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Ghost Boys

What is ghost boys?

· James MacDonald

Key facts

Title Ghost Boys[1]
Author Jewell Parker Rhodes[1]
Publication year 2018[1]
Genre Middle-grade novel[4]
Main character Jerome[1]
Historical figure mentioned Emmett Till[1]

Ghost Boys is a 2018 middle-grade novel by Jewell Parker Rhodes about Jerome, a Black boy shot by a white police officer, who returns as a ghost and meets other ghost boys, including Emmett Till.

Context

Ghost Boys, published in 2018, is a middle-grade novel by Jewell Parker Rhodes [1]. It follows Jerome, a Black boy killed by a white police officer, who observes the world as a ghost and meets other ghost boys, including Emmett Till [1]. The novel addresses themes of racism and police violence [3]. It is sometimes confused with the Cantonese phrase "ghost boys" (养鬼仔), which refers to a spirit ritual, not the book [2].

Documented claims

  • The novel is set in the USA. [1]
  • Jerome is a young, unarmed Black boy shot dead by a white police officer. [1]
  • The story uses a ghost perspective after Jerome's death. [1]
  • The book connects Jerome's story to racism and police violence. [3]

Questions and answers

What is the controversy with Ghost Boys?

The controversy often involves its frank treatment of racism and police violence, which some consider too intense for middle-grade readers [3].

Was Ghost Boys banned?

The sources do not state that Ghost Boys was banned.

Is Ghost Boys based on a true story?

The sources do not state that Ghost Boys is based on a true story, but it includes the historical figure Emmett Till [1].

What is Ghost Boys book about?

It is about Jerome, a Black boy shot by a white police officer, who becomes a ghost and meets other ghost boys, including Emmett Till [1].

Sources

  1. Ghost Boys by Jewell Parker Rhodes - BBC Bitesize — bbc.co.uk (retrieved August 3, 2026)
  2. 【廣東話解釋】咩叫「養鬼仔」？迷信定真係有其事？ - KongHub — konghub.net (retrieved August 3, 2026)
  3. Ghost Boys by Jewell Parker Rhodes | Summary, Analysis, FAQ — sobrief.com (retrieved August 3, 2026)
  4. Ghost Boys Summary | GradeSaver — gradesaver.com (retrieved August 3, 2026)

Sources last checked August 3, 2026. · More in Entertainment