I know nothing, or next to nothing, about basketball. I even tried to read Matt de la Peña's Ball Don't Lie, but I got overwhelmed with the vernacular. Crossover was a good blend for newbies like me and those who could really get into the lingo, especially with the style of novel in verse.
Twins Josh and Jordan live their life to be like their father, who used to play professional European basketball. They were tight, until one twin got a girlfriend, and their unity became two distinct focuses. Any person who hates to read should begins with this book. The story is poignant and the parallels between basketball give it the action.