Ghost

While I feel like there's so much more to get to know about Ghost, I thought this was fantastic. I loved the supporting characters who were literally there to support Castle, though I was disappointed in the principal at his school. You can't just feel sorry for a kid and his circumstances when you work in education. But other than that, this was a sweet, emotional story.

While there is nothing wrong with sports books, they are just not my proverbial cup of tea, and while sports are definitely an important part of the narrative, to call Ghost a sports book would be disingenuous. Reynolds manages to capture that feeling of being a kid so well that, even if you don't relate to his particular set of circumstances, you will immensely relate to him. And that's important, because while our circumstances and experiences may shape us, it is ultimately up to us how we define ourselves. As Coach so wisely and succinctly says:

“You can't run away from who you are, but what you can do is run toward who you want to be.”

And on that note, I love the ending: Does Ghost win? That's not important. What's important are the steps he made to get to where he is; he is, both literally and figuratively, running toward the person he wants to become.

Just give all the awards to Jason Reynolds, please. Not just the bookish ones. Give him an Oscar or two while you're at it, just for good measure. 4/5

I think at its core, Ghost is a story about how over time and with support, we can work through trauma. In fact, sometimes we can reclaim pieces of ourselves that trauma has warped. It's an empowering message: aspects of our past so associated with fear and hurt can be confronted. We can not only regain control, but enrich our lives. We can find people and passions that help us heal and grow. You root for Ghost not just to win a race, but to find joy and success in life.

Reynolds deftly addresses heavier issues of substance use and incarceration in a manner accessible for younger audiences, striking a difficult balance. He provides not only the protagonist but also many secondary characters with complex, human motivations. I'm excited to read the rest of this series!

This is such a fun heartwarming book. I really enjoyed the dialog and the characters. You never know how you may affect others by just being there.

PBS' Great American Read program introduced me to Jason Reynolds and “Ghost.” And, I'm so glad! This is a delightful Book because we hear the voice of a teenager who is just learning he has a talent for running, but also that he sometimes doesn't make the best decisions. And that he can find ways to take a horrible experience that shattered his family and rise above.

I loved the characters in this book because they are real people with real issues and real ways of looking at things. This is not just for young adults; a good book is a good book. And I look forward to reading additional books in this series, as well as other books by this author.

Also, I listened to the audiobook version on Libby and the narrator was amazing!

Excellent. Even inspired me to go for a run!

After I heard Jason Reynolds speak at a breakfast at BookExpo this year, I couldn't wait to read one of his books. It turns out I could wait because I had to wait: all his books were checked out at the library. Wow. I had no idea he was such a popular author.

Finally, I was able to check out Ghost on audio, and it was like hearing Reynolds speak. I love the authenticity of his characters. They have troubles, they do the wrong thing, they accept the consequences, they help each other, they jab at the world with humor...brave, heroic, weak, foolish, struggling, epic.

I loved hearing this story from a black community of a boy who starts running when his dad points a gun at him and who goes on to meet a strong track coach who gently but firmly shapes his life.

Jason Reynolds may be my new favorite author.

Jason Reynolds is even better at the MG level! Loved Castle/Ghost, his grey-area character nuances, and the diversity of supporting characters (getting their own books soon, hopefully). Audio was excellent and gave distinct voices to the many characters, especially nailing Ghost (“I could feel the altercationess rising” is one of my all time favorite lines). I have known so many of these characters in real life, and I know kids will strongly embrace this realistic reflection of their realities.

I definitely read this last year or earlier but apparently didn't put it on GoodReads! It was great though!