Ghost Boys
Books | Juvenile Fiction / People & Places / United States / African American & Black
4.2
(1.2K)
Jewell Parker Rhodes
A heartbreaking and powerful story about a black boy killed by a police officer, drawing connections through history, from award-winning author Jewell Parker Rhodes. Only the living can make the world better. Live and make it better. Twelve-year-old Jerome is shot by a police officer who mistakes his toy gun for a real threat. As a ghost, he observes the devastation that's been unleashed on his family and community in the wake of what they see as an unjust and brutal killing. Soon Jerome meets another ghost: Emmett Till, a boy from a very different time but similar circumstances. Emmett helps Jerome process what has happened, on a journey towards recognizing how historical racism may have led to the events that ended his life. Jerome also meets Sarah, the daughter of the police officer, who grapples with her father's actions. Once again Jewell Parker Rhodes deftly weaves historical and socio-political layers into a gripping and poignant story about how children and families face the complexities of today's world, and how one boy grows to understand American blackness in the aftermath of his own death.
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Author
Jewell Parker Rhodes
Pages
224
Publisher
Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Published Date
2018-04-17
ISBN
0316262250 9780316262255
Ratings
Google: 4
Community ReviewsSee all
"I love this book because it shows the injustice that is aimed towards black people just because of the color of their skin. It's heart-wrenching and awe-inspiring."
Lisa Ohazurike
"Read this book with my students and I would recommend it to anyone!"
Meg DeLeon
"This wasn’t bad, although not exactly what I expected. I thought there would be more interactions with the other “ghost boys” (and why no “ghost girls”?) in addition to Emmet Till. I enjoyed Jerome’s connection to Carlos and his sister and grandmother but the interactions with the police officer’s daughter left me cold. (Admittedly this may be personal bias.)<br/><br/>Obviously I’m not in the target audience but given the subject matter. I found this surprisingly...dull."
Lesley Williams
"Ghost Boys is a ghost story but it is based on current affairs. Jerome is given a toy gun to play with by his new friend Carlos, while he is enjoying a pretend scenario of beating the bad guys, he hears behind him a car coming at him fast, a burning sensation in his back and then he is looking down at himself covered in blood in the snow. <br/>The story follows the aftermath of his families grief, a friend, Carlos as well as the daughter of the cop who shot him. He comes back as a ghost and he meets Emmett Tills, who all the ghost boys look up to as he was the first sensationalized black boy killed by a white man. <br/><br/>In each of the ghost boys journey, there is only one person who can see them and in Jerome’s case, it is the daughter of the cop who decides to be the change that will make a difference. <br/><br/>This story is written for young adults but adults will enjoy it as well. There is a great message here and a tragic reality that continues to be problematic for all young black boys and men. There is no foul language, no politics and no blaming of either side. <br/>Additionally there is a question summary in the back for open discussions."
Karlee Mazzaferri
"Easy read but incredibly powerful. Don’t let the YA classification fool you!"
Kate Villano
"Short read. So good! "
Stephanie.
"This book was just amazing. I have no other words it was simply amazing in every way shape and form."
Galixy Fox
"Realistic and different "
Beth Homans
"Powerful, straightforward look at social injustice and racism. Book for middle school students through adults. Ending really punched me in the gut. Powerful "
James McCulloch
"This book is short but packs a big punch! The story itself is very powerful and the author brings an intensity comparable to Maya Angelou. "
Twirling Haze
