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Ghost Boys: The Graphic Novel
Experience Jewell Parker Rhodes's award-winning storytelling in this tender yet visceral graphic novel adaptation of her New York Times bestselling novel, with poignant illustrations by Setor Fiadzigbey.
Twelve-year-old Jerome is shot by a police officer who mistakes his toy gun for a real threat. As a ghost, he observes the devastation that is unleashed on his family and community in the wake of this unjust and brutal killing.
Soon Jerome meets another Emmett Till, a boy from a very different time but similar circumstances. Emmett helps Jerome process what has happened, on a journey toward recognizing how historical racism may have led to the events that ended his life. Jerome also meets Sarah, the daughter of the police officer who shot him, as she grapples with her father's actions.
Now gorgeously a graphic novel with gripping artwork from Black Panther illustrator Setor Fiadzigbey, Ghost Boys once again deftly explores the historical and sociopolitical layers involved in how children and families face the complexities of today’s world—and how one boy, in particular, comes to understand American Blackness in the aftermath of his own death.
Twelve-year-old Jerome is shot by a police officer who mistakes his toy gun for a real threat. As a ghost, he observes the devastation that is unleashed on his family and community in the wake of this unjust and brutal killing.
Soon Jerome meets another Emmett Till, a boy from a very different time but similar circumstances. Emmett helps Jerome process what has happened, on a journey toward recognizing how historical racism may have led to the events that ended his life. Jerome also meets Sarah, the daughter of the police officer who shot him, as she grapples with her father's actions.
Now gorgeously a graphic novel with gripping artwork from Black Panther illustrator Setor Fiadzigbey, Ghost Boys once again deftly explores the historical and sociopolitical layers involved in how children and families face the complexities of today’s world—and how one boy, in particular, comes to understand American Blackness in the aftermath of his own death.
264 pages, Paperback
Published December 2, 2025
13 people are currently reading
3292 people want to read
About the author
Jewell Parker Rhodes
33 books1,556 followersJewell Parker Rhodes has always loved reading and writing stories. Born and raised in Manchester, a largely African-American neighborhood on the North Side of Pittsburgh, she was a voracious reader as a child. She began college as a dance major, but when she discovered there were novels by African Americans, she knew she wanted to be an author. She wrote six novels for adults, two writing guides, and a memoir, but writing for children remained her dream.
Now she is the author of eleven books for youth including the New York Times bestsellers Will's Race for Home, Ghost Boys and Black Brother, Black Brother. Her other books include Soul Step, Treasure Island: Runaway Gold, Paradise on Fire, Towers Falling, and the Louisiana Girls Trilogy: Ninth Ward, Sugar, and Bayou Magic. She has also published six adult novels, two writing guides, and a memoir.
She is the recipient of numerous awards including the American Book Award, the Black Caucus of the American Library Award for Literary Excellence, a Coretta Scott King Honor Award, an NAACP Image Award nomination, and the Octavia E. Butler Award.
When she’s not writing, she’s visiting schools to talk about her books with the kids who read them, or teaching writing at Arizona State University, where she is the Piper Endowed Chair and Founding Artistic Director of the Virginia G. Piper Center for Creative Writing.
Now she is the author of eleven books for youth including the New York Times bestsellers Will's Race for Home, Ghost Boys and Black Brother, Black Brother. Her other books include Soul Step, Treasure Island: Runaway Gold, Paradise on Fire, Towers Falling, and the Louisiana Girls Trilogy: Ninth Ward, Sugar, and Bayou Magic. She has also published six adult novels, two writing guides, and a memoir.
She is the recipient of numerous awards including the American Book Award, the Black Caucus of the American Library Award for Literary Excellence, a Coretta Scott King Honor Award, an NAACP Image Award nomination, and the Octavia E. Butler Award.
When she’s not writing, she’s visiting schools to talk about her books with the kids who read them, or teaching writing at Arizona State University, where she is the Piper Endowed Chair and Founding Artistic Director of the Virginia G. Piper Center for Creative Writing.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 55 reviews
February 12, 2026
I'm not sure I have the words for this graphic novel. I immediately put the actual novel on hold, but this adaption of it was phenomenal and gut-wrenching. CW: death on page, gun violence, racism
What Worked: EVERYTHING. This was phenomenal. I'm always hesitant about graphic novel adaptations of middle grade books; however, this has be one of the most on the market. It takes a lot for me to cry while reading books, but this had me in tears. The imagery paired with the phenomenal storytelling made for a gut-wrenching narrative that will ultimately make you question the state of the world.
This will easily be one of my favorite reads of 2026. If you haven't had the chance to check it out, definitely give it a try.
What Worked: EVERYTHING. This was phenomenal. I'm always hesitant about graphic novel adaptations of middle grade books; however, this has be one of the most on the market. It takes a lot for me to cry while reading books, but this had me in tears. The imagery paired with the phenomenal storytelling made for a gut-wrenching narrative that will ultimately make you question the state of the world.
