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4.36 AVERAGE
4.36 AVERAGE
challenging
dark
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Heart wrenching and beautifully written. This book is so important.
This book should be an absolute must read in every school and every home.
It is so important that we continue fighting against racism and actively educating ourselves on these topics.
Black lives matter and it is in our hands to dismantle both systemic and personal racism.
Ghost Boys is a powerful book and I can't wait for more people to read it.
It is so important that we continue fighting against racism and actively educating ourselves on these topics.
Black lives matter and it is in our hands to dismantle both systemic and personal racism.
Ghost Boys is a powerful book and I can't wait for more people to read it.
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
great option for middle grades/middle school regarding the Black Lives Matter movement; weaves in the story of Emmett Till & other young black boys killed by police
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I think had this been the first social justice book I read in the past month, it would have definitely been a 5. But when I'm comparing it to so many others, it's just not resonating the same way. With that being said, it definitely made me the most emotional and made me have the most "feelings" toward all of the injustice and brutality toward Black people, especilally targeting Black boys as "dangerous men" as they did in this story.
Some nuggets that really stuck out to me were the quotes, "when the truth's a feeling, can it be both? Can it be both true and untrue?" "Someone will see my name? Maybe remember me? Remember I had a life before getting famous because I got shot" and "there wasn't enough evidence to charge Officer Moore with a crime. But he's not celebrating. Maybe that's progress?"
I think this book did a great job showing the hurt and reminding how these are lives, so 3D and valid, not just names on a paper. My qualms fall more in that I felt like there was too much "forgiveness" toward the police officer in the end, that it was just a simple "mistake". I also would have liked to see more development with other boys who lost their lives to police violence, as Emmett Till is someone who is probably more well known across the younger population reading this book.
Some nuggets that really stuck out to me were the quotes, "when the truth's a feeling, can it be both? Can it be both true and untrue?" "Someone will see my name? Maybe remember me? Remember I had a life before getting famous because I got shot" and "there wasn't enough evidence to charge Officer Moore with a crime. But he's not celebrating. Maybe that's progress?"
I think this book did a great job showing the hurt and reminding how these are lives, so 3D and valid, not just names on a paper. My qualms fall more in that I felt like there was too much "forgiveness" toward the police officer in the end, that it was just a simple "mistake". I also would have liked to see more development with other boys who lost their lives to police violence, as Emmett Till is someone who is probably more well known across the younger population reading this book.
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Gun violence, Racism, Police brutality, Grief
Moderate: Hate crime, Murder