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4.36 AVERAGE
4.36 AVERAGE
I am so glad this children’s book exists but it makes me upset to realize it is banned in the communities that need to hear this story (all of the stories of the ghost boys) the most. Phenomenal book, and I listened to the audiobook which I highly recommend.
This is a great book for middle grade readers. As an educator, I would pair it with the social studies unit on the Civil Rights movement. It provides a ton of opportunities for discussions and I would love to be privy to the thoughts of young learners on these discussions.
As a supporter of BLM and a daughter of a police officer this book discussed many of the feelings I’ve battled with on a consistent basis.
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Jewell Parker Rhodes has a talent for writing topics difficult topics for young readers. This book didn't feel too heavy for a Children's literature book, it was digestible, heart wrenching, real and thought provoking. This combined history with the present. Jerome is a 13 year old boy who has never gotten in trouble, but one day while holding a toy gun, he is shot in the back by a police officer. Through this novel we follow him as a ghost watching from the outside looking in at how his death affected his family, friends, community, and the cop's daughter. Covering important topics like prejudice, racism, and dealing with guilt this book is so important.
This is the book I’ve been waiting for - one that discusses the same themes as The Hate U Give but is solidly middle school. In this story, Jerome is killed by police in Chicago as he is running with a plastic gun. He becomes a ghost and meets the ghost of Emmett Till, who was also from Chicago. He also meets the daughter of the police officer who killed him - she can see him even though he is a ghost. I am a big fan of this author and this is her best work yet. My husband read it to his 4th graders this year and I heard from some parents in our neighborhood who were having great discussions with their kids on this book. Thumbs up from me.
Gut-wrenching. The author weaves the story of a murdered African American boy and the ghost of Emmitt Till. A story for right now, if we ever want our country to change.
challenging
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
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
3+ This would pair perfectly with Mississippi Trial! A beautiful look at injustices, beautiful ending
Our narrator, twelve year old Jerome, is another voice to add to the list of young black boys killed because of their race.
Bullied in school, Jerome is a good kid who tries to do the right thing. He befriends new boy Carlos, even though it looks like it will bring him problems. He could never predict just how serious these will get.
When the school bullies start picking on Carlos one lunchtime he pulls out a gun. It’s a toy, but realistic enough to scare them off. Wanting to give his new friend thanks for the support, Carlos offers Jerome the toy to play with. Jerome’s decision to take it, and go out on the street to play with it, costs him his life.
The killing of Jerome at the hands of a white police officer happens early on. We’re spared the worst details, but the subsequent preliminary hearings tell us enough to know this was an unjustified action, probably an act brought about by prejudice and totally avoidable.
Jerome’s story is told in two timeframes. The flashbacks to record the last moments of his life and what led to that point, and the present now he is dead.
He can be seen by the daughter of the man who shot him. This allows the author to examine attitudes to race and to raise some of the pertinent issues linked to cases such as this throughout history. Rhodes introduces her readers to names that will, sadly, be all too familiar to many.
A quick read that should resonate with readers, though the sense of injustice and anger you’re likely to feel as you read the book - and the knowledge that it’s not likely to change - is infuriating. Nobody should live their life like this. Nobody should have to experience this horror. Nobody should let such attitudes continue unchallenged.
Given to me by our school librarian this is a great book for younger readers who are, perhaps, not quite ready for the more developed political stance of books such as The Hate You Give.
Bullied in school, Jerome is a good kid who tries to do the right thing. He befriends new boy Carlos, even though it looks like it will bring him problems. He could never predict just how serious these will get.
When the school bullies start picking on Carlos one lunchtime he pulls out a gun. It’s a toy, but realistic enough to scare them off. Wanting to give his new friend thanks for the support, Carlos offers Jerome the toy to play with. Jerome’s decision to take it, and go out on the street to play with it, costs him his life.
The killing of Jerome at the hands of a white police officer happens early on. We’re spared the worst details, but the subsequent preliminary hearings tell us enough to know this was an unjustified action, probably an act brought about by prejudice and totally avoidable.
Jerome’s story is told in two timeframes. The flashbacks to record the last moments of his life and what led to that point, and the present now he is dead.
He can be seen by the daughter of the man who shot him. This allows the author to examine attitudes to race and to raise some of the pertinent issues linked to cases such as this throughout history. Rhodes introduces her readers to names that will, sadly, be all too familiar to many.
A quick read that should resonate with readers, though the sense of injustice and anger you’re likely to feel as you read the book - and the knowledge that it’s not likely to change - is infuriating. Nobody should live their life like this. Nobody should have to experience this horror. Nobody should let such attitudes continue unchallenged.
Given to me by our school librarian this is a great book for younger readers who are, perhaps, not quite ready for the more developed political stance of books such as The Hate You Give.