He refuses to give Castle his uniform and threatens to kick him off the team. Coach Brody sees a “wanted” poster of Castle up in the sporting goods store for shoplifting. Things are going well until the team gets their new uniforms. The shoes do help Castle run easier and he begins to bond with his teammates and enjoy being on the track team.Ĭoach Brody takes the new team members out for a “newbie dinner” where they share personal stories and Castle finally feels “seen”.

Embarrassed, Castle flees his school in the middle of the day and heads to a sporting goods store where he steals an expensive pair of silver shoes, he calls his silver bullets. Unfortunately, this leads to further bullying at school. That night, he cuts the tops of his shoes off so they will be lighter to run in. After finding out the reason for the fight, Coach Brody allows Castle to stay on the team and gives him support and advice as well as extra running drills as a consequence.Ĭastle realizes that it is harder to run in his high top sneakers compared to his teammates who all have expensive running shoes. Fearing his mother’s reaction, he convinces the principal to call his coach to pick him up. One day, Castle discovers an elite track team and realizes that joining the team might keep him on track in more ways than one.Ĭoach Brody of the Defenders convinces Castle’s mother to let him join the team on the condition that he keep up with his schoolwork and stay out of trouble.The first day after this commitment, Castle is cruelly bullied during lunch and he retaliates by assaulting the bully, Brandon Simmons.

Castle has trouble in school from bullies who tease him incessantly.

His father is in jail after attempting to shoot Castle and his mother in a violent, drunken rage. The story is told from the perspective of 7th grader Castle Cranshaw (Ghost), who is struggling to cope after a traumatic incident of domestic violence.Ĭastle lives with his mother in an impoverished neighborhood in a big city. It is the first novel in the award-winning “Track” series. Ghost by Jason Reynolds was written in 2016.

What are some examples of symbolism used by the author in the novel Ghost and how does the symbolism help you better understand the characters and their motivations?.

What are some of the literary themes present in the novel, Ghost?.

What were some allusions (references to real people, places, events, sports and art/literature) present in the novel?.

How does Coach’s background parallel Ghost’s experiences? How did Coach overcome his traumatic experiences? How does this influence Ghost?.

Who are the main characters in Ghost and what challenges do they face?.

Essential Questions for Ghost by Jason Reynolds

Jason reynolds ghost series