"Becoming Muhammad Ali" by Kwame Alexander is a captivating middle-grade novel that delves into the early life of the legendary boxer. Set in the 1960s, it follows young Cassius Clay, who dreams of becoming a champion while navigating the challenges of his youth in Louisville, Kentucky. The story explores his journey of self-discovery, friendship, and the influence of community and family, particularly through his relationship with his coach and his eventual transformation into Muhammad Ali. Richly told in verse and prose, the book captures the essence of resilience, identity, and the pursuit of greatness that defines Ali's legacy. [Generated by language model - please report any problems].

This book is aimed at Young Adult readers. The term Young Adult (YA) is used for books which have the following characteristics: (1) aimed at ages 12-18 years, US grades 7-12, UK school years 8-15, (2) around 50-75k words long, (3) main character is aged 12-18 years, (4) topics include self-reflection, internal conflict vs external, analyzing life and its meaning, (5) point of view is often in the first person, and (6) swearing, violence, romance and sexuality are allowed. This book was published in 2019 by Turtleback .

Kwame Alexander is a poet, educator, and the New York Times bestselling author of 28+ books, including The Undefeated, Booked and Rebound, the follow-up to his Newbery medal-winning middle grade novel, The Crossover. He's also the Founding Editor of Versify, an imprint that publishes fiction and poetry for children and young adults.