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wgraham99's review against another edition
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
mysteriesofmar's review against another edition
3.0
tw: police brutality, racism, bullying, physical abuse
don't be shy sweetie just call it racism
this book discusses a lot of issues with how we handle and discuss police brutality, but doesn't quite get there, and i get that. i get that it's a middle grade, and the wide range of heavy topics brought up are difficult to broach, but i feel like this book almost got there on several occasions but didn't quite get to home base before being tagged out. emmett till as a ghost was a powerful story device that wasn't used as much as i had wanted, and the plot with the cop and his family just wasn't quite it (i got white savior complex vibes at the end from sarah but i may just be too cynical there). things wrapped up a little too neatly and easily with the school bullies. i'm sorry, but i can't find sympathy for cops who murder innocent people, nor the bullies who might become those same cops one day, and you can't make me.
i loved carlos' plot and integration into the story. seeing him and jerome's grandmother healing together really worked, especially with the two different cultures seeing death in a similar way.
don't be shy sweetie just call it racism
this book discusses a lot of issues with how we handle and discuss police brutality, but doesn't quite get there, and i get that. i get that it's a middle grade, and the wide range of heavy topics brought up are difficult to broach, but i feel like this book almost got there on several occasions but didn't quite get to home base before being tagged out. emmett till as a ghost was a powerful story device that wasn't used as much as i had wanted, and the plot with the cop and his family just wasn't quite it (i got white savior complex vibes at the end from sarah but i may just be too cynical there). things wrapped up a little too neatly and easily with the school bullies. i'm sorry, but i can't find sympathy for cops who murder innocent people, nor the bullies who might become those same cops one day, and you can't make me.
i loved carlos' plot and integration into the story. seeing him and jerome's grandmother healing together really worked, especially with the two different cultures seeing death in a similar way.
rubydagger's review against another edition
dark
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
ashley_taylor's review against another edition
5.0
This book was so powerful! It ripped my heart out and gave me empathy for every character in the book. Very eye-opening. Warning, it is very racially charged but extremely well done.
klhtet's review against another edition
4.0
Jerome Rogers was a kid with so much dreams and so many possibilities. He could be a rap star, an athlete, even a president. But now all what ifs are gone, only a ghost boy left. Now, he won't be a basketball player nor a president. Now he can't even be an electrician or a business manager. Now, he's but a ghost boy.
Although this book is a middle grade level, it's as gripping and thought provoking as your contemporary novels. I was angry at first but then the story concluded into a more powerful aspect then anger, forgiveness. Sometimes you need to see the big picture and try to change things by as little steps that you're capable of.
We must all work together "until there aren’t any more murders, until skin
color doesn’t matter, only friendship, kindness, understanding.”
Although this book is a middle grade level, it's as gripping and thought provoking as your contemporary novels. I was angry at first but then the story concluded into a more powerful aspect then anger, forgiveness. Sometimes you need to see the big picture and try to change things by as little steps that you're capable of.
We must all work together "until there aren’t any more murders, until skin
color doesn’t matter, only friendship, kindness, understanding.”
carissagp3's review against another edition
3.0
Definitely written for a pre-YA crowd. The topic is important/relevant. but the delivery could’ve been so much better.
crankylibrarian's review against another edition
2.0
This wasn’t bad, although not exactly what I expected. I thought there would be more interactions with the other “ghost boys” (and why no “ghost girls”?) in addition to Emmet Till. I enjoyed Jerome’s connection to Carlos and his sister and grandmother but the interactions with the police officer’s daughter left me cold. (Admittedly this may be personal bias.)
Obviously I’m not in the target audience but given the subject matter. I found this surprisingly...dull.
Obviously I’m not in the target audience but given the subject matter. I found this surprisingly...dull.
mikaeld's review against another edition
5.0
An important and creative story that tackles the issues of police brutality, racial bullying and cognitive dissonance of systemic racism in the US.
I liked that the author included the ghost of Emmett Till. For anyone who does not know about the horrific case of Emmett Till, then I recommend you research it (n.b it is quite graphic). His murder was one of the turning points in the force of the Civil Rights movement.
I liked that the author included the ghost of Emmett Till. For anyone who does not know about the horrific case of Emmett Till, then I recommend you research it (n.b it is quite graphic). His murder was one of the turning points in the force of the Civil Rights movement.