Review: "Ghost Boys," by Jewell Parker Rhodes

Jerome tries to keep his nose clean. Sure, he's bothered by bullies at school, but when he makes a new friend from Texas, he's surprised to find out that the boy carries a fake gun to protect himself. The gun is completely harmless, but when Jerome is playing with it at the park, the police roll up and immediately shoot him dead. But Jerome's spirit doesn't leave the Earth. Instead, he roams along with the hundreds of other young black boys who have been killed by violence. What he doesn't expect is that the daughter of the police officer who shot him can see his ghost. She has to face the fact that her father shot and killed Jerome and that there will be no justice for Jerome when her father doesn't have to stand trial for what happened. This is a poignant read and so vital to open the eyes of many young kids to see the way the world has worked for so long. It's up to the youth to make changes!

Mrs. Denney's Rating: ****

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