Comprehensive Review of Ghost Boys by Jewell Parker Rhodes

Literature Reviews - 2025

Comprehensive Review of Ghost Boys by Jewell Parker Rhodes

Introduction

Jewell Parker Rhodes’ Ghost Boys (2018) is a middle-grade novel that blends historical fiction and magical realism to explore racial injustice, police brutality, and historical memory. The novel follows 12-year-old Jerome, a Black boy shot and killed by a white police officer who mistakes his toy gun for a real weapon. After his death, Jerome becomes a ghost and witnesses the effects of his killing on his family, the police officer’s family, and the broader community. He also encounters the ghost of Emmett Till, the 14-year-old Black boy lynched in 1955, as well as other victims of racial violence throughout history.

While Ghost Boys presents a timely and necessary discussion of systemic racism and racialized violence, the book has received mixed critical responses, particularly regarding its narrative structure and thematic focus. Many have praised it for making difficult topics accessible to young readers, while others criticize it for centering a white perspective and offering an overly simplified resolution to a deeply entrenched social issue.

Narrative Structure and Writing Style

The novel alternates between two primary timelines: Jerome’s life before his death and his observations as a ghost after the shooting. This nonlinear structure allows readers to see both the events leading up to Jerome’s death and the societal impact of such tragedies.

Rhodes’ prose is concise and direct, making the book highly accessible to its intended middle-grade audience. The language is often fragmented, reflecting Jerome’s emotional state and emphasizing the urgency of the subject matter. However, some adult readers and educators have noted that this sparse style may limit emotional depth, making it harder to fully engage with the characters’ experiences.

Themes and Key Messages

  1. Racial Injustice and Police Brutality

At its core, Ghost Boys addresses the recurring issue of police violence against Black children, drawing inspiration from real-life cases like that of Tamir Rice. Through Jerome’s perspective, the novel highlights the pain and grief that such killings inflict on families and communities. The inclusion of Emmett Till’s ghost further underscores the historical continuity of racial violence, showing that these issues are not new but deeply rooted in American history.

  1. The Role of Historical Memory

By introducing Emmett Till and the other “ghost boys,” Rhodes emphasizes the importance of remembering past injustices and drawing connections between history and the present. Jerome learns that the spirits of those who have been unjustly killed remain to witness and influence the living, underscoring the idea that social change depends on acknowledging and addressing historical wrongs.

  1. Centering of a White Character (Sarah’s Role)

One of the most controversial aspects of the novel is the significant role given to Sarah, the police officer’s daughter. She is the only living person who can see Jerome, and much of the book focuses on her emotional struggles in coming to terms with her father’s actions. Many critics argue that this choice shifts the narrative focus away from Jerome and his family, making it more about a white character’s moral awakening rather than the direct impact of systemic racism. This framing risks reinforcing the problematic trope in which Black suffering is filtered through a white character’s perspective.

  1. Forgiveness vs. Justice

The novel’s resolution, where Jerome ultimately forgives the officer who killed him, has been a point of contention. Some readers appreciate the book’s emphasis on understanding and healing, while others argue that this conclusion simplifies the reality of systemic racism and police violence. The officer’s guilt is acknowledged, but there is little emphasis on structural accountability, leaving some readers dissatisfied with the book’s treatment of justice.

Strengths of the Novel

  1. Accessible and Engaging for Young Readers
    • The novel presents complex social issues in a way that is digestible for middle-grade readers, making it a useful educational tool.
  2. Connection Between Past and Present
    • The inclusion of Emmett Till highlights the historical continuity of racial violence, encouraging young readers to see the relevance of history in today’s struggles.
  3. Emotional Impact
    • Many young readers and educators have found Ghost Boys to be deeply moving, sparking important discussions on race, injustice, and social activism.

Criticisms and Limitations

  1. Overemphasis on Sarah’s Perspective
    • The novel’s focus on Sarah’s moral journey risks sidelining the perspectives and agency of Black characters, which some readers find problematic.
  2. Lack of Nuanced Character Development
    • Many secondary characters, including Jerome’s family and even Emmett Till, feel underdeveloped, making their emotional impact less powerful than it could have been.
  3. Simplified Treatment of Justice
    • The novel’s resolution, which prioritizes forgiveness over systemic change, has been criticized for not adequately addressing the broader implications of police violence and racial injustice.

Critical Reception

Ghost Boys has received both praise and criticism from educators, reviewers, and readers.

  • Positive Reviews highlight the book’s accessibility for younger readers, its emotional resonance, and its ability to spark conversations about racial injustice. Many educators and parents recommend it as a starting point for discussions about systemic racism and police violence.
  • Negative Reviews focus on the novel’s framing of the narrative, particularly its emphasis on Sarah’s perspective and its treatment of forgiveness as a resolution to racial violence. Some critics argue that the book’s approach may unintentionally reinforce problematic racial dynamics rather than challenge them.

Critics such as Zetta Elliott have pointed out that the novel fails to fully unpack the historical significance of lynching and that it could have been more powerful if it centered Jerome’s family and community rather than Sarah. Similarly, some readers on Goodreads have expressed frustration with the book’s handling of race and justice, particularly in how it portrays the police officer’s remorse.

Conclusion

Ghost Boys is a well-intentioned and thought-provoking novel that introduces young readers to critical discussions about race, justice, and historical memory. While it effectively highlights the ongoing problem of police violence against Black children and the importance of remembering historical injustices, its narrative choices—particularly its emphasis on Sarah’s perspective and its resolution through forgiveness—have led to significant critiques.

For educators and parents, Ghost Boys can serve as a starting point for discussions on systemic racism, but it should be supplemented with other works that provide a fuller perspective on Black resistance, community grief, and structural change. Ultimately, while the novel raises important questions, it does not offer a fully satisfying exploration of justice or the lived realities of racial violence.