This will easily be one of my favorite reads of 2026. If you haven't had the chance to check it out, definitely give it a try.
August 1, 2025
The graphic novel version of Ghost Boys by @jewellparkerrhodes
💨
Twelve-year-old Jerome was playing with his toy gun when he was shot by a police officer. As a ghost, he’s able to observe the devastation is death brings to his family and community. When Jerome meets the ghost of Emmett Till, he learns about historical racism and how it led to his own death. Jerome also meets Sarah, the daughter of the police officer who killed him, as she struggles with her father’s actions.
👦🏾
I didn’t think I could feel more from this MG book but I was so wrong. Sometimes it’s not always necessary to turn books into graphic novels, but this is not one of those times. The first panel had me in tears and it really didn’t stop. This was one of those novels that changed me when I read it and I’m thrilled a new generation will feel the same when they read this title releasing Dec 2. Fabulous graphic novel art by @setor_fia
CW: police brutality, murder, racism, grief, child death, injury, gun violence, hate crime, bullying, violence, blood, classism, physical abuse
💨
Twelve-year-old Jerome was playing with his toy gun when he was shot by a police officer. As a ghost, he’s able to observe the devastation is death brings to his family and community. When Jerome meets the ghost of Emmett Till, he learns about historical racism and how it led to his own death. Jerome also meets Sarah, the daughter of the police officer who killed him, as she struggles with her father’s actions.
👦🏾
I didn’t think I could feel more from this MG book but I was so wrong. Sometimes it’s not always necessary to turn books into graphic novels, but this is not one of those times. The first panel had me in tears and it really didn’t stop. This was one of those novels that changed me when I read it and I’m thrilled a new generation will feel the same when they read this title releasing Dec 2. Fabulous graphic novel art by @setor_fia
CW: police brutality, murder, racism, grief, child death, injury, gun violence, hate crime, bullying, violence, blood, classism, physical abuse
January 17, 2026
Ghost Boys is a painful but important story about the damage racism causes and how it can tear families apart. It is a thought provoking story paired with beautiful artwork. Somehow I didn't realize it was an adaptation of a novel so I'll have to get a copy of that to read as well.
In the spirit of full disclosure, I received Ghost Boys: The Graphic Novel by Jewell Parker Rhodes via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
In the spirit of full disclosure, I received Ghost Boys: The Graphic Novel by Jewell Parker Rhodes via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
November 12, 2025
Dare I say this story was meant to be a graphic novel? I read the original book a couple years ago, and I liked it, but I loved this adaptation! The illustrations really added to the storytelling. The reader can see and feel the emotions of all of the characters throughout the graphic novel because of these illustrations. This adaptation maintains the historical (and current) background by keeping both Emmett’s and Sarah’s characters as deliverers of information. I highly suggest this book to any student age 11+ who has an interest in the racial injustice in our country and/or police brutality.
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!
November 2, 2025
This is such an important story. I had never read it before and I wish I had read it sooner. This was during the height of BLM and the ongoing police brutality against Black People. And how the prejudice and racism has lead to the loss of several. But most of all, the mention of Emmett Till and his story was the impact. The impact that this isn’t the first nor was he the last Black person killed due to prejudice and racism. With Emmett Till, I learned of him in 7th grade. Our Texas History teacher in 2007 thought it was essential to know his story, but somehow my grandma who lived during the time never heard of him. This is a story I wish she and others read.
I can’t recommend this enough.
Thank you NetGalley and Little Brown Books for Young Readers for the ARC in exchange of an honest review.
I can’t recommend this enough.
Thank you NetGalley and Little Brown Books for Young Readers for the ARC in exchange of an honest review.
September 25, 2025
Just as haunting as the original novel, this graphic adaptation does justice to the ongoing injustice, brutality, and violence that Black people experience all too regularly. All of the illustrations add a lot of emotion to this already emotional story. This is an excellent companion to the novel, but can be read on its own as well. Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!
December 15, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5. Absolutely phenomenal. It has been years since I have read Ghost Boys, and I was so excited to see the graphic novel adaptation. It is such a raw, powerful story, and seeing it with illustrations and less text really brings out a lot of emotion. A big “yes” for all middle school readers. #mglit #yalit #librarian #librariansofinstagram #middleschoollibrarian
December 8, 2025
12/3/2025 Powerful story, but on God I'm tired of white people seemingly never having to actually be accountable for destroying the lives of innocents. Full review tk at TheFrumiousConsortium.net.
12/8/2025 I love that this powerful middle grade story was adapted to the graphic novel format because that feels so much more accessible to a wider variety of readers, not only to kids with short attention spans but also to adults with less time on our hands (and also for adults with shorter attention spans, lol, because who am I kidding?) Making this important story more available to all level of readers -- without, presumably, sacrificing any of the nuance of the original novel -- is unequivocally a good thing.
The story itself revolves around 12 year-old Jerome Rogers. He lives in the Chicago projects, where safety is never a certainty despite the best efforts of his loving parents and grandmother. One day, he decides to go play outside by himself, in one of the few open spaces in his neighborhood, with a toy gun. Someone calls the police. A cop shoots him twice in the back, killing him.
