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    Ghost
    Ghost
    Ghost
    Audiobook3 hours

    Ghost

    Written by Jason Reynolds

    Narrated by Guy Lockard

    4.5/5

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    About this audiobook

    A National Book Award Finalist for Young People’s Literature
    Nominated as one of America’s best-loved novels by PBS’s The Great American Read

    Ghost wants to be the fastest sprinter on his elite middle school track team, but his past is slowing him down in this first electrifying novel of the acclaimed Track series from Coretta Scott King - John Steptoe Award–winning author Jason Reynolds.

    Ghost. Lu. Patina. Sunny. Four kids from wildly different backgrounds with personalities that are explosive when they clash. But they are also four kids chosen for an elite middle school track team—a team that could qualify them for the Junior Olympics if they can get their acts together. They all have a lot to lose, but they also have a lot to prove, not only to each other, but to themselves.

    Running. That’s all Ghost (real name Castle Cranshaw) has ever known. But Ghost has been running for the wrong reasons—it all started with running away from his father, who, when Ghost was a very little boy, chased him and his mother through their apartment, then down the street, with a loaded gun, aiming to kill. Since then, Ghost has been the one causing problems—and running away from them—until he meets Coach, an ex-Olympic Medalist who sees something in Ghost: crazy natural talent. If Ghost can stay on track, literally and figuratively, he could be the best sprinter in the city. Can Ghost harness his raw talent for speed, or will his past finally catch up to him?
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherSimon & Schuster Audio
    Release dateAug 30, 2016
    ISBN9781508230472
    Author

    Jason Reynolds

    Jason Reynolds is a #1 New York Times bestselling author, a Newbery Award Honoree, a Printz Award Honoree, a two-time National Book Award finalist, a Kirkus Award winner, a UK Carnegie Medal winner, a two-time Walter Dean Myers Award winner, an NAACP Image Award Winner, an Odyssey Award Winner and two-time honoree, and the recipient of multiple Coretta Scott King honors and the Margaret A. Edwards Award. He was also the 2020–2022 National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature. His many books include All American Boys (cowritten with Brendan Kiely); When I Was the Greatest; The Boy in the Black Suit; Stamped; As Brave as You; For Every One; the Track series (Ghost, Patina, Sunny, and Lu); Look Both Ways; Stuntboy, in the Meantime; Ain’t Burned All the Bright (recipient of the Caldecott Honor) and My Name Is Jason. Mine Too. (both cowritten with Jason Griffin); and Long Way Down, which received a Newbery Honor, a Printz Honor, and a Coretta Scott King Honor. His debut picture book, There Was a Party for Langston, won a Caldecott Honor and a Coretta Scott King Illustrator Honor. He lives in Washington, DC. You can find his ramblings at JasonWritesBooks.com.

