Swing by Mary Rand Hess and Kwame Alexander is a compelling mix of prose and poetry that explores themes of friendship, love, and baseball. Many readers appreciate its heartfelt narrative and relatable teenage characters. However, some note that the blend of styles can be disorienting. Overall, it’s praised for its emotional depth and engaging storytelling.

Readers who enjoy Swing by Mary Rand Hess and Kwame Alexander are typically teens or young adults who appreciate contemporary stories with themes of friendship, love, and personal growth. Fans of Jason Reynolds' Long Way Down or Angie Thomas' The Hate U Give will likely find this book compelling.

In Swing by Kwame Alexander and Mary Rand Hess, high school juniors Noah and Walt "Swing" Jones navigate friendship, passions, and personal challenges. Walt chases his baseball dreams and spreads his love for jazz and "hug life" philosophy, while Noah secretly wrestles with his artistic talents and feelings for their friend Sam. This young adult novel, told in verse, creatively intertwines jazz and poetry. Themes of violence, death, police brutality, and systemic racism are included.

Emotional / Hopeful / Contemplative / Bittersweet / Nostalgic

Mary Rand Hess

Kwame Alexander

Novel/Book in Verse

Fiction

Guide

Study Guide

Before You Read

Explore Swing reviews, reading age recommendations, and essential genre and thematic details before you start reading.

Before You Read Swing | SuperSummary

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Overview

Get ready to explore Swing and its meaning. Our full analysis and study guide provides an even deeper dive with character analysis and quotes explained to help you discover the complexity and beauty of this book.

Swing Summary and Study Guide

Background

Swing Background

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Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Part 1: “Cheesecake”

Part 1 Swing Part 1 Summary & Analysis

Part 2: “I Guess I’ll Hang My Tears Out to Dry” - Part 3: “Second Balcony Jump”

Parts 2-3

Swing Parts 2-3 Summary & Analysis

Part 4: “Love for Sale” - Part 6: “Three O’clock in the Morning”

Parts 4-6

Swing Parts 4-6 Summary & Analysis

character

Character Analysis

Swing Character Analysis

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Themes

Swing Themes

Symbols & Motifs

Swing Symbols & Motifs

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Important Quotes

Swing Important Quotes

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Essay Topics

Swing Essay Topics

Swing

Before You Read

Reviews & Readership

Review Roundup

Who Should Read Swing?

Reading Age

Book Details