 5y
96 likes1 comment
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alisiakae
Swing | Kwame Alexander, Mary Rand Hess
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It‘s definitely a big fitness day! Listened to Swing on a 4 mile walk in Frick Park, my favorite of Pittsburgh‘s parks. It‘a so lovely to be back in the city where I met hubby. 💕#nostalgia #audiowalk

We‘re currently at the Carnegie Science Center and SportsWorks, where we‘re having a ton of fun climbing the walls and other activities!😂 #BFC #bookfitnesschallenge

Bookwormjillk Love Frick Park! I spent a summer at Pitt and walked there every chance I got 5y
alisiakae @Bookwormjillk What brought you to Pitt? My husband and I are both alumni. 😃 5y
Bookwormjillk @4thhouseontheleft I did my college lab work there. Lived in tower c. I loved my summer there. 5y
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alisiakae @Bookwormjillk I lived in the Towers freshman year. I don‘t miss that. 😂😂 5y
BookwormAHN Sounds like a great day 💖 5y
Hoopiefoot Thanks for sharing your trip with us! I love Pittsburgh 🖤💛 5y
ValerieAndBooks We visited Pittsburgh on one of son‘s college tours and I‘d love to go back and see more of the city! 5y
90 likes7 comments
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Jacki_Reads
Swing | Kwame Alexander, Mary Rand Hess
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Pickpick

My second book by these wonderful authors; however, I feel like this one ended too abruptly. I grew incredibly attached to these characters and found myself needing more at the end. Incredibly well written and I LOVE how art and music was included in this text; but I wanted more.

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Pandalibrarian
Swing (Special) | Kwame Alexander, Mary Rand Hess
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Pickpick

I finished listening to this today - thanks to #audiobooksync program. At first, I wasn‘t sure about the author as narrator but it grew on me and he did a great job. I enjoyed getting to know Walt and Noah and the rest of the characters. The ending took my breath away. The way that poetry, jazz, and art were woven into the story was beautifully done.

Clwojick You need to listen to 5y
Clwojick The main character is a musician, and they weave poetry and music into the audiobook, and it‘s absolutely stunning ❤️ 5y
Pandalibrarian Thank you for the suggestion! Will add it to my tbr! And Swing had some music in it, too. Added a nice atmosphere to the book. (edited) 5y
23 likes1 stack add3 comments
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Clwojick
Swing (Special) | Kwame Alexander, Mary Rand Hess
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Decided to listen to this free audiobook today (thanks to Audiobook Sync). This one doesn‘t count for #MayMadness #BookToMovie, but I wanted to finish it before I downloaded week 2s free audiobook on Audiobook Sync. So far I‘m enjoying it ⚾️

alisiakae I downloaded this as well! Saving it for one of our day trips this summer, my daughter likes Kwame Alexander's books too. 5y
Clwojick @4thhouseontheleft his audiobooks are fantastic! 5y
66 likes1 stack add2 comments
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Ashley_Nicoletto
Swing | Kwame Alexander, Mary Rand Hess
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Pickpick

This ending took me by surprise this morning. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

50 likes1 stack add
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Honeybeegirl
Swing (Special) | Kwame Alexander, Mary Rand Hess
Pickpick

I normally don‘t do audio books, but I listened to this one and fell in love. At first I wasn‘t thrilled because baseball isn‘t my thing, but things moved on and it was a solid story! Wild! I highly recommend this book!!!

RaimeyGallant Does he narrate? And welcome to Litsy! #LitsyWelcomeWagon Some of us put together Litsy tips to help new Littens navigate the site. It's the link in my bio on my page in case you need it. Or if you prefer how-to videos, @chelleo put some together at the link in her bio. @LitsyWelcomeWagon 5y
Honeybeegirl @RaimeyGallant yes he does narrate the audio book and it‘s great! His voice and tone really helps the story. 5y
RaimeyGallant Awesome! I saw him speak a few years ago. 5y
AnimalRiotPress 💛 Welcome to Litsy 🐇 5y
4 likes4 comments
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Bookwormjillk
Swing | Kwame Alexander, Mary Rand Hess
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Pickpick

Another 5 star book. Engaging and perfect for audio.