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    Reviews for Ghost

    4.5/5

    534 ratings48 reviews

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    • 5/5
      This book-- a microchasm of young urban life, has never failed to captivate.
    • 5/5
      This book is sooo good if i like it u will!
    • 4/5
      I first became aware of this book while watching Public Broadcasting System’s Great American Read. It is a short middle grade novel about a black youth who joins a track team. Castle Cranshaw, nicknamed “Ghost,” is the narrator of his own story. Castle is a likeable character. Though he experiences family trauma, resulting in his father going to prison, and has committed a crime himself, the reader can tell he is sensitive and has a conscience. He wants to do the right thing but does not always succeed. The track coach becomes a positive role model and the track team bonds over shared experiences. It portrays how sports can become a motivational force in a young person’s life. It has a ring of authenticity. I listened to the audio book, read by Guy Lockard. He does an excellent job of making it seem that Castle is speaking directly to the listener. Recommended for ages twelve and up.
    • 5/5
      A lovely story!! It was like a warm embrace! Highly recommend it!
    • 5/5
      The backround of everyone is very amazing the best book I ever read
    • 5/5
      Great first book of the 4 book series very dark though in some spots.
    • 5/5
      Reynolds makes Ghost’s voice come alive! A story of hope and overcoming and becoming who we truly want to be, full of humor and reflection. An excellent choice for kids and adults alike. Would be a great book for English teachers to use to teach the writing trait of “voice.”
    • 3/5
      This was book was a choice in my daughter's middle school reading program. Both me and the kids enjoyed the book, though I was a bit disappointed in the ending.
    • 5/5
      best book ever . ??????????? it was awosme i will read it again and again
    • 5/5
      I love all of the feeling in this book. It tells everyone to share their own feelings even if you had a rough past
    • 5/5
      This is an excellent young adult book which shows exactly what it's like to be a teenager. Ghost (real name Castle Cranshaw) has been chosen for an elite middle school track team - a team that could qualify them for the Junior Olympics if they can get their acts together. They all have a lot to lose, but they also have a lot to prove, not only to each other, but to themselves. Can Ghost harness his raw talent for speed, or will his past finally catch up to him? Beautiful and powerful story for all ages. Author's writing is genuine and raw. Cliffhanger at the end drove me crazy!
    • 5/5
      This was absolutely one of the best audio narrations I have heard. This was my first experience with Jason Reynolds’s work and I will definitely be reading more. He captured Ghost’s voice so expertly and I found myself laughing and crying. Highly recommend for the classroom!
    • 4/5
      Started it November last year and finished it just last night almost 10 months later. I can't believe I still remember the story! It shows how good it is. Oh and the narrator ?
    • 5/5
      This was a good book. Can‘t wait to read the next ones. ???
    • 5/5
      Really captures the spirit of an American boy reaching to his potential and the wonderful adults who spark his journey! Rock on!
    • 5/5
      As many of us struggled with lack of self-esteem in our youth, Ghost also suffered at the beginning of Jason Reynold’s first book in a set of four Track books. His fully developed characters exhibit authentic emotions and reactions as the facts of their lives are revealed. Conversations with peers, adults and action are believable and shine light on the core of each character’s past and inner life. Having learned that he is an extraordinarily fast runner, when running for his life, Ghost’s chance encounter with a track coach leads to his gradual acceptance into the team family. Those relationships and his track victories give rise to new attitudes, hopes and choices that improve his quality of life and sense of self. I fell in love and respect with the characters and did not want the story to end. Delighted to discover three additional books in the series, I was grateful for a down day and weekend in which to binge-listen to all four books. Don’t even start Ghost if you don’t have time to immediately follow up with Patina, as that’s the only way to find out what happened in Ghost’s big race.
    • 4/5
      Worthwhile story. Sometimes the way the narrator voices the characters didn't quite work for me, but the climax of the story hit hard - I was crying. A good short listen. Nice layperson exploration of PTSD flashbacks too, without any psych jargon.
    • 4/5
      The night his father got really drunk and tried to shoot him and his mother was the night Ghost discovered that he could run. Fast. But he's never run on a real team or anything. He'd rather play basketball (not that he's on a real team for that, either). When he sees a group of kids and their coach practicing in the park, he's sure he can beat the time of their best sprinter -- and he does, earning himself a place on the team. But his mom says he can only run track if he stays out of trouble at school. And that's going to take some work, because Ghost has a lot of rage inside him, and sometimes it just comes out.Reynolds writes a good, gripping story, with well-developed characters. The book does end on a cliffhanger, so if you're recommending this to a young reader in your life, be sure to have the rest of the series on hand. I'm glad I read this and will read at least the next book in the series.
    • 5/5
      Inspiring, but realistic, story of a kid struggling -- with anger, with feelings of injustice, with poverty. I appreciate the first-person narration, and the gradual transformation as he begins to understand his own world a little better, and learns to navigate within it. I also love a story where the main character finds their pride, finds their way to be proud of themselves. Well done.

      *add* -- there is no cursing in this book. There is gun violence (father shoots at Ghost and his mom in a drunken rage and then goes to jail for it). There is a fistfight and consequences. There is theft and consequences. There is pain, there is anger, there is trouble, and there is dealing with it.
    • 5/5
      My 10-year-old son, an occasional reader who mainly likes graphic novels, read this entire book to me, passionately. It is GREAT.
    • 4/5
      middlegrade fiction (Ghost is in the 7th grade; deals with incarcerated/abusive dads, bullying/fistfights, making new friends/joining a team). Even good kids can make bad decisions, and Ghost learns a few hard lessons here. Diverse, likeable characters and an engaging voice/story make this one a winner.
    • 5/5
      Castle "Ghost' Cranshaw has had a rough childhood... at least, ever since his father tried to shoot him and his mother. His father went to prison for it, but ever since, he's struggled at school and around the neighborhood. His mother does her best, but she's struggling too. When he stumbles upon a track team starting their practice, he runs along with them, just for kicks. But the coach sees something in him and recruits Ghost for the team. At first, he doesn't know how to take it all, but very soon, he's feeling a sense of belonging; of being part of something. And he quickly develops a respect for Coach that he's never had for anyone. But of course, he stumbles on his path, and one of his stumbles is a pretty big one. Jason Reynolds never fails to deliver, and this is no exception. I'm looking forward to reading the other three books in the series.
    • 4/5
      Fun MG read with realistic characters.
    • 4/5
      Jason Reynolds has a way. This book has been sitting around my house for a while, and I finally got to picking it up.

