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4.36 AVERAGE
4.36 AVERAGE
I teach 7th grade and I think “Ghost Boys” would be a great read for a lot of my students. I love how the author has a mix of diversity in the book and shows them all working together in the end to try to make their country better than the past.
I also love the historical aspect in the book and how Rhodes presents the civil rights movement and Emmett Till in a way that young teens can comprehend.
Overall I would give this book 5 stars because of the teachable moments it can give students and the ease of reading. I have also had many students read this book this year and they highly recommended it to me, so I know it’s well-received by students.
I also love the historical aspect in the book and how Rhodes presents the civil rights movement and Emmett Till in a way that young teens can comprehend.
Overall I would give this book 5 stars because of the teachable moments it can give students and the ease of reading. I have also had many students read this book this year and they highly recommended it to me, so I know it’s well-received by students.
Absolutely infuriating but realistic in that respect. A very quick read and covers what it's like to be non-white in the US in a lens that easy for kids to read too.
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Though Provoking. Tear Jerking. Solemn. Beautiful.
A powerful story on race which shows the cruel unjustness of our society.
**SPOILERS**
The only issue I have with this book is that Sarah has to speak up for Jerome and the other kids because they're dead. Whilst this is understandable and shows that everyone can do their part to combat racism, it felt wrong that Sarah was speaking for them, rather than creating a platform where other Black kids could speak and share their stories. The stories of the dead needed to be shared but Sarah has never been a victim of racism and I feel like it would have been more poignant if she'd reached out too to Black kids who are alive and asked them to talk about their experiences, if that makes sense.
**SPOILERS**
The only issue I have with this book is that Sarah has to speak up for Jerome and the other kids because they're dead. Whilst this is understandable and shows that everyone can do their part to combat racism, it felt wrong that Sarah was speaking for them, rather than creating a platform where other Black kids could speak and share their stories. The stories of the dead needed to be shared but Sarah has never been a victim of racism and I feel like it would have been more poignant if she'd reached out too to Black kids who are alive and asked them to talk about their experiences, if that makes sense.
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I feel like I should also include a photo of my tear-stained pillow. Jewell Parker Rhodes weaves together past and present to masterfully address the difficult topic of racism. A poignant read that is perfect for sparking discussions at home and in the classroom - just keep your tissues handy.
emotional
reflective
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
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Alternating between his final day and his death, <u>Ghost Boys</u> is the heartbreaking story of a 12-year-old Black boy who is murdered by a police officer. Jerome follows his family, friend, and the daughter of the police officer who killed him in the aftermath of his death.
Note: I read this for a grad school course, as it's well beyond the ability/emotional maturity of my current students. The reason I held back from a more positive rating was because it felt as though the ghost of Emmett Till (and other Black boy ghosts) were tacked on in a gimmicky way, and not for Jerome or Sarah or anyone else to glean any lessons. Additionally, Sarah hopped on the bandwagon awfully quickly for the priviliged white daughter of a police officer - nice that she was inherently such a good and questioning kid, but it didn't seem like there was much realistic about her personal journey. Lastly, considering this was a book inherently focused on #BlackLivesMatter and racial injustice in matters of policing, I was disappointed that there was so little focus on Jerome's family after his death. It felt like most of the very short book was focused on Sarah's journey to forgiving her father for the murder/making her path forward.
Note: I read this for a grad school course, as it's well beyond the ability/emotional maturity of my current students. The reason I held back from a more positive rating was because it felt as though the ghost of Emmett Till (and other Black boy ghosts) were tacked on in a gimmicky way, and not for Jerome or Sarah or anyone else to glean any lessons. Additionally, Sarah hopped on the bandwagon awfully quickly for the priviliged white daughter of a police officer - nice that she was inherently such a good and questioning kid, but it didn't seem like there was much realistic about her personal journey. Lastly, considering this was a book inherently focused on #BlackLivesMatter and racial injustice in matters of policing, I was disappointed that there was so little focus on Jerome's family after his death. It felt like most of the very short book was focused on Sarah's journey to forgiving her father for the murder/making her path forward.
I’d have to wait awhile to process before writing a review, but i do know that this book is important. i’ve been looking forward to this book, and i’m not disappointed.