. Ghost is a children’s novel about how a young black boy deals with his traumatic childhood while making efforts to rise above it. He joins the track team and finds himself struggling to fit in because his past still haunts him. I found this book to be insightful and a necessary read for any child who’s struggling to adjust to a new social setting, especially school. I feel as if the message is empowering in how reminds a child that their past doesn’t have to define them ( )

I don't remember what I heard about this in the Great American Read, but whatever it was, made me put it on my wish list, and indeed I thought both the writing and the narration were excellent. ( )

A book for kids that really felt like it was written for kids, and not just to please adults. It's fun, fast-paced, and diverse. The main character has a realistic reaction to and understanding of his life. I bet some readers will feel motivated to get into running track after this, too! ( )

A good coming of age story. Is Ghost running from his past, or is he choosing to move forward. Depth of character shines here, with glimpses of more stories to be told in the lives of those around Ghost. ( )

Really great audio book. This is very much a character-driven book, which is unusual for a sports book. You expect the plot to revolve around Castle/Ghost getting better at track and winning a race, but it really revolves around Castle/Ghost getting more in touch with himself and his potential. It's definitely about how being part of a team strengthens Castle/Ghost and gives him support and confidence. It seems to suggest that C/G needs a strong male role model since his father is absent and he finds that guy in Coach.

I thought this would be a five-star book for me, but I felt a little underwhelmed by the stakes (how much does C/G change over the course of the book?). I also thought Reynolds spelled things out a few times when he should've let the reader put it together. For example, there's a part when Lou, who is albino, says that bullies call *him* "ghost" and I thought it would've been stronger if the connection between names we choose and names we're given were somehow more subtle.

Overall, C/G is a lovable character with a great, distinct voice and I definitely want to read more about him. ( )