      Castle Crenshaw is a well-drawn character for middle grades. The portrayal of his rage and his outsider feelings are wonderfully done to maintain relatability to children reading this book. Nothing raw or overly painful, but gritty like a skinned knee from a bad fall. This doesn't coddle the reader, instead sets you in his life to draw empathetic conclusions on his choices and challenges. As a bonus Castle "Ghost" Crewnshaw has a way to envelope the reader in justifications and responsibilities for his actions. He knows who he is, just not who he wants to be.

      The supporting characters and resulting sequels promise to have their own flavor of hardship and hope, and I look forward to continuing the series.

      I'd recommend this for mature late 8yo to adult.
    • 5/5
      I now have the entire series in my classroom for my students! Jason Reynolds brings determination, strength, and the bond of friends to this series.
    • 5/5
      I read this book in less than a day. Ghost has had it tough in his home life, school life, and struggles with bullies. In this realistic fiction narrative, Ghost learns what it means to take responsibility for his actions, what the power of being on a team can do, and that instead of running away from his problems he should be running towards who he wants to be. He finds a mentor in his track coach, and does not fail to feel the power of what tough love really means. This book will show its readers that it does not matter where you come from or what you have experienced, but it does matter what you learn from those hard lessons and what you make of it. Friendships and family will outweigh the bullies and hardships any day.This is a great book to recommend to readers who are looking for a motivational read, are interested in sports, or are learning to overcome tough decisions and the importance of choosing between right and wrong.
    • 4/5
      Castle Crenshaw lives with his mom, and his dad is in jail. He happens upon a track team practice, and can join the team on one condition - if he gets in any trouble at all, he's out. As one who's had "altercations" almost every day Castle, who renames himself Ghost, isn't sure that can happen, but he joins anyways knowing he's been running ever since his dead threatened him & his mom.Reynolds has a way of getting into a kid's head and understanding where they're coming from. Ghost is a middle grade novel and for a younger audience than the others that I've read, but it no less pulls a punch as you get to know Ghost and his teammates. Ghost is the narrator, and sounds like a young boy navigating some difficult issues in life, but the story also has humorous moments. The track coach is a great example of an adult mentor, and his relationship with the kids is pretty special. I'm looking forward to seeing how the rest of the "Track" series goes, each focusing on a different character.
    • 5/5
      There are many reasons why I loved this book. One of the reasons is that the characters in this story were very realistic and relatable as characters. For example, the narrator, Castle, who goes by Ghost, deals with ongoing struggles related to his family and finances. When one of his classmates teases him for being poor, he reacts in a very realistic way by fighting back, feeling emotional about his family’s financial situation. In addition, Ghost steals a pair of running shoes due to people making fun of his other shoes. This action is a realistic thing for a person to do as a result of feeling humiliated, making Ghost easier to imagine as a character. By making Ghost a realistic and relatable character, the author allows the reader to imagine Castle as a real person, making the book more accurate and likeable. Additionally, I like the plot of this book. The series of events that occur in this book slowly reveal aspects of Ghost’s personality, allowing the reader to get to know him better as a person. For example, events such as fighting a classmate and stealing shoes shows how Ghost copes with the struggles in his life. Another example is that towards the end of the story, one of the characters, Coach, gives Ghost advice of the positive symbolism of running, teaching Ghost to deal with his struggles in a way that is better for his future and looks forward instead of in the past. The events in this book display Ghost’s character and the ending teaches readers a very important lesson: the best way to deal with something is with positivity and looking towards the future instead of back in the past.
    • 4/5
      Excellent read for middle school students. I started reading it with my 3rd grader, but the altercation with Castle's dad at the beginning was too much. Now, my sixth grade son is going to read it. The main character is flawed and does a great job of explaining his thoughts as he works through problems (which he has plenty). I'm looking forward to the other books in this series.
    • 4/5
      Just last week I finished and loved Long Way Down and decided to go with another one of his books. This one is part of a trilogy, involving a teenage boy joining a track team. They are fast, funny and smart, with just the right amount of depth. They are also perfect on audio. I do not read much YA, but when they are done this well, I will try to make time.