"Unpacking racism and police brutality towards innocent black boys, this exceptional graphic novel is a powerful call to action to build a better world."
UKLA Longlist Book Awards - 2019
Extraordinarily impactful, this graphic novel edition of Jewell Parker Rhodes’ Ghost Boys will bring the writer’s timely novel to a wider readership, thanks to the razor-sharp text and Setor Fiadzigbey’s characterful and emotionally resonant artwork. Drawn from the real-life murders of Emmett Till in 1955 and Tamir Rice in 2014, Ghost Boys is profoundly haunting, and a rousing rallying cry for the world to do better by black boys.
In life, 12-year-old Jerome has “troubles, but I don’t get in trouble. Big difference”. He comes from a hardworking family. He comforts his ma and grandma. He looks out for his little sister. But then he’s killed by a white police officer - a good boy gunned down simply for being black, and being in possession of a toy gun. In death, as a ghost, Jerome sees the impact his unjust death is having on his family and wider community, and starts to get a bigger picture of the socio-political landscape around his killing when he becomes aware of others like him: ghost boys from different times, different decades. Black boys who also shouldn’t be dead. Black boys who also had families, and dreams, and lives.
Unflinching, thought-provoking and richly nuanced in both novel and graphic novel form, Ghost Boys the graphic novel is also powerfully visceral in its portrayal of grief, injustice and the belief that one day the murders will stop. Until that time, “until skin colour doesn’t matter, only friendship, kindness and understanding”, Ghost Boys will “stick together”.
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This is a good book about the life of a young black boy (Jerome) who gets shot at the age of just 12 I think it does a great job of capturing a boy's every day life when being black.
This book was great. It had an amazing story line and I loved the way it was skipping between Jerome being dead then alive. This makes it makes it different to any other book you would find on a shelf. It really puts into view what happens nearly every week in America and how it doesn’t matter about your age but as long as your black your a threat to society. I liked how it involved Emmett Till who was murdered in 1955 by two white men. This puts into perspective just how much has changed in over 60 years.... Read Full Review
Ghost Boys, the New York Times bestselling novel about a Black boy killed by a white police officer from award-winning author Jewell Parker Rhodes, is brought to a new audience in this heartbreaking and powerful graphic novel with striking colour artwork by Setor Fiadzigbey.
ALIVE: Twelve-year-old Jerome doesn't get into trouble. He goes to school.
He does his homework. He takes care of his little sister. Then Jerome is shot by a police officer who mistakes his toy gun for a real threat.
DEAD: As a ghost, watching his family trying to cope with his death, Jerome begins to notice other ghost boys.
Each boy has a story and they all have something in common...
Bit by bit, Jerome begins to understand what really happened - not just to him, but to all of the ghost boys.
A poignant and gripping graphic novel about how children and families face the complexities of race and racism in today's world.
Suitable from 12 years +
The LoveReading4Kids Editorial Team have read and reviewed Ghost Boys The Graphic Novel and determined it is suitable for children aged 11-14 years old
Ghost Boys The Graphic Novel features in the following genres: Featured Books for 11+ readers, Featured Books for 13+ readers, Recommendations, Star Books, Stories about Family and Friends, Gritty Reads, PSHE: Multiculturalism, Diversity and Inclusion, Personal Social Health Economic (PSHE), Graphic Novels & Comics, Children's and Young Adult Fiction, Children’s, Teenage and Educational
Ghost Boys The Graphic Novel is available in Paperback
Ghost Boys The Graphic Novel was written by Jewell Parker Rhodes and published by Orion Children's Books an imprint of Hachette Children's Group
Ghost Boys The Graphic Novel has 253 pages
£8.99
