Librarian Erica Thorsen introduces author Kwame Alexander while surrounded by copies of his new novel, Swing.

Author Kwame Alexander talks about asking the same girl out throughout his high school career. Alexander said that it was a poem of his that finally got her to say yes.

Guitarist Randy Preston accompanies Alexander during his talk. Preston played background music throughout the performance and occasionally sang.

Author Kwame Alexander talks about trying out for the high school basketball team to an audience of students from AHS and Jouett.

Author Kwame Alexander raps while junior Javonyai Burns feels the beat and dances.

Author Kwame Alexander gets a laugh from the students.

Juniors Cameron Woodfolk and Javonyai Burns and sophomore Jackson Hephner compete to finish the line from one of Alexander’s poems.

English teachers Sean Lucia, Angie Heaps, and Charlotte Wood compete to see who can finish the line from one of Alexander’s poems. Woods won the contest and received a packet on using writers workshops in the classroom.

Creative writing teacher Charlotte Wood celebrates her win after the teacher contest.