About the Author⁚ Jewell Parker Rhodes
Jewell Parker Rhodes, born in 1954, is an award-winning author of children’s and adult fiction. She holds multiple degrees from Carnegie Mellon University. Rhodes is also a professor at Arizona State University.
Background and Career
Jewell Parker Rhodes, with a background in drama criticism and creative writing, began her career with historical fiction for adults. Her works often explore themes of race, culture, and history. She transitioned to writing for children, gaining recognition for her novels addressing social issues. Rhodes’s work includes a mystery series and novels that focus on the African American experience. She has received numerous awards for her contributions to literature. Her dedication to diverse storytelling is evident in her impactful novels. Currently, she serves as a professor and founding director of a creative writing center.
“Ghost Boys” tells the story of Jerome, a young Black boy killed by police, who becomes a ghost. He witnesses the aftermath of his death and meets other ghost boys.
Plot Overview
The novel begins with Jerome’s death, shot by a police officer who mistakes his toy gun for a real one. As a ghost, Jerome observes the impact of his death on his family and community. He encounters the ghost of Emmett Till, who guides him through his afterlife. Jerome witnesses his family’s grief, the media coverage of his death, and the community’s reaction. The story alternates between the day of the shooting and the following months, exploring the injustice and racism that led to Jerome’s tragic end.
Jerome’s Death and Afterlife
Jerome’s death is sudden and brutal, occurring when a police officer mistakes his toy gun for a real weapon. His spirit rises above his body and he becomes a ghost. In his spectral form, Jerome witnesses his own death scene and the arrival of his distraught mother. He is initially confused and frustrated by his new existence. Jerome is unable to interact with the living and is forced to observe the aftermath of his death. He starts to understand the injustice of his fate and the world he’s now part of as a ghost.
Main Characters
The story features key figures such as Jerome Rogers, the protagonist, and Emmett Till, a historical figure who appears as a ghost. Sarah Moore, the officer’s daughter, also plays a crucial role.
Jerome Rogers
Jerome Rogers is the twelve-year-old African-American protagonist of “Ghost Boys,” whose life is tragically cut short by a police shooting. He is portrayed as an ordinary boy playing with a toy gun. After his death, Jerome becomes a ghost, observing the impact of his loss on his family and community. As a ghost, he grapples with the injustice of his death, seeking understanding and coming to terms with his new existence. He is also frustrated by his inability to move on from witnessing his family’s pain. The story is narrated from his perspective.
Emmett Till
Emmett Till, a fourteen-year-old African-American boy, is a significant character in “Ghost Boys,” appearing as a ghost. He was murdered in 1955 in Mississippi due to racial prejudice. Till’s brutal murder is a historical event that serves as a parallel to Jerome’s death in the novel. As a ghost, Emmett serves as a guide and mentor to Jerome. He helps Jerome understand his purpose in the afterlife. He teaches Jerome the importance of witnessing and helping the living to tell stories of grief and loss.
Themes
The novel explores themes of racism and police brutality, highlighting their devastating impact. Grief and loss are central as characters grapple with the death of loved ones. The book delves into the legacy of historical injustice.
Racism and Police Brutality
Ghost Boys directly confronts the issues of racism and police brutality through the tragic death of Jerome Rogers. The novel illustrates how racial bias leads to fatal misinterpretations by law enforcement, highlighting the disproportionate impact on young Black lives. Jerome’s story mirrors real-life incidents, such as the killing of Tamir Rice, emphasizing the urgent need for systemic change. The book underscores how these acts of violence are rooted in a history of racial injustice and prejudice, further perpetuating cycles of pain and suffering. The narrative demands a critical examination of societal structures that allow such tragedies to occur.
Grief and Loss
Ghost Boys poignantly explores the profound grief and loss experienced by Jerome’s family and community after his death. The novel delves into the emotional devastation caused by such a sudden and violent tragedy, showing the long-lasting impact on those left behind. Jerome, as a ghost, witnesses his family’s pain, highlighting their struggle to cope with his absence. The narrative emphasizes the complexities of grief, from initial shock and disbelief to the ongoing process of mourning and remembrance. The book underscores the need for empathy and support for those grieving such senseless losses;
Literary References
Ghost Boys references J.M. Barrie’s “Peter Pan” and Louisa May Alcott’s “Little Women.” These allusions highlight the lack of representation for children of color in classic literature.
“Peter Pan” and “Little Women”
Ghost Boys critiques the classic children’s novels, “Peter Pan” and “Little Women,” for their failure to represent diverse experiences. The line, “All children, except one, grow up” from “Peter Pan” is a point of frustration for Jerome, as it ignores the reality of children dying young due to violence. In “Little Women,” the novel makes the point that even though it acknowledged a young person dying, it still lacks representation. This highlights the absence of Black children in such classic stories.
Historical Context
Ghost Boys is rooted in real-world events. The novel draws parallels to the murder of Emmett Till and the shooting of Tamir Rice, highlighting ongoing racial injustice.
The Murder of Emmett Till
Emmett Till, a 14-year-old African American boy from Chicago, was brutally murdered in Mississippi in 1955. Accused of whistling at a white woman, he was abducted, beaten, and killed by two white men. The open-casket funeral, insisted upon by his mother, and subsequent publication of photographs of his brutalized body shocked the nation. This event became a catalyst for the Civil Rights Movement, exposing the horrific realities of racial violence and injustice prevalent at the time, and influencing the narrative of Ghost Boys.
Tamir Rice and Black Lives Matter
The novel draws a direct parallel to the tragic death of Tamir Rice, a 12-year-old boy killed by a Cleveland police officer in 2014. Rice was playing with a toy gun when he was shot, a detail mirrored in Jerome’s story. This event, along with others like the deaths of Trayvon Martin and Michael Brown, fueled the rise of the Black Lives Matter movement. This movement addresses systemic racism and police brutality against Black people, and the narrative in Ghost Boys directly engages with these issues and their contemporary significance.
Reception and Impact
Ghost Boys has garnered significant critical acclaim, receiving awards and praise for its timely and challenging exploration of racism. It is a book that has sparked discussions and action.
Critical Acclaim and Awards
Ghost Boys has been widely praised for its powerful narrative and exploration of complex themes. The novel has received numerous accolades, including the We Need Diverse Books 2019 Walter Award in the Young Readers Category. Critics have lauded its relevance, its challenge to readers, and its call for discussion and action. It was called a “timely and challenging” book by Kirkus Reviews. The emotional impact of the novel has also been recognized, with the author herself noting the emotional toll the writing process took on her. The book is considered an important contribution to children’s literature.
Film Adaptation and Spanish Edition
In 2021, the rights to Ghost Boys were acquired for a potential film adaptation. A Spanish edition, titled Los Chicos Fantasmas, was published in 2022, expanding its reach.
Future Film and Translation
The acquisition of film rights for Ghost Boys by Entertainment Studios Motion Pictures in 2021 suggests a future film adaptation is possible, potentially bringing the story to a wider audience. This could amplify the book’s themes of racial injustice and loss. The 2022 Spanish translation, Los Chicos Fantasmas, indicates the book’s global relevance and the desire to share its message across language barriers. Further translations could also be undertaken, allowing more people to access and reflect upon the novel’s powerful message. The novel’s impact may grow through various media.