Jerome's spirit can't move on. As he tries to make sense of what happened to him, he connects with not only another ghost boy done dirty by a racist society, but also with the daughter of the white cop who shot him. The three of them try to figure out how to make peace with what happened to Jerome, and how to make society better so that it won't happen again.
That's the bare bones of the story: there's a lot more depth and nuance that I'm skipping over here as multiple people wrestle with guilt and grief. Setor Fiadzigbey's illustrations -- with a big assist on colors by Abigail Paradis -- bring the story to life perfectly. His close-up on expressions, especially, are an exceptional substitute for words to describe the myriad emotions felt by so many of the characters here.
There are going to be spoilers next, so you can feel free to skip the rest of this review while I argue with one aspect of the ending. I did love the framing of the story, as much as I hate that tales like this continue to be necessary. No kid should be shot in the back, ever. Cops in this country are way out of line. You can't expect to be armed and equipped and remunerated better than an actual soldier while being held to laughably low standards of conduct and discipline. It's disgusting (and you can probably guess from this little rant which part of the ending I'm about to fight with, lol.)
So while this story is powerful, and told so fluidly in this volume that I devoured it in one sitting, I have to admit that I'm so tired of people in positions of power not having to take accountability for their actions. Boo-fucking-hoo, the cop who shot Jerome feels bad about what happened. He fucking should! He not only shot an actual child in the back, twice, he also waited hours before calling in the paramedics. He and his partner should have absolutely gone to jail for aggravated manslaughter (or whatever it's called in Illinois) at the very least, and their dispatcher should also be convicted as an accomplice. But none of them face any actual consequences in this book for their role in deliberately killing a child. While this may be realistic, it's not presented in such a way as to provoke outrage. Instead, the cop who shot Jerome is seen as trying to reckon with what he did by helping his daughter with her website highlighting how our justice system fails Black people. And that's his entire punishment! I'm sorry, America, but that is not enough!
I'm so tired of racial supremacy protecting people who deliberately do bad things. Honestly, if the cop had called the paramedics after he realized Jerome was a kid, I'd feel a little better about him getting off scot-free. I get how conditioning and the survival instinct can override good sense in the heat of the moment, but there's no excuse for waiting three hours to call the paramedics! And you know what, Idc that the guys who killed Emmet Till didn't think they were doing anything wrong. That's no excuse. The justice system exists to reinforce the common ethical code that underpins society, and to punish transgressors who stray way over the line. A system that excuses racism belongs to a deeply corrupt society that needs desperately to be reformed and healed.
Idk, maybe this book was supposed to make me angry. I don't feel like that was the point tho: I felt that I was supposed to see the cop's extremely mild, extremely conditional support of his daughter's work as being somehow indicative of true progress. We need to expect better of our society and our justice system, tho -- which I know is asking a lot in the big two five. But 2026 is just around the corner, and here's hoping we can make bigger steps in dismantling white supremacy and its fascist handmaid systems then.
Ghost Boys: The Graphic Novel by Jewell Parker Rhodes & Setor Fiadzigbey was published December 2 2025 by Little, Brown Ink and is available from all good booksellers, including Bookshop!
12/8/2025 I love that this powerful middle grade story was adapted to the graphic novel format because that feels so much more accessible to a wider variety of readers, not only to kids with short attention spans but also to adults with less time on our hands (and also for adults with shorter attention spans, lol, because who am I kidding?) Making this important story more available to all level of readers -- without, presumably, sacrificing any of the nuance of the original novel -- is unequivocally a good thing.
The story itself revolves around 12 year-old Jerome Rogers. He lives in the Chicago projects, where safety is never a certainty despite the best efforts of his loving parents and grandmother. One day, he decides to go play outside by himself, in one of the few open spaces in his neighborhood, with a toy gun. Someone calls the police. A cop shoots him twice in the back, killing him.
Jerome's spirit can't move on. As he tries to make sense of what happened to him, he connects with not only another ghost boy done dirty by a racist society, but also with the daughter of the white cop who shot him. The three of them try to figure out how to make peace with what happened to Jerome, and how to make society better so that it won't happen again.
That's the bare bones of the story: there's a lot more depth and nuance that I'm skipping over here as multiple people wrestle with guilt and grief. Setor Fiadzigbey's illustrations -- with a big assist on colors by Abigail Paradis -- bring the story to life perfectly. His close-up on expressions, especially, are an exceptional substitute for words to describe the myriad emotions felt by so many of the characters here.
There are going to be spoilers next, so you can feel free to skip the rest of this review while I argue with one aspect of the ending. I did love the framing of the story, as much as I hate that tales like this continue to be necessary. No kid should be shot in the back, ever. Cops in this country are way out of line. You can't expect to be armed and equipped and remunerated better than an actual soldier while being held to laughably low standards of conduct and discipline. It's disgusting (and you can probably guess from this little rant which part of the ending I'm about to fight with, lol.)
