57 pages 1 hour read

James Patterson

Ali Cross

Fiction | Novel | Middle Grade | Published in 2019

A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.

Background

Literary Context: Son of Alex Cross

In the Ali Cross mystery series, the protagonist’s father is Alex Cross, a PhD psychologist who works for the Washington DC police department. Alex is a profiler who helps solve crimes by developing a psychological model of the perpetrator. Alex’s cases usually involve extremely dangerous serial killers. Ali admires his father and wants to follow in his footsteps. The first book in the Ali Cross series presents the boy with a mystery he feels compelled to solve, the disappearance of his best friend, Gabe Qualls. Dr. Cross lends a hand.

Father and son are African American. Some critics have questioned the books because author James Patterson is white. Patterson defends his fictional protagonists: “I grew up in a small town that was heavily Black; I had a lot of Black kids as my friends” (Allfree, Claire. “James Patterson: ‘Am I entitled to write a Black character? Sure!’Gulf News, 15 Dec. 2021). Some Alex Cross books have been adapted for film. When producers first expressed interest, they wanted to change Cross to a white man, but Patterson refused (Shaw, AR. “James Patterson on Tyler Perry: ‘Hollywood Wanted to Change Alex Cross to a White Guy.

Related Titles

By James Patterson

Study Guide
logo

1st to Die

James Patterson

1st to Die

James Patterson

Plot Summary
logo

Alex Cross

James Patterson

Alex Cross

James Patterson

Study Guide
logo

Along Came a Spider

James Patterson

Along Came a Spider

James Patterson

Plot Summary
logo

Ambush

James O. Born, James Patterson

Ambush

James O. Born, James Patterson

STUDY + TEACHING GUIDE
logo

Becoming Muhammad Ali

James Patterson, Kwame Alexander

Becoming Muhammad Ali

James Patterson, Kwame Alexander

Study Guide
logo

Cross Down

James Patterson

Cross Down

James Patterson

Study Guide
logo

Eruption

Michael Crichton, James Patterson

Eruption

Michael Crichton, James Patterson

Plot Summary
logo

Four Blind Mice

James Patterson

Four Blind Mice

James Patterson

Study Guide
logo

Holmes, Marple & Poe

James Patterson, Brian Sitts

Holmes, Marple & Poe: The Greatest Crime-Solving Team of the Twenty-First Century

James Patterson, Brian Sitts

Study Guide
logo

I Funny

James Patterson, Chris Grabenstein

I Funny: A Middle School Story

James Patterson, Chris Grabenstein

Plot Summary
logo

Maximum Ride: The Angel Experiment

James Patterson

Maximum Ride: The Angel Experiment

James Patterson

Plot Summary
logo

Med Head

James Patterson

Med Head

James Patterson

Study Guide
logo

Middle School, The Worst Years of My Life

Chris Tebbetts, James Patterson, Illustr. Laura Park

Middle School, The Worst Years of My Life

Chris Tebbetts, James Patterson, Illustr. Laura Park

Plot Summary
logo

Nevermore

James Patterson

Nevermore

James Patterson

Plot Summary
logo

Roses Are Red

James Patterson

Roses Are Red

James Patterson

Plot Summary
logo

Sam's Letters to Jennifer

James Patterson

Sam's Letters to Jennifer

James Patterson

Plot Summary
logo

Suzanne's Diary for Nicholas

James Patterson

Suzanne's Diary for Nicholas

James Patterson

Plot Summary
logo

The Big Bad Wolf

James Patterson

The Big Bad Wolf

James Patterson

Study Guide
logo

The House of Wolves

James Patterson, Mike Lupica

The House of Wolves

James Patterson, Mike Lupica

Plot Summary
logo

The President is Missing

Bill Clinton, James Patterson

The President is Missing

Bill Clinton, James Patterson