Ghost Boys

Ghost Boys follows twelve-year-old Jerome Rogers, who becomes a ghost after being shot and killed by a white police officer in Chicago. In his ghost form, Jerome watches his family struggle with grief while also meeting other ghost boys from different time periods. The narrative moves between Jerome's life before the shooting and his existence as a ghost, allowing readers to understand his world and relationships. Only one living person can see Jerome in his ghost form - Sarah, the daughter of the police officer who killed him. Jerome's story connects to historical events and figures, particularly Emmett Till, whose ghost helps guide Jerome through his new reality. The ghosts of Black boys who died through racial violence form a community that spans decades. Through Jerome's perspective, the novel explores themes of racism, justice, healing and the power of bearing witness to both historical and contemporary tragedies. The story challenges readers to confront difficult truths while offering hope for positive change.

Readers describe Ghost Boys as a powerful examination of racial injustice and police violence, written for middle-grade students. Many parents and teachers note it opens meaningful discussions with children about racism and bias. What readers liked: - Clear, accessible writing style for complex topics - Short chapters maintain young readers' attention - Historical connections between past and present - Character development of Jerome and Sarah What readers disliked: - Some found the ghost narrative confusing - A few parents felt content too mature for target age - Several mentioned wanting more depth and details - Ending felt rushed to some readers Ratings: Goodreads: 4.3/5 (24,000+ ratings) Amazon: 4.7/5 (3,800+ ratings) Common Sense Media: 4/5 Example review: "This book helped my 12-year-old understand systemic racism in a way news stories hadn't. The ghost element made difficult topics more approachable." - Goodreads reviewer Another noted: "Important message but the supernatural elements detracted from the real-world impact." - Amazon reviewer

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📚 Jewell Parker Rhodes wrote Ghost Boys after being deeply affected by the 2014 shooting of 12-year-old Tamir Rice, who was killed by police while playing with a toy gun in Cleveland, Ohio. 🏆 The book has won multiple awards, including the Walter Dean Myers Award for Outstanding Children's Literature and the Jane Addams Children's Book Award for younger readers. 👻 The character of Emmett Till, who appears as a ghost in the novel, was a real 14-year-old African American boy who was lynched in Mississippi in 1955 - his death became a catalyst for the civil rights movement. 🌍 Ghost Boys has been translated into more than 15 languages and is used in schools across the globe to teach students about racial justice and historical trauma. 📖 The author spent five years researching and writing Ghost Boys, including studying police reports, conducting interviews, and examining historical records about violence against young Black males in America.