By Jewell Parker Rhodes (author) , Setor Fiadzigbey (illustrator) Part of the Rollercoasters series
"A powerful short novel that will undoubtedly challenge readers to consider the reality of racism and the Black Lives Matter campaign."
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UKLA Longlist Book Awards - 2019
A heartbreaking and powerful story about a black boy killed by a white police officer, drawing connections with real-life history, from award-winning author Jewell Parker Rhodes.
When 12-year-old Jerome is killed by a police officer who mistakes his toy gun for a real one, Jerome becomes a ghost. Stuck on earth and watching his family grieve, Jerome wonders why he remains there. He begins to notice other ghost boys and as their stories are revealed, he learns they have something in common and remain behind on earth for a reason.
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But what can the dead do to bring about change? Combining fiction and real events, the book explores themes of racism, prejudice and discrimination. As it jumps between past and present, Ghost Boys spans generations of injustice, inspiring discussions of social justice and the fight for equality.
Rhodes achieves a lot in this relatively short book, dealing with grief, history, the idea of biases (both conscious and unconscious) and the fight for justice. This is a beautiful and tragic book that is unfortunately very necessary right now. - BookTrust
A thought-provoking and timely read for children aged 11 and up. - The Good Schools Guide - Chalk & Chat
...heartbreaking. [...] This is a strong book. - The Book Witch
I cannot recommend this book highly enough. -- Matt Long - Reading Zone
This story will absorb you and break your heart. - Read by Jess
This is a must-read book, an opportunity to talk about race, as well as an emotional and involving story. -- Jennifer Harris - Reading Zone - Teacher review
In the wake of the Black Lives Matter movement comes this novel by an African American writer whose writing has been too long delayed in reaching UK readers [...] a fast-paced and gripping, as well as thought-provoking, read. -- Ann Lazin - Literature & Library Development Manager at CLPE - Research Rich Pedagogies
This is a truly eye-opening story equality and racism. - Scoop
This is one of those books that you love, but it's uncomfortable. It's upsetting and it's disconcerting. You feel helpless and angry. The writing is fantastic [...] -- Victoria Long - Reading Zone - School Librarian Review
A powerful story about police violence in the United States, invoking the real life killings of Tamir Rice and Emmett Till. Jerome's story is a call to action, told unflinchingly but with great humanity. -- Jill Murphy - The Bookbag
This is an incredibly moving and at times harrowing story with unbelievable moments, some sadly based on true events. A thought provoking story for older, mature juniors offering much to discuss. - Primary Times
This is a beautiful and tragic book that is unfortunately very necessary right now. - BookTrust
...the protagonist of Jewell Parker Rhodes's tender, timely Ghost Boys (Orion GBP6.99) - 12-year-old Jerome - dies on page one. Unmoored from life, he switches between the events that led to his death (borrowed toy gun, trigger-happy white police officer) and its surprising and hopeful aftermath. - The Observer New Review
This was one of my most anticipated 2018 books and I was not disappointed. A must read. - Angie Thomas, No. 1 New York Times bestselling author of The Hate U Give
Jewell Parker Rhodes grew up in Pennsylvania. She is a best-selling author of adult and children's books, a Coretta Scott King Honour award-winner, and a professor of creative writing at Arizona State University. She currently lives in Seattle.
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This is a good book about the life of a young black boy (Jerome) who gets shot at the age of just 12 I think it does a great job of capturing a boy's every day life when being black.
This book was great. It had an amazing story line and I loved the way it was skipping between Jerome being dead then alive. This makes it makes it different to any other book you would find on a shelf. It really puts into view what happens nearly every week in America and how it doesn’t matter about your age but as long as your black your a threat to society. I liked how it involved Emmett Till who was murdered in 1955 by two white men. This puts into perspective just how much has changed in over 60 years.... Read Full Review
When 12-year-old Jerome is killed by a police officer who mistakes his toy gun for a real one, Jerome becomes a ghost. Stuck on earth and watching his family grieve, Jerome wonders why he remains there.
The LoveReading4Kids Editorial Team have read and reviewed Ghost Boys and determined it is suitable for children aged 11-14 years old
Ghost Boys features in the following genres: Featured Books for 11+ readers, Featured Books for 13+ readers, Recommendations, Star Books, Stories about Family and Friends, Gritty Reads, PSHE: Multiculturalism, Diversity and Inclusion, Personal Social Health Economic (PSHE), Graphic Novels & Comics, Children's and Young Adult Fiction, Children’s, Teenage and Educational
Paperback. £8.09, down from the £8.99 cover price. In Stock.
Ghost Boys was written by Jewell Parker Rhodes and published by Oxford University Press an imprint of OUP OXFORD
Ghost Boys has 202 pages
Yes it is part of Rollercoasters series
£8.09, reduced from £8.99. In Stock.
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