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4.36 AVERAGE
4.36 AVERAGE
dark
emotional
hopeful
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
emotional
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
N/A
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
“Can’t undo wrong. Can only do our best to make things right” (Rhodes, 74). When Jerome is killed by a police officer, he discovers that prejudice and hate are closer than he ever thought. While the premise is harrowing, the journey that Jerome and his family, Emmett Till and other “ghost boys,” and the police officer’s daughter embark on will leave you yearning for peace in a restless world. Rhodes unmistakably calls all of her readers to be better than our predecessors in this timely novel.
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
slow-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
Everyone should read this book. I read it straight through on an airplane flight and was blown away. I I chose to read this novel because it was being banned and said to be anti-police. Anyone who thinks that either didn't read it or didn't understand it.
As a former member of law enforcement and someone who believes deeply in equality, I have a particular perspective on novels that tackle issues like police bias. This novel is about a boy who is killed by a police officer who claims to mistake him for a man with a gun, when he's a 12 year old boy with a toy gun. This child is taken when his life is just beginning - when he's a lonely boy, full of hope and love who has just found his first real friend.
After his death, he discovers that the daughter of the man who killed him can see and speak to him. Through this relationship, he seeks to understand why he was killed and how to repair not only the bias that lead the officer to shoot him, but also the relationship between the officer and his daughter.
This novel is unique in every way-- from the perspective of the main character, to the perspective on police shootings, to the perspective of both a boy who is a victim of police violence and the child of a police officer who killed a boy she learns to love, while also trying to reconcile her love for and anger at her father.
It is a kind, generous effort to foment understanding.
As a former member of law enforcement and someone who believes deeply in equality, I have a particular perspective on novels that tackle issues like police bias. This novel is about a boy who is killed by a police officer who claims to mistake him for a man with a gun, when he's a 12 year old boy with a toy gun. This child is taken when his life is just beginning - when he's a lonely boy, full of hope and love who has just found his first real friend.
After his death, he discovers that the daughter of the man who killed him can see and speak to him. Through this relationship, he seeks to understand why he was killed and how to repair not only the bias that lead the officer to shoot him, but also the relationship between the officer and his daughter.
This novel is unique in every way-- from the perspective of the main character, to the perspective on police shootings, to the perspective of both a boy who is a victim of police violence and the child of a police officer who killed a boy she learns to love, while also trying to reconcile her love for and anger at her father.
It is a kind, generous effort to foment understanding.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
sad
tense
fast-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:
Complicated
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.
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.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Police brutality
challenging
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
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
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.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Police brutality
Moderate: Grief
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated