Before he was The Greatest, before he was heavyweight champion, before he was Muhammad Ali, he was a skinny kid from St. Louis with a dream. Cassius has always known he would be the best at something. As a kid, he spent time playing around with friends and learning card tricks and history (including the history of his own name) from his grandfather, but he always knew something was wrong.
There are always parts of town where he and his friends were not allowed because they were Black, and there are always people who tried to make him feel small for the same reason. He struggles with reading and writing in school, but he can remember everything he ever heard and captivate a crowd with his public speaking prowess.
One night he stumbles across a boxing gym, and his life changes forever. He begins his training and is completely dedicated. Cassius Clay wants to be the greatest, and he knows he's found his path. Along the way, he never loses sight of his relationships with his family, especially his little brother who exercises with him every day, and his best friend Lucky.
Lucky and Cassius seem like opposites from the outside. Cassius is a boxer who struggles in school, and Lucky is so smart he got a scholarship to a fancy private school, but their relationship never waivers as the two friends support each other through victory and defeat.
This new biographical novel by James Patterson and Kwame Alexander is told in the alternating voices of Lucky and Cassius, and both bring interesting perspectives to the narrative. The bulk of the novel is written in Alexander's signature verse style, and he brings Muhammad Ali to life as an energetic and confident character. Ali is a popular figure, and readers everywhere will enjoy this take on his life.
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