Reviews tagging 'Child death'

Ghost Boys by Jewell Parker Rhodes

34 reviews

kyrstin_p1989's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

A powerful story about the ways that prejudice and police brutality impact entire communities, especially those killed by police and their families. I thought tying the murdered boy in this story to Emmitt Till was a brilliant way to bridge historical timelines where not much at all has changed. This book is heavy and sad but accessible to younger audiences as well as adults. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Police brutality, Grief, Gun violence, Bullying, Child death, Racism, Violence, and Blood

audrey5's review against another edition

emotional hopeful reflective sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

2.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child death, Death, Grief, Gun violence, Murder, Bullying, Racism, and Violence

ems_rxlibrary's review against another edition

challenging emotional sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Racism, and Gun violence

shinypurplepants's review against another edition

challenging

Very very very not for me! I feel like the way this subject matter was handled has a huge possibility to re-traumatize black readers.

What I did like: Rhodes writing style reminds me of Reynolds' "Track" series. It's fast paced and puts you in the head (and emotions!) of our protagonist really well. 

I would recommend this book specifically for use in a book club setting with parents/child or teachers/students that want to discuss this very "ripped form the headlines" type of story.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Police brutality and Child death

amandalorianxo's review against another edition

emotional sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? N/A
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

Between 4.5/4.75 stars. Heartbreaking, heart wrenching and a deeply moving story of a young black boy who unfortunately like many young black people prior, is shot by a policeman on duty. Jerome is trying to make sense of his ghost form, confused by the presence of other ghost boys too, Emmett Till in particular. My main concern (& my main reason why I gave this 4.5 instead of the full stars) is due to the ending. I wasn’t 100% in agreement with Sarah’s father getting a somewhat redemption arc. That didn’t sit right with me. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Police brutality, and Child death

Moderate: Grief

reading_ladies_blog's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child death, Death, Gun violence, and Bullying

_forestofpages's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful reflective sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Violence, Racism, Gun violence, Hate crime, and Death

Moderate: Cursing

waterbottle57's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

4.75

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child death, Murder, Death, Racism, and Hate crime

ekmoore11's review against another edition

informative reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Hate crime, Police brutality, Child death, Murder, Violence, and Racism

Moderate: Bullying

bildungswalton's review against another edition

dark emotional tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Child death, Gun violence, Grief, Racism, Police brutality, Hate crime, and Classism