mrs_a_is_a_book_nerd's review against another edition
3.0
This was a decent read with a novel premise: a black boy playing with a toy gun is shot by a white police officer. As a ghost, he meets the ghost of Emmitt Till and a host of other "ghost boys", along with the one living person who can see and hear him: the daughter of the officer who shot him.
The story introduces deep ideas about race and discrimination, and how the people on both sides are harmed by them.
Although I understand the book was written for a younger readership, I got hung up on the simplicity of narration and basic sentence structures. For me, that made it good, but not great.
The story introduces deep ideas about race and discrimination, and how the people on both sides are harmed by them.
Although I understand the book was written for a younger readership, I got hung up on the simplicity of narration and basic sentence structures. For me, that made it good, but not great.
halfcentreader's review against another edition
4.0
Powerful fast read. Educates with feeling but doesn't sugar coat.
dreaazu's review against another edition
4.0
Quick read. Recommend it to read to older kids for sure. Good way to start the conversation about prejudice & racial profiling.
libraryleslie's review against another edition
4.0
Jerome is dead at the age of 12. He was shot by a white cop he saw him playing with a toy gun and thought it was real. Jerome is stuck with the living and sees how his family and neighbors react to his senseless death. Jerome is visited by another ghost boy, Emmet who was just a boy when he was lynched in 1955. The only living person who can see Jerome is Sarah, the 12 year old daughter of the cop who killed Jerome.
The story goes back and forth between present day and a few days leading up to Jerome's murder.
Bringing Emmet's story in with Jerome's shows how little our country has changed since before the Civil Rights Movement.
This is a great middle grade read to talk about racism and police violence against blacks.
"Only the living can make the world better. Live and make it better."
The story goes back and forth between present day and a few days leading up to Jerome's murder.
Bringing Emmet's story in with Jerome's shows how little our country has changed since before the Civil Rights Movement.
This is a great middle grade read to talk about racism and police violence against blacks.
"Only the living can make the world better. Live and make it better."
boris8556's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
2.5
lynds_dewey's review against another edition
5.0
Really wonderful insight for teens to learn about systemic racism and motivate change.
rbk28's review against another edition
dark
emotional
informative
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
gabforshort's review against another edition
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
tense
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? It's complicated
5.0
ems_rxlibrary's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
sad
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
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Racism, and Gun violence