28 likes2 stack adds
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Peddler410
Swing | Kwame Alexander, Mary Rand Hess
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First two installments from AudioBook Sync!
Great summer long program for free YA audio books.
Be sure you have Overdrive.

https://www.audiobooksync.com/

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Bookwormjillk
Swing | Kwame Alexander, Mary Rand Hess
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Fell asleep reading earlier and messed up my timer for #24b4Monday but then turned things around with 3 hours of audio gardening. I like this book a lot so far.

HeathHof Audio Gardening!!😍😍😍 5y
29 likes1 comment
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mhillis
Swing | Kwame Alexander, Mary Rand Hess
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1. Current reads: American Spy, Sawkill Girls
2. Audiobook: Swing by Kwame Alexander (tagged)
3. Top of May TBR: The Spy with the Red Balloon 🎈

#weekendreads

rachelsbrittain I LOVED Sawkill Girls! Thanks for joining in 💜 5y
35 likes1 comment
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mrp27
Swing | Kwame Alexander, Mary Rand Hess
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Got my free download and I'm looking forward to a summer of free audiobooks. Thanks for the heads up @LibrarianRyan !

LibrarianRyan I love this program. 5y
39 likes1 comment
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LibrarianRyan
Swing | Kwame Alexander, Mary Rand Hess
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Woo hoo. Free audio books all summer long is back up and running. Look what book is hitting it out of the part for week one. Get your copy at

Audiobooksync.com

Two free audiobooks weekly all summer long.

Clwojick Thanks for sharing! I‘ve been wanting to listen to this one! 👏🏻 5y
rretzler Thanks for sharing this! My son had mild dyslexia and prefers audiobooks, so this is fantastic! 😁👏🏻👍🏻 5y
69 likes1 stack add2 comments
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megnews
Swing | Kwame Alexander, Mary Rand Hess
This post contains spoilers
show me
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Pickpick

I was not expecting that ending at all. I don‘t think I can read another novel about a black kid being shot by cops right now.
I really cared about these characters.

4.5 ⭐️

Book 136/165 4/17/19

3 likes1 stack add
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kricheal
Swing | Kwame Alexander, Mary Rand Hess
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Pickpick

This was stunning. Favorite YA so far this year. #27 #2019

74 likes2 stack adds
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kricheal
Swing | Kwame Alexander, Mary Rand Hess
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Starting this next on #overdrive #currentlylistening

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Traci1
Swing | Kwame Alexander, Mary Rand Hess
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The full list of audiobooks that will be available through the program: https://www.audiobooksync.com/2019-sync-titles/?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=20...

sprainedbrain Some very interesting looking ones this year! 5y
71 likes1 stack add1 comment
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Sharpeipup
Swing (Special) | Kwame Alexander, Mary Rand Hess
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“Do you think Amazon is the apocalypse?”
“Nah.”
#quotes #audiobook

Soubhiville 🤣😂 5y
27 likes1 stack add1 comment
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gradcat
Swing | Kwame Alexander, Mary Rand Hess
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@AmberWB
I just received your gift for my birthday today (Sometimes I forget to check my email—hope it hadn‘t been in there for too damn long, lol!), and I had to thank you immediately here. I‘m very happy to read something that you plan to read as well—we can compare notes! I really love that you people are so thoughtful here on Litsy; I don‘t think I ever could‘ve dreamed of having such sweet people to check in with about books! Thanks again!

AmberWB Enjoy!! 5y
gradcat @AmberWB Thanks again...you‘re wonderful!! 😊😊😊 5y
74 likes2 comments
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Chasingmermaids
Swing (Special) | Kwame Alexander, Mary Rand Hess
Pickpick

Soft and beautiful until the end where it leaves you an emotional wreck. You knew it was going to happen. But you‘re still blinded by it.

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Eggs
Swing | Kwame Alexander, Mary Rand Hess
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Walt Disney Jones ("Swing") and his best pal Noah navigate their junior HS year with love, art, poetry, and jazz. In the midst of it, Swing's brother returns from Afghanistan, a ghost of the young man he once was

SarahBradley Good, but idk...not my favorite of his 🤷‍♀️ 5y
Eggs @SarahBradley What's your favorite Kwame? 5y
SarahBradley Crossover! Then Solo! 5y
81 likes2 stack adds3 comments
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RealLifeReading
Swing | Kwame Alexander, Mary Rand Hess
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Pickpick

I LOVED this book. I can‘t wait until my boys are older and I can put this in their hands. I love that there was art and music (jazz specifically), a boy in love with one of his best friends and inspires by some old love letters he finds.

gradcat Maybe you would like “White Tears”...see my post. I loved it, although music is more blues than jazz 🎼🎷🎸 5y
Balibee146 Your snack looks delish 5y
RealLifeReading @gradcat thanks for the recommendation! 5y
113 likes3 stack adds4 comments
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RealLifeReading
Swing | Kwame Alexander, Mary Rand Hess
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Almond cookies from Marks and Spencer‘s Singapore and some coffee and this amazing book by Kwame Alexander - the first book of his I‘ve read and I can‘t wait to read more .