So while this story is powerful, and told so fluidly in this volume that I devoured it in one sitting, I have to admit that I'm so tired of people in positions of power not having to take accountability for their actions. Boo-fucking-hoo, the cop who shot Jerome feels bad about what happened. He fucking should! He not only shot an actual child in the back, twice, he also waited hours before calling in the paramedics. He and his partner should have absolutely gone to jail for aggravated manslaughter (or whatever it's called in Illinois) at the very least, and their dispatcher should also be convicted as an accomplice. But none of them face any actual consequences in this book for their role in deliberately killing a child. While this may be realistic, it's not presented in such a way as to provoke outrage. Instead, the cop who shot Jerome is seen as trying to reckon with what he did by helping his daughter with her website highlighting how our justice system fails Black people. And that's his entire punishment! I'm sorry, America, but that is not enough!
I'm so tired of racial supremacy protecting people who deliberately do bad things. Honestly, if the cop had called the paramedics after he realized Jerome was a kid, I'd feel a little better about him getting off scot-free. I get how conditioning and the survival instinct can override good sense in the heat of the moment, but there's no excuse for waiting three hours to call the paramedics! And you know what, Idc that the guys who killed Emmet Till didn't think they were doing anything wrong. That's no excuse. The justice system exists to reinforce the common ethical code that underpins society, and to punish transgressors who stray way over the line. A system that excuses racism belongs to a deeply corrupt society that needs desperately to be reformed and healed.
Idk, maybe this book was supposed to make me angry. I don't feel like that was the point tho: I felt that I was supposed to see the cop's extremely mild, extremely conditional support of his daughter's work as being somehow indicative of true progress. We need to expect better of our society and our justice system, tho -- which I know is asking a lot in the big two five. But 2026 is just around the corner, and here's hoping we can make bigger steps in dismantling white supremacy and its fascist handmaid systems then.
Ghost Boys: The Graphic Novel by Jewell Parker Rhodes & Setor Fiadzigbey was published December 2 2025 by Little, Brown Ink and is available from all good booksellers, including Bookshop!
September 25, 2025
⭒˚.⋆⭒˚.⋆⭒˚.⋆⭒˚.⋆⭒˚.⋆⭒˚.⋆⭒˚.⋆⭒˚.⋆⭒˚.⋆⭒˚.⋆⭒˚.⋆⋆⭒˚.⋆
Thank you to netgally and the publisher for this E-ARC!
I did read Ghost Boys In January this year (2025) and really enjoyed it. so I was excited when I got the E-ARC for the graphic novel adaptation. This book talks about a lot of hard things: racism, child death, police brutality, poverty etc. So it's not for everyone but I do think it's really important to learn about stuff like this. Things like what happened to Jerome, Emmett Till, Tamir Rice, Trayvon Martin, Jordan Edwards, Michael Brown, Laquan McDonald and so many other boys who didn't deserve to d!e but people
k!lled them because they where scared, scared of little boys. I'm sorry to bring the vibe down but I just really hate how much evil and hatred is in this world. This book is heartbreaking. I cried, which doesn't happen often with books for me. I'm not saying I'm against police obviously police are a very important part of the world but they should do their jobs properly and not abuse their power.
TL;DR This powerful and emotional book tackles hard truths like racism, police brutality, and injustice. It highlights the real pain behind lost lives and calls for accountability without condemning all police.
The characters
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Jerome ~ he was such a wonderful sweet kind who always tried to do what was right.
Sarah ~ she was so broken by what her father Officer Moore did. She was a sweet little girl who deeply cares about all the prejudice and wants to put an end to it.
Carlos ~ He was my favorite character, he was so hurt by what happened to Jerome and just tried his hardest to always be a good kid and make people happy.
Kim ~ she was a sweet little girl who loves books. She was obviously deeply affected by the loss of her older brother. But I enjoyed seeing how she could learn to be ok while still missing her brother.
Emmett Till ~ Now obviously he was a real Fourteen year old boy who was brutally murdered because of a misunderstanding. So I'm going to say anything else about him except that he didn't deserve any of the awful things those men did to him on that night in 1955.
What to expect
🎮 Middle grade
🎮 Social justice
🎮 Strong Friendships
🎮 Greif
🎮 Healing
Quotes
~~~~~~~
ᵇᵉᶜᵃᵘˢᵉ ᵗʰⁱˢ ⁱˢ ��ⁿ ᵃʳᶜ ʳᵉᵃᵈ ᵠᵘᵒᵗᵉˢ ᵐᵃʸ ᵇᵉ ˢᵘᵇʲᵉᶜᵗ ᵗᵒ ᶜʰᵃⁿᵍᵉ "Wake up, people, I want to tell everyone. Fear, stereotypes about black boys don’t make the world better."
"Can’t undo wrong. Can only do our best to make things right."
Content
~~~~~~~
❤️🔥Romance| None
🤬Language| D-mn,
🗡️Violence| Shooting,
🏳️🌈LGBTQ| none!
