Ghost Boys

https://www.worldbookday.com/2018/01/orion-childrens-acquires-powerful-middle-grade-novel-racial-prejudice/

Ghost Boys by Jewell Parker Rhodes

Texas Bluebonnet Award

Evaluation of Book

A black boy with a toy gun in a park leads to a tragic ending in the story Ghost Boys by Jewell Parker Rhodes. In the story Jerome is a 12 year old boy from Chicago that is shot by a police officer that believe his toy gun is real. As a ghost, Jerome sees the sadness that his family and community experience as a result of the killing.

Through this heart breaking story Parker Rhodes draws connections through other historical cases such as the murders of Tamir Rice and Emmett Till. Sadly, this story is still relevant as we continue to struggle with issues of racism, bullying and gun violence. By looking through the eyes of Jerome’s ghost the reader learns about how hard life can be for black children from the inner city.

The author organized the chapters by marking them as “Alive” or “Dead” in an effort to help the reader know Jerome’s status in the story. In the “Alive” chapters the reader meets the characters involved in Jerome’s life. The reader meet his grandmother who plays an important role in raising Jerome and his sister as well as, Carlos, the boy who plays a part in Jerome’s death.

Through the chapters marked “Dead” the author shares Jerome’s observations of the world when he’s dead. During these times Jerome realizes that his city is much bigger than the small apartment where he grew up and how people cope after a loved one has died. As a ghost, Jerome attends the court hearing over his death by the police officer. Through conversations with the officer’s daughter, Sarah, and Emmett another Ghost Boy, the reader looks at issues of racial prejudice and false assumptions.

This modern day story displays racism issues that we still face today. The author shares the message that history should never repeat itself. Themes of friendship, kindness and understanding are all shared powerfully throughout the text.

Response

As I read this story, I was reminded of things that a woman at school and I have discussed about our sons. Her son is black and she has mentioned how she worries about her son being stopped by a police officer and not being treated fairly. I’m sad that she has these worries and I do not. This book addresses some serious issues regarding equality and social justice. I think readers will make connections although I do think it is better suited for middle grade students. I will be interested to see what my upper elementary students think about the story. Despite the sad issues addressed in the story, the story ends with hope that people can change. The Ghost Boy says, “Only the living can make the world better. Live and make it better” (p.203).

Conclusion

The intensity of this story will draw readers into the problem and prompt conversations about how to make changes to make our world better. The powerful message to not let history repeat itself will have the reader thinking about how they can make it better. It’s a story that will prompt deep conversations and is recommended to readers in upper elementary and middle school. It’s a great book.

Citation

Rhodes, J.P. (2018). Ghost boys. First edition. New York: Little, Brown and Co.