Rebound

Rebound begins with an adult Charlie looking back on the summer of 1988, a framing device that sets up the novel as a coming-of-age journey. The Prologue also foreshadows Charlie’s father’s death and the story’s central conflict, revealing that a tragedy occurred in 1988 and noting Charlie’s struggles to come out of his grief. Basketball appears as a potential solution, establishing the recurring sports motif; Charlie states that “[b]asketball gave [him] wings” and observes that he had to learn to “rebound” figuratively as well literally (2). These details lay the groundwork some of the text’s major themes, including How Grief Manifests in Different Individuals and Finding Purpose in Hard Work.

The narrative proper begins in media res, with Charlie’s reluctance to play basketball further foreshadowing Joshua’s death—particularly juxtaposed against Charlie’s statement that he “used to play” basketball with his father (7). This establishes a pattern of avoidance that continues throughout much of the novel as Charlie tries to sidestep anything that might remind him of his father.

The chapters that follow provide additional exposition, developing the narrative’s central and sub-conflicts through the introduction of important characters. Among those who appear are Charlie’s best friend, Skinny, who later contributes to Charlie’s spiral into dangerous behavior, and Charlie’s father, Joshua. By Chapter 11, it is clear that the tragedy in Charlie’s family involves a medical episode Joshua experienced, and Alexander contextualizes the impact Joshua’s death had with Charlie’s memories of his father. Chapter 8, for example, references Joshua’s promise to let Charlie try a sip of beer—a coming-of-age ritual that implies Joshua would have helped shepherd his son into adulthood had he lived. Charlie also uses the metaphor of the “black hole” to suggest the outsized impact Joshua’s death had not only on his family but on his entire community; at the same time, the choice of imagery suggests the particularities of Charlie’s grief, painting it as all-consuming.

Alexander further suggests grief’s impact on Charlie by showing him resorting to escapism, which at this point consists mainly of reading comics (superheroes are a recurring motif). This retreat into isolation contributes to his strained relationship with his mother, who wants to share her son’s grief while keeping tight control of her own emotions. This relational conflict is the impetus for Charlie later being sent to live with his grandparents.

Contributing to the trauma of Joshua’s death is the fact that Charlie was present during his father’s initial medical episode. Alexander uses the recurring image of sirens to suggest the impact this has had on Charlie; every time Charlie hears the sound, he now experiences symptoms that include sweating, nausea, and anxiety. Chapter 10, for instance, uses line length both to suggest the sound of a siren and to communicate how devastating Joshua’s death was for his son: Each successive line is shorter, mimicking the rising and falling of a siren and ending on the single word “changed” as though to underscore its importance. 

Alexander’s use of verse is not the only notable stylistic choice in Rebound. Alexander collaborates with illustrator Dawud Anyabwile to insert sections written and formatted in the style of a comic book. These chapters elaborate on Charlie’s desire to be powerful, often depicting him with large muscles and a cape. Charlie’s grief makes him feel helpless, and these illustrations reveal the strength and confidence he wishes to regain.