✝️ Religion/spirituality | a reverend comes to the house suggesting they pray he also says they don't know gods will,
⚠️Other| Police brutality, racism, child death, murder, Grief, bullying, gun violence
I received this E-ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Thank you to netgally and the publisher for this E-ARC!
I did read Ghost Boys In January this year (2025) and really enjoyed it. so I was excited when I got the E-ARC for the graphic novel adaptation. This book talks about a lot of hard things: racism, child death, police brutality, poverty etc. So it's not for everyone but I do think it's really important to learn about stuff like this. Things like what happened to Jerome, Emmett Till, Tamir Rice, Trayvon Martin, Jordan Edwards, Michael Brown, Laquan McDonald and so many other boys who didn't deserve to d!e but people
k!lled them because they where scared, scared of little boys. I'm sorry to bring the vibe down but I just really hate how much evil and hatred is in this world. This book is heartbreaking. I cried, which doesn't happen often with books for me. I'm not saying I'm against police obviously police are a very important part of the world but they should do their jobs properly and not abuse their power.
TL;DR This powerful and emotional book tackles hard truths like racism, police brutality, and injustice. It highlights the real pain behind lost lives and calls for accountability without condemning all police.
The characters
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Jerome ~ he was such a wonderful sweet kind who always tried to do what was right.
Sarah ~ she was so broken by what her father Officer Moore did. She was a sweet little girl who deeply cares about all the prejudice and wants to put an end to it.
Carlos ~ He was my favorite character, he was so hurt by what happened to Jerome and just tried his hardest to always be a good kid and make people happy.
Kim ~ she was a sweet little girl who loves books. She was obviously deeply affected by the loss of her older brother. But I enjoyed seeing how she could learn to be ok while still missing her brother.
Emmett Till ~ Now obviously he was a real Fourteen year old boy who was brutally murdered because of a misunderstanding. So I'm going to say anything else about him except that he didn't deserve any of the awful things those men did to him on that night in 1955.
What to expect
🎮 Middle grade
🎮 Social justice
🎮 Strong Friendships
🎮 Greif
🎮 Healing
Quotes
~~~~~~~
ᵇᵉᶜᵃᵘˢᵉ ᵗʰⁱˢ ⁱˢ ��ⁿ ᵃʳᶜ ʳᵉᵃᵈ ᵠᵘᵒᵗᵉˢ ᵐᵃʸ ᵇᵉ ˢᵘᵇʲᵉᶜᵗ ᵗᵒ ᶜʰᵃⁿᵍᵉ "Wake up, people, I want to tell everyone. Fear, stereotypes about black boys don’t make the world better."
"Can’t undo wrong. Can only do our best to make things right."
Content
~~~~~~~
❤️🔥Romance| None
🤬Language| D-mn,
🗡️Violence| Shooting,
🏳️🌈LGBTQ| none!
✝️ Religion/spirituality | a reverend comes to the house suggesting they pray he also says they don't know gods will,
⚠️Other| Police brutality, racism, child death, murder, Grief, bullying, gun violence
I received this E-ARC in exchange for an honest review!
January 26, 2026
Jerome tries to do all his parents and grandma ask. Study hard. Come straight home after school. Look out for his sister. But school is hard, with the walk there dangerous, avoiding gangs, drug pushers and others looking for trouble. Bullies wait at the gate or hunt him down during breaks when they’re bored.
He works hard in class, but this too brings the bullies, taunts and jabs. Many kids don’t want to listen to teachers or learn. They’d rather talk about music, or gangs or street action. Jerome has no friends to speak of either, trying to keep out of trouble and to himself.
When a new boy joins his class, Jerome feels for him as his bullies quickly make fun of him. Jerome waves Carlos over to sit by him, and gives advice about the school. It’s not long before the Jerome’s bullies track them down, but Carlos has something to scare them off with. A gun.
Its not real, but is has the desired effect. When he offers it to Jerome to play with, Jerome isn’t sure. He decides it might be fun. He never sees Carlos again.
As a ghost, he must watch the trauma of his family losing him. He doesn’t want to be there and can’t understand why he can’t leave. But when he meets others that roam this realm alongside the live one, he begins to wonder if there is an important reason.
There is a terrible history of shootings in their country. 1000’s of black people killed by police, KKK or racism. Is there a way to finally make it stop?
This graphic novel is a moving and potent adaptation of the 2018 novel of the same name. In muted colours, this story is told in sections separated by pages with one word in the centre. alive or dead.
These pages indicate to the reader what happens to Jerome, stepping back and forth through events such as the walk to school, the moment Carlos gives Jerome the toy gun, right through to a preliminary court hearing, meeting other ghosts – and onto an emotional ending.
Shocking facts are revealed about shooting statistics in the USA, along with historical events.
This isn’t just a story for those who live there, but for everyone to think about their racial bias, prejudice and beliefs in stereotypes. Jerome’s family pays the horrific price of police brutality, and readers also see the fallout of the family of the policeman who fired his gun.
