Ghost Boys
by Jewell Parker Rhodes
)
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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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Book Details
ISBN:
9780316262262
EAN:
9780316262262
Binding:
Paperback
Pages:
240
Authors:
Jewell Parker Rhodes
Publisher:
Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

I haven't cried over a book in a long time. This was sad. So very sad but also the reality we live in. I truly think this is a must read.
The book was in impeccable condition upon arrival. It arrived on time, and I was able to read it in time to discuss with my book club.
Jewel Parker Rhodesβs literary expertise has produced a contemporary realistic fiction story that connects with the middle school issues of identity while presenting the universality of these identities across ethnicities, gender, and socioeconomic status. The character development allows for a realistic exploration of the person vs person, person vs self, and persons vs society conflicts. This is a high quality must read.
My 12-year-old son is reading this book it his lit class. He came home and asked me to read the book with him. So I checked it out from my local library. This book was amazing and made me cry at points in the story. My son couldn't put the book down. He kept going past the reading pages for each week. This book was so good that he will read more from this author.
As a teacher, I've loved Jewell Parker Rhodes's work for some time now and this book is no exception. Rhodes has a talent for telling what is not an easy story in a manner that is totally appropriate for this age range and also engaging so that they will WANT to read on. Also for teachers the book includes discussion questions and classroom activities so it's very easy to make this into a novel unit for your class.