I highly recommend Ghost Boy to all who are of adult age. There are some instances within the writing which may not be appropriate for younger readers.

I know I expected a lot from such books and good writing but nevertheless, I needed a strong voice. Not from the main child character. I wish the adults and the law system made some significance in the story. Recently, went to the post office with my mask on due to the pandemic. Seeing a woman of color without a mask. I think it was in April. Instantly feel like crap. Took mine off. Make sure not to breathe toward the two people in the waiting area. At this moment I see how it feels to be in a world where racial bias is present. Out of respect for this woman can not keep my mask on. I feel pained about this deeply. And although this sounds horribly depressing, Rhodes leaves the reader with reason to hope that change is possible. Remembering, making these killings real for people and working towards change and social justice are the important points of Ghost Boys. As Emmett tells Jerome "Bear witness...Everyone needs their story heard. Felt. We honor each other. Connect across time." But this is where I found one flaw in the the novel. This was interesting it got you into the mystery behind it as you really wanted to solve it with the characters, needing to know exactly what it was that had happened all those years ago. After being introduced to the dead boy you start to get the answers which you get slowly as you read through the story. I liked that it was a mix of mystery and paranormal, we got a few different storylines merged into one, with the mystery of Ben and his dad, then the ghost of Ben appearing, the owner of the mines and his secrets, the brewing storm, the stalker following them. There were lots of elements that kept you reading the story, they all worked really well entwined together.

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This is a beautifully written and very compelling book that does a fantastic job of introducing younger readers (it's technically middle grade, but I definitely wouldn't give to the lower end of that market) to systemic racism and racial profiling, especially at the hands of the police. Is it age appropriate for middle grade readers? Yes. Does it give a realistic and complete view of racism that is unbiased? I just feel it fell short, in spite of the writing talent of this author. I wanted to champion this book, to share it, but I can't. When Pistorius was 12, he came down with an unknown illness that trapped him inside his own body. Within a few weeks he became paralyzed. Unable to speak or move, Pistorius was a prisoner. Put into a day-home with people with an I.Q. or 30 or lower, Pistorius was still in full possession of his intelligence. This is one of those astounding biographies that reveals the hidden but exceptional people who cope with unimaginable odds. I so intensely wanted to understand the mechanisms that are used for abnormal coping by people who endure and survive the unthinkable.

Content/ Trigger Warnings- Police Brutality, Murder, Grief, Loss of a Child, Nightmares, Bullying, RacismImagine being able to hear and understand everything that's being said in front of you, but being unable to speak. And being thought of as an "imbecile" who has less intelligence than a toddler. Here are 50 books Texas parents want banned from school libraries". NBC News . Retrieved 2023-01-11. Ghost Boy awakened my emotions, causing me to cry with sadness and with joy. What Martin went through, even though it is displayed in detail, I could in no way imagine what it must have been like. Not being able to say if something is hot or cold, to scream out in pain, to report to another experienced torment. Pistorius believes that he began regaining consciousness around age 16 (around 1992), [ citation needed] during which time he was able to sense the people around him but did not immediately recall previous events, something he has described as "a bit like a baby being born". [10] Around age 19, Pistorius regained full consciousness and awareness, but was initially unable to impart this to the people around him. [ citation needed] He was capable of making small movements that were not initially detected by his primary caregivers. One day, Virna van der Walt—an aromatherapist and one of Pistorius's day carers—began noticing that Pistorius would react to specific statements and questions she made. [ citation needed] Upon her recommendations, Pistorius was sent to the Centre For Augmentative And Alternative Communication at the University of Pretoria around age 25. There, they confirmed that he was aware and could respond to statements. [ citation needed] Pistorius's parents gave him a computer with software to communicate with the people around him. [ citation needed] Personal life [ edit ] I also must show my appreciation to Ms. Rhodes for including powerful, yet age appropriate, discussion questions at the conclusion of the narrative. Ghost Boys is definitely not your everyday tale about one of the most serious issues plaguing our society. It also shows how such senseless murders can impact all those who become involved—including the “justice” system and the officers involved.