Angie Thomas says Ghost Boys is a Must Read, and I totally agree.
Author – Jewell Parker Rhodes
Illustrator – Setor Fiadzigbey
Age – 12+
Publisher – Orion / Hachette
Set – Contemporary Chicago / USA
Viewpoint – 1st person
Violence – Yes
Sex – No
Real Life – Yes
Fantasy – Ghosts
Blend – Real Life / Ghosts / Racism
He works hard in class, but this too brings the bullies, taunts and jabs. Many kids don’t want to listen to teachers or learn. They’d rather talk about music, or gangs or street action. Jerome has no friends to speak of either, trying to keep out of trouble and to himself.
When a new boy joins his class, Jerome feels for him as his bullies quickly make fun of him. Jerome waves Carlos over to sit by him, and gives advice about the school. It’s not long before the Jerome’s bullies track them down, but Carlos has something to scare them off with. A gun.
Its not real, but is has the desired effect. When he offers it to Jerome to play with, Jerome isn’t sure. He decides it might be fun. He never sees Carlos again.
As a ghost, he must watch the trauma of his family losing him. He doesn’t want to be there and can’t understand why he can’t leave. But when he meets others that roam this realm alongside the live one, he begins to wonder if there is an important reason.
There is a terrible history of shootings in their country. 1000’s of black people killed by police, KKK or racism. Is there a way to finally make it stop?
This graphic novel is a moving and potent adaptation of the 2018 novel of the same name. In muted colours, this story is told in sections separated by pages with one word in the centre. alive or dead.
These pages indicate to the reader what happens to Jerome, stepping back and forth through events such as the walk to school, the moment Carlos gives Jerome the toy gun, right through to a preliminary court hearing, meeting other ghosts – and onto an emotional ending.
Shocking facts are revealed about shooting statistics in the USA, along with historical events.
This isn’t just a story for those who live there, but for everyone to think about their racial bias, prejudice and beliefs in stereotypes. Jerome’s family pays the horrific price of police brutality, and readers also see the fallout of the family of the policeman who fired his gun.
Angie Thomas says Ghost Boys is a Must Read, and I totally agree.
Author – Jewell Parker Rhodes
Illustrator – Setor Fiadzigbey
Age – 12+
Publisher – Orion / Hachette
Set – Contemporary Chicago / USA
Viewpoint – 1st person
Violence – Yes
Sex – No
Real Life – Yes
Fantasy – Ghosts
Blend – Real Life / Ghosts / Racism
October 28, 2025
Twelve-year-old Jerome is shot by a police officer who mistakes his toy gun for a real threat. As a ghost, he observes the devastation that is unleashed on his family and community in the wake of this unjust and brutal killing.
The story is too familar; another child killed by a cop because he felt threatened. A grown man, a cop, afraid of a small boy just because he was black. Everything about this graphic novel makes me angry. The dead boy, the fact he is a dead boy, the trial, the results of the trial, the reason Jerome is still walking this world and not resting, and the tears that run down my cheeks as I read.
When will these stories stop happening? I have that question running through my head as Ai read about Jerome's death, about Emmitt Till, about all the boys, men, and young women who died to early because they were not white.
I remember learning about Emmitt Till as a child. My father told me the story, made me look at the picture of him in his coffin. A horrible picture of a boy who no longer even looked human. I cried then just as Ai cry now and ask my daddy why they did that. "Cus he was different from them, and they don't like that." he answered.
"But I'm different daddy, will they do this to me, too all us kids?"
My dad looked away unable to answer me. So I held that fear for ever, the fear someone would hurt me even though I can present as white, it is obvious I am not. And I knew cops were to be feared as much as any white person.
Jerome's parents taught him to fear cops and white people. 70 years after Emmitt Till's murder and parents are still teaching their children how much danger is out there just because they are not white.
Ghost Boys offers a glimmer of hope, a chance for all of us to grow and change. It should be required reading in all schools.
The art work is beautiful and the story is powerful and moving.
Just saying I recommend is not enough. If any of this touches you, then read this to get a glimpse into the pain the other side feels.
Expected publishing date; December 02, 2025
Thanks to @netgalley and Little Brown Books for Young Readers/Little Brown Ink for the opportunity to read this eArc in exchange for my honest and unbiased opinion.
The story is too familar; another child killed by a cop because he felt threatened. A grown man, a cop, afraid of a small boy just because he was black. Everything about this graphic novel makes me angry. The dead boy, the fact he is a dead boy, the trial, the results of the trial, the reason Jerome is still walking this world and not resting, and the tears that run down my cheeks as I read.
When will these stories stop happening? I have that question running through my head as Ai read about Jerome's death, about Emmitt Till, about all the boys, men, and young women who died to early because they were not white.
I remember learning about Emmitt Till as a child. My father told me the story, made me look at the picture of him in his coffin. A horrible picture of a boy who no longer even looked human. I cried then just as Ai cry now and ask my daddy why they did that. "Cus he was different from them, and they don't like that." he answered.
"But I'm different daddy, will they do this to me, too all us kids?"
