Grade 7 · Class Reads · Book guide
Ghost
by Jason Reynolds
Castle Cranshaw, who calls himself Ghost, unexpectedly earns a place on an elite middle-school track team. His speed is real, but experiences from his past and impulsive decisions threaten the future he is beginning to imagine.
Book details
Format
Contemporary realistic fiction
Suggested age range
Ages 10 and up
Why read it together?
A book worth talking about
Jason Reynolds uses a vivid first-person voice and a sports structure to explore trauma, accountability, belonging, and mentorship. The novel supports close study of character perspective and how withheld information changes an audience's conclusions.
- Identity
- Trauma and healing
- Mentorship
- Accountability and belonging
Before reading
Get ready to wonder
- How can a person's strongest ability be connected to a difficult experience?
- What is the difference between explaining a choice and excusing it?
During and after reading
Talk about the text
- How does Ghost's first-person voice shape what readers know and believe?
- Which moments foreshadow the conflict between Ghost's talent and his choices?
- How do Coach and the team support Ghost without removing his responsibility?
Writing invitation
Respond to the book
Analyze how Ghost's understanding of running changes across the novel. Synthesize evidence from at least three moments.