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Title details for Ghost by Jason Reynolds - Available

Ghost

#1 in series

by Jason Reynolds
Guy Lockard
Audiobook
1 of 1 copy available
Borrow Listen to a sample Listen to a sample
1 of 1 copy available
A National Book Award Finalist for Young People's Literature
Nominated as one of America's best-loved novels by PBS's The Great American Read

Ghost wants to be the fastest sprinter on his elite middle school track team, but his past is slowing him down in this first electrifying novel of the acclaimed Track series from Coretta Scott King - John Steptoe Award–winning author Jason Reynolds.
Ghost. Lu. Patina. Sunny. Four kids from wildly different backgrounds with personalities that are explosive when they clash. But they are also four kids chosen for an elite middle school track team—a team that could qualify them for the Junior Olympics if they can get their acts together. They all have a lot to lose, but they also have a lot to prove, not only to each other, but to themselves.

Running. That's all Ghost (real name Castle Cranshaw) has ever known. But Ghost has been running for the wrong reasons—it all started with running away from his father, who, when Ghost was a very little boy, chased him and his mother through their apartment, then down the street, with a loaded gun, aiming to kill. Since then, Ghost has been the one causing problems—and running away from them—until he meets Coach, an ex-Olympic Medalist who sees something in Ghost: crazy natural talent. If Ghost can stay on track, literally and figuratively, he could be the best sprinter in the city. Can Ghost harness his raw talent for speed, or will his past finally catch up to him?

  • Creators

  • Series

    Track

  • Publisher

  • Awards

  • Release date

    August 30, 2016

  • Formats

    • OverDrive Listen audiobook

      • ISBN: 9781508230472
      • File size: 100529 KB
      • Duration: 03:29:26

  • Languages

    • English

  • Levels

    • Lexile® Measure: 730
    • Text Difficulty: 3

  • Reviews

    • Publisher's Weekly

      Starred review from August 8, 2016
      Reynolds (As Brave As You) uses a light hand to delve into topics that include gun violence, class disparity, and bullying in this compelling series opener. Seventh-grader Castle Cranshaw, nicknamed Ghost, knows nothing about track when a former Olympian recruits him as a sprinter for one of the city's youth teams. As far as Ghost is concerned, "whoever invented track got the whole gun means go thing right," something he learned firsthand when his father tried to shoot Ghost and his mother in their apartment three years prior. The trauma has had ripple effects on Ghost, including angry outbursts ("I was the boy.... with all the scream inside"), altercations at school, stealing, and lying. Joining the track team provides new friends, goals, and an opportunity for Ghost to move beyond his past. Ghost is a well-meaning, personable narrator whose intense struggles are balanced by a love of world records, sunflower seeds, and his mother. Coach's relationship with Ghost develops into a surrogate father-son scenario, adding substantial emotional resonance and humor to the mix. Ages 10âup. Agent: Elena Giovinazzo, Pippin Properties.

    • AudioFile Magazine
      Narrator Guy Lockhart captures the emotions in this story. Middle-schooler Castle (nicknamed "Ghost") has been running for three years. It all began the night his father threatened him and his mother with a gun. But running takes on a different meaning when he's recruited for a team coached by a former Olympic recruiter. Lockhart maintains a good balance between the story's humor and Ghost's hidden dark thoughts. Lockhart also creates convincing portrayals of the male mentors who care about Ghost, who wants to live up to their expectations and his own desire to be an athlete--even as these goals conflict with his self-protective tendencies to lie and fight. Listeners can look forward to more adventures, for this is the first in a series. S.W. © AudioFile 2016, Portland, Maine
    • School Library Journal

      Starred review from January 1, 2017

      Gr 5-9-Guy Lockard has assumed the mantle of narrator-of-choice for Reynolds's fiction: Ghost (2016 National Book Award finalist) is Lockard's third Reynolds title, following As Brave as You and Rashad's chapters in All American Boys. Here, as seventh grader Castle "Ghost" Crenshaw, Lockard performs with excitable bravado, ruminating honesty, and trash-talking speed. Ghost runs fast with good reason, having escaped his father, who chased him and his mother with a loaded gun. Three years later, Ghost's mother works hard to keep him safe, while Ghost tries never to ask for more than she can give. His temper, however, too often keeps him fleeing from trouble of his own making. When the track coach recognizes his immense talent, Ghost's cocky arrogance initially gets in his way. How he finds his tremendous stride is a realistic, exhilarating story for all young audiences (look for a wink-wink to Reynolds's friend and fellow author Christopher Myers, son of the legendary Walter Dean Myers, one of Reynolds's inspirations). VERDICT An ideal choice for even the most reluctant readers. Libraries should start building this "Track" (Ghost is the first of a series) immediately.-Terry Hong, Smithsonian BookDragon, Washington, DC

      Copyright 2017 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Formats

  • OverDrive Listen audiobook

subjects

Languages

  • English

Levels

  • Lexile® Measure:730
  • Text Difficulty:3

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