Ghost’s narration is candid and colloquial, reminiscent of such original voices as Bud Caldwell and Joey Pigza his level of self-understanding is both believably childlike and disarming in its perception. Ghost is surprised to find himself caring enough about being on the team that he curbs his behavior to avoid “altercations.” But Ma doesn’t have money to spare on things like fancy running shoes, so Ghost shoplifts a pair that make his feet feel impossibly light-and his conscience correspondingly heavy. When he inserts himself into a practice for a local elite track team, the Defenders, he’s fast enough that the hard-as-nails coach decides to put him on the team. His dad’s been in jail three years now, but Ghost still feels the trauma, which is probably at the root of the many “altercations” he gets into at middle school. This story, told with exquisite language and clarity of narrative, is both heartbreaking and hopeful.Īn extraordinary and timely piece of writing.Ĭastle “Ghost” Cranshaw feels like he’s been running ever since his dad pulled that gun on him and his mom-and used it. The characters ring true as they discuss issues both personal and global. Haley’s recorder is both an important plot element and a metaphor for the power of voice and story. Woodson delivers a powerful tale of community and mutual growth. They support one another, something Haley needs as she prepares for her father’s return from prison and her uncle’s decision to move away. “It’s not fair that you’re a boy and Ashton’s a boy and he can do something you can’t do anymore. This reveals the divide between them and their white classmate, Ashton. It is also a time when Amari learns from his dad that he can no longer play with toy guns because he is a boy of color. Esteban, of Dominican heritage, is coping with his father’s detention by ICE and the possible fracturing of his family. Haley is biracial and cared for by her white uncle due to the death of her African-American mother and her white father’s incarceration. Just before she begins seventh grade, Haley tells the story of the previous school year, when she and five other students from an experimental classroom were brought together.Įach has been bullied or teased about their difficulties in school, and several face real challenges at home. The conflict around the student council elections offers an important critique of empty hashtags used for mass appeal that do nothing to challenge injustice. Each time they step outside their comfort zone, they grow and expand their perspective about privacy and consent, relationships, and their own value, even when the outcome plays out differently than they hoped. Although Ciel has an outgoing side, they begin the narrative with a lot of insecurities that, refreshingly, have nothing to do with their trans identity. Set in Montréal, the book depicts natural, casual cultural diversity through side characters such as Ciel’s Arabic-speaking classmate Frank, among others. However, more challenges appear on the horizon for Ciel, like their unfamiliar romantic feelings for their friend Liam, a White transgender boy, and upcoming elections for president of the Gender and Sexuality Alliance, who will also serve on the student council. When their science and technology teacher assigns their class a project about mastering a new skill, Ciel decides to pick something that will improve their videos. Twelve-year-old Brazilian Canadian Ciel-who is starting their first year of secondary school-showcases their sense of humor and speaks out about transphobia on their growing YouTube channel with the help of their younger brother. A transgender student takes on new experiences, from an awakening crush to student council elections.