My dad looked away unable to answer me. So I held that fear for ever, the fear someone would hurt me even though I can present as white, it is obvious I am not. And I knew cops were to be feared as much as any white person.
Jerome's parents taught him to fear cops and white people. 70 years after Emmitt Till's murder and parents are still teaching their children how much danger is out there just because they are not white.
Ghost Boys offers a glimmer of hope, a chance for all of us to grow and change. It should be required reading in all schools.
The art work is beautiful and the story is powerful and moving.
Just saying I recommend is not enough. If any of this touches you, then read this to get a glimpse into the pain the other side feels.
Expected publishing date; December 02, 2025
Thanks to @netgalley and Little Brown Books for Young Readers/Little Brown Ink for the opportunity to read this eArc in exchange for my honest and unbiased opinion.
November 7, 2025
Thank you to Netgalley for the early access. Some of my review's comments may not reflect finished art.
A graphic novel adaptation of Jewell Parker Rhodes's powerful middle grade novel, "Ghost Boys," this version maintains the essence of the original while respectfully straddling the issues that could come with visual portrayal of some of its darker themes. With more pages than the original, a reader who has not experienced the prose-only "Ghost Boys" would not feel like this was paced too quickly or abridged. Although, like Rhodes's original story, the bitterness and lack of happy ending still remains.
Fiadzigbey does a remarkable job making sure that Jerome's death is conveyed as horrible through the words rather than a visceral dread from the images. The reader sees Jerome's face in sadness and fear when he is dying, but not a gory mess. And the very difficult task of conveying the dread and gruesome terror of Emmett Till's lynching is still not directly portrayed but maintains the impact on Jerome as he witnesses it in the ghost memory, and direction of a Google search for "casket, Till" followed Sarah's crying in the background. It is a very difficult task to make such heavy topics palatable for young readers, and I think he pulled it off respectfully. That said, there is a certain sameness to the faces of the "ghost boys" that makes the named victims hard to differentiate until you see a reference picture. That could also be a way of showing respect, as there are names of real people who were murdered. It really is up to interpretation.
For readers who already know about the "Ghost Boys" novel, this is an adaptation that has its own merits and might be worth reading again. For reluctant readers, it carries the same weight and grim reality wrapped up in a supernatural story that served as its inspiration. Overall, I do think Jewell Parker Rhodes's original may be the better one to offer kids who are emotionally prepared to read about such heavy topics as racism, lynching, police brutality, and child death. If only because we get to be in Jerome's thoughts more. But this is a worthy graphic novel adaptation that treats its subject matter with the gravity and seriousness it deserves.
A graphic novel adaptation of Jewell Parker Rhodes's powerful middle grade novel, "Ghost Boys," this version maintains the essence of the original while respectfully straddling the issues that could come with visual portrayal of some of its darker themes. With more pages than the original, a reader who has not experienced the prose-only "Ghost Boys" would not feel like this was paced too quickly or abridged. Although, like Rhodes's original story, the bitterness and lack of happy ending still remains.
Fiadzigbey does a remarkable job making sure that Jerome's death is conveyed as horrible through the words rather than a visceral dread from the images. The reader sees Jerome's face in sadness and fear when he is dying, but not a gory mess. And the very difficult task of conveying the dread and gruesome terror of Emmett Till's lynching is still not directly portrayed but maintains the impact on Jerome as he witnesses it in the ghost memory, and direction of a Google search for "casket, Till" followed Sarah's crying in the background. It is a very difficult task to make such heavy topics palatable for young readers, and I think he pulled it off respectfully. That said, there is a certain sameness to the faces of the "ghost boys" that makes the named victims hard to differentiate until you see a reference picture. That could also be a way of showing respect, as there are names of real people who were murdered. It really is up to interpretation.
For readers who already know about the "Ghost Boys" novel, this is an adaptation that has its own merits and might be worth reading again. For reluctant readers, it carries the same weight and grim reality wrapped up in a supernatural story that served as its inspiration. Overall, I do think Jewell Parker Rhodes's original may be the better one to offer kids who are emotionally prepared to read about such heavy topics as racism, lynching, police brutality, and child death. If only because we get to be in Jerome's thoughts more. But this is a worthy graphic novel adaptation that treats its subject matter with the gravity and seriousness it deserves.
January 3, 2026
Powerful. This is the one word I would use to describe this book.
Beautifully written, the story is appropriately written for middle school and up in my opinion.
This book is about the judgements we make and the repercussions of those judgements. The story is about Jerome, his struggles with being a young black boy trying so hard to do all the right things but it seems like his circumstances challenge him with every move. Follow his journey as he is shot and killed by a white police officer. As he comes back to witness the aftermath, the effects it has on his community, his family, friend and even the daughter of the police officer, Sarah, also a victim of the incident. In learning to process what happen to him, Jerome meets Emmett Till, learning his story and seeing how things now are not very different from the 1950's. The book does an amazing job touching on kindness and getting to know someone and not judging them on where they come from or the color of their skin and making a difference. And, of the hard topics of racism and how the past still shapes the present.
