Spoiler warning: this post explains the full ending of The Crossover. If you have not finished the book, stop here and come back later.
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Quick answer: Josh Bell, a twelve-year-old basketball star, leads his team to the championship while his father Chuck, a former pro player who refused to see a doctor about his heart, dies after a heart attack. In the final pages, Josh shoots free throws with his twin brother Jordan, carrying their father's lessons with them.
Quick facts
– Book: The Crossover by Kwame Alexander
– First published: 2014
– Type: A middle-grade novel in verse
– Tone of the ending: Heartbreaking and hopeful
Table of Contents
What Leads Up to the Ending
Josh and Jordan (JB) are twins and basketball stars, coached by their father. Jordan gets a girlfriend, and Josh feels left behind. In anger, Josh throws a ball at Jordan, breaking his nose, and is suspended from the team. Their father has health problems but refuses to see a doctor.
What Happens at the End of The Crossover
Chuck, who has high blood pressure and refuses to see a doctor because his own father died in a hospital, collapses while playing basketball with Josh. He recovers for a while but later has a heart attack. While their father is in the hospital, Josh plays in the championship game and the team wins. Soon after, Chuck dies. At the funeral and in the weeks that follow, the brothers forgive each other. In the last poems, Josh and Jordan stand at the free-throw line together, and Josh imagines his father telling him to make the shot.
The Ending in 4 Quick Points
- Chuck dies.
- Josh wins the championship.
- The brothers reconcile.
- Basketball connects them to their father.
What Happens to the Main Characters
| Character | What happens to them |
|---|---|
| Josh Bell | Wins the championship |
| Jordan Bell | Reconciles with Josh |
| Chuck Bell | Dies |
| Crystal Bell | Josh's mother |
What the Ending Means
The ending shows grief and family love.
Other Ways to Read the Ending
Readers love the poetry and rhythm, which move like a basketball game, and the book won the 2015 Newbery Medal. Many say it pulls in reluctant readers who love sports.
Themes the Ending Brings Together
Family. The Bells.
Grief. Losing Chuck.
Basketball. The game connects them.
Is the Ending Happy or Sad?
Most readers describe the ending of The Crossover as heartbreaking and hopeful. How you feel about it usually depends on what you hoped for the characters and what you expected Kwame Alexander to do with the story, so it is worth asking friends how they felt before you compare notes.
Who Will Like This Ending
Readers who enjoy endings that are heartbreaking and hopeful will find a lot to talk about here. If you prefer every thread tied up neatly, it helps to know in advance how Kwame Alexander closes the story, which is exactly why many readers look it up. Either way, the final chapters reward a second look once you know where everything is heading, because small details from the middle of the book start to matter. If you are reading with a group, agree beforehand whether everyone has finished, so nobody has the last chapters spoiled.
Book Versus Adaptation
The 2023 Disney+ series adapts the story with some changes.
Discussion Questions About the Ending
If you are reading The Crossover with a book club or a friend, these questions work well once everyone has finished:
- Did the ending surprise you, or had you seen it coming from the first chapters?
- What does the final scene say about family, and do you agree with Kwame Alexander's view?
- Which character made the most important choice in the last part of the book, and was it the right one?
- How would the story feel if it had ended one chapter earlier or one chapter later?
- Does the ending leave you hopeful about the characters, or do you worry about what comes next?
- Would you describe the ending as heartbreaking and hopeful, or would you choose a different word?
How to Read the Final Chapters Again
- Compare the opening with the close. Look at how the first chapter introduces family and how the ending answers it.
- Track each final choice. The table above shows where every main character ends up, so ask which of those outcomes was earned.
- Notice what Kwame Alexander leaves unsaid. Gaps in the last pages are often deliberate, and they are where most of the debate about the ending begins.
- Listen for echoes. Images, phrases or settings from earlier in The Crossover often return in the final scene with a new meaning.
Questions to Ask Yourself After Finishing
- Was the ending of The Crossover earned by what came before it, or did it feel sudden?
- Which character's final moment affected you most, and why?
- If you could change one thing about the last chapters, what would it be?
- Did the ending change how you think about the opening pages?
Check price of The Crossover on Amazon
Books to Read After The Crossover
Related: The Crossover by Kwame Alexander: Summary and Key Takeaways · 15 Books Like The Crossover You’ll Love
Frequently Asked Questions
What happens at the end of The Crossover?
Josh Bell, a twelve-year-old basketball star, leads his team to the championship while his father Chuck, a former pro player who refused to see a doctor about his heart, dies after a heart attack. In the final pages, Josh shoots free throws with his twin brother Jordan, carrying their father's lessons with them.
Is the ending of The Crossover happy or sad?
Most readers call it heartbreaking and hopeful.
What does the ending of The Crossover mean?
The ending shows grief and family love.
Is the ending of The Crossover the same in the adaptation?
The 2023 Disney+ series adapts the story with some changes.
Who wrote The Crossover and when was it published?
The Crossover was written by Kwame Alexander and first published in 2014.
Is The Crossover worth reading if I already know the ending?
Yes, especially if you enjoy middle-grade novel in verses. Knowing the ending can make a first read richer, because you notice how Kwame Alexander prepares for it from the opening chapters.
Should I read The Crossover before reading the ending explained?
Yes, if you plan to read it, because this post gives away the whole ending.