Graciouswarriorprincess Read Solo next ! It‘s about RockNRoll music. 5y
RealLifeReading @Graciouswarriorprincess the ebook had the first few chapters from Solo! I‘m going to have to borrow it! 5y
Graciouswarriorprincess @RealLifeReading Fabulous! I think you will enjoy reading it! 5y
115 likes3 comments
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Graciouswarriorprincess
Swing (Special) | Kwame Alexander, Mary Rand Hess
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I met the fabulous Kwame Alexander and Randy Preston tonight. #blessedlife #swingbook #swinglaunchteam #art #poetry

Tamra Wooooot! 👏🏾 5y
CouronneDhiver I‘m always so impressed by how many authors you meet! 👍🏽 5y
Eggs I envy you ❣️ 5y
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Graciouswarriorprincess @Tamra 😀 @Eggs @CouronneDhiver Thanks. I am just always following on social media and my independent book stores are amazing!! 5y
tpixie Awesomeness!!! 5y
tpixie @Graciouswarriorprincess I just bought Ghost for Sydney to read and for her student library in her classroom! 5y
69 likes8 comments
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Graciouswarriorprincess
Swing (Special) | Kwame Alexander, Mary Rand Hess
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Getting ready to see Kwame Alexander for the #swinglaunch book tour. #huglife #swinglaunchteam #art #poetry

57 likes1 stack add
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WanderingBookaneer
Swing | Kwame Alexander, Mary Rand Hess
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Kwame Alexander was at Books-a-Million today. There were about 50 people in attendance. It was an intimate and unforgettable experience. He travels with Randy Preston whose voice and guitar gave the event a mellow feel. It has been my favorite author visit ever.

3 of my low performing students showed up. I bought each of them the book.

tjwill I ❤️ Kwame! 5y
Booksnchill Thanks for sharing! 5y
Eggs Love Kwame ❣️ 5y
See All 8 Comments
Readingismyescape He came to our school. He is a very engaging speaker. The kids love him. 5y
Graciouswarriorprincess I loved his new book and I will be seeing him next Thursday. 5y
Peddler410 I saw him in April (on my birthday) for the release of Rebound .... fantastic experience at a small independent bookstore 😊 5y
SkeletonKey Saw him speak recently at a YA festival, definitely a great experience 🖤 5y
Libby1 What a great teacher you are. Thanks for doing what you do. It makes a difference. ❤️ 5y
101 likes1 stack add8 comments
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WanderingBookaneer
Swing | Kwame Alexander, Mary Rand Hess
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Pickpick

Kwame Alexander is going to do a reading at my local Books-a-Million. I found out yesterday when I bought the book. I devoured it.

It reminds me of Horrorstor. They are both funny and light with some tension around the edges. They both go from 0 to 💯 with the turning of a page. However, I might need some time to get over this one. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

85 likes5 stack adds
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WanderingBookaneer
Swing | Kwame Alexander, Mary Rand Hess
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Daisey
Swing | Kwame Alexander, Mary Rand Hess
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Pickpick

I‘m not quite sure how to review this book. I really enjoy the rhythm and style of each of Kwame Alexander‘s books. The figurative language and allusions are fantastic. Through most of this one, however, it was just too much a story of a lovesick teenage boy for me, even with the fun facts and artistic angle. The ending, though, it packs a punch.

#NetGalley #YA

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Daisey
Swing | Kwame Alexander, Mary Rand Hess
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My 7th graders just read “Casey at the Bat” last week, so I think I‘m going to have to share this page with them. #TeachersofLitsy

*My copy is from #NetGalley and on my Kindle app, meaning I‘m not sure if this is the final format of this passage.

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tjwill
Swing | Kwame Alexander, Mary Rand Hess
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Release day for #Swingbook! I love Kwame and novels in verse, and this one packs a punch!

Daisey I have this from NetGalley and still haven‘t made time to read it! Must get to it soon! 5y
54 likes2 comments