Ghost Boys: The Graphic Novel

About this book

This is the graphic novelisation of Jewell Parker Rhodes’ hit novel Ghost Boys. The first words of the book are ‘I’m dead’ which is as gripping a start as can be. The book tells the story of 12-year-old schoolboy Jerome who is killed by a police officer who mistakes his toy gun for a real one. Jerome finds himself still around as a ghost so has to watch his family mourn him and the trial of the police officer who killed him.  

But a weird thing happens, the police officer’s daughter Sarah, also 12, can see Jerome and talk to him. They become unlikely friends and we get to know the whole story of what happened to Jerome. Sarah and Jerome start to see other black ghost boys who were killed and hear their stories. 

This is a brilliant graphic novel about racial injustice and how there can be no healing until the truth is confronted and stories told. It’s thought-provoking, heart breaking and totally gripping for young teens. Despite its very serious content this is a book that can be read by 11 and 12-year-olds. As the librarian in the book realises, it’s not right to save this kind of content up for Black History Month and older teenagers. Everyone needs their story told and this fantastic graphic novel really tells it.

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