I loved how the author approached the story line. I really loved how she illustrated the importance of taking the time to find out about who people are as individuals instead of making assumptions. How that can change everything and make a difference. The story is amazing and the graphics are perfect for the book. This is a sensitive and hard topic and I think the approach taken in this book was right on point
This is a 6-star book. This is a very heavy read, but worth every minute. Great for book clubs. I would love to see this in libraries but the topic for some may be too controversial. Hopefully someday things will change and hopefully it will be this generation of kids who can make the difference.
Beautifully written, the story is appropriately written for middle school and up in my opinion.
This book is about the judgements we make and the repercussions of those judgements. The story is about Jerome, his struggles with being a young black boy trying so hard to do all the right things but it seems like his circumstances challenge him with every move. Follow his journey as he is shot and killed by a white police officer. As he comes back to witness the aftermath, the effects it has on his community, his family, friend and even the daughter of the police officer, Sarah, also a victim of the incident. In learning to process what happen to him, Jerome meets Emmett Till, learning his story and seeing how things now are not very different from the 1950's. The book does an amazing job touching on kindness and getting to know someone and not judging them on where they come from or the color of their skin and making a difference. And, of the hard topics of racism and how the past still shapes the present.
I loved how the author approached the story line. I really loved how she illustrated the importance of taking the time to find out about who people are as individuals instead of making assumptions. How that can change everything and make a difference. The story is amazing and the graphics are perfect for the book. This is a sensitive and hard topic and I think the approach taken in this book was right on point
This is a 6-star book. This is a very heavy read, but worth every minute. Great for book clubs. I would love to see this in libraries but the topic for some may be too controversial. Hopefully someday things will change and hopefully it will be this generation of kids who can make the difference.
December 15, 2025
The graphic novel version of Ghost Boys by Jewell Parker Rhodes is a powerful and emotional adaptation that truly brings the story to life. I haven’t read the original novel, but experiencing this story in graphic novel form made it feel especially impactful—seeing the emotions on the page added a depth that text alone might not have captured.
The story is told through Emmett, a boy who is killed by the police, and it explores heavy but important themes such as racism, police brutality, and prejudice. What stood out most to me was how Emmett observes the people connected to his life and death—his family, the police officer, the lawyers, and others—and how each of them reacts to what happened. It shows how one tragic event can affect so many lives in different ways.
The illustrations are especially powerful. They convey grief, confusion, and injustice in a way that feels accessible for middle-grade readers while still carrying emotional weight. The artwork helps guide readers through difficult topics with care and clarity, making the message understandable without being overwhelming.
Overall, this graphic novel is a meaningful and well-crafted adaptation that delivers an important message. It’s a moving read that encourages reflection and discussion, and I would recommend it to readers looking for a story that is both visually engaging and socially relevant.
I received an advanced copy of this story however this review is my honest review of my thoughts on this story.
The story is told through Emmett, a boy who is killed by the police, and it explores heavy but important themes such as racism, police brutality, and prejudice. What stood out most to me was how Emmett observes the people connected to his life and death—his family, the police officer, the lawyers, and others—and how each of them reacts to what happened. It shows how one tragic event can affect so many lives in different ways.
The illustrations are especially powerful. They convey grief, confusion, and injustice in a way that feels accessible for middle-grade readers while still carrying emotional weight. The artwork helps guide readers through difficult topics with care and clarity, making the message understandable without being overwhelming.
Overall, this graphic novel is a meaningful and well-crafted adaptation that delivers an important message. It’s a moving read that encourages reflection and discussion, and I would recommend it to readers looking for a story that is both visually engaging and socially relevant.
I received an advanced copy of this story however this review is my honest review of my thoughts on this story.
September 9, 2025
Ghost Boys: The Graphic Novel by Jewell Parker Rhodes is a powerful and moving story that follows Jerome, a young Black boy whose life is tragically cut short. The narrative alternates between his time alive and his journey as a ghost after death, giving readers a haunting yet necessary perspective. Through Jerome’s story, the book shows the harsh realities that many Black people in the U.S. face daily, especially the constant fear of interactions with police and the weight of racial prejudice that has persisted throughout history. It’s both heart-wrenching and eye-opening, making you pause to reflect on the world we live in.
What makes this version especially impactful is that it’s told in graphic novel form. The illustrations pull you right into Jerome’s world, and the visual storytelling makes the book more accessible to a wide range of readers, especially those who connect more easily with images. I love how the format amplifies the emotions of the story; you feel Jerome’s fear, his confusion, and his determination to be heard. It’s the kind of book that lingers long after you’ve finished it, a story that not only sucks you in but also makes you feel and think deeply about justice, empathy, and change.
What makes this version especially impactful is that it’s told in graphic novel form. The illustrations pull you right into Jerome’s world, and the visual storytelling makes the book more accessible to a wide range of readers, especially those who connect more easily with images. I love how the format amplifies the emotions of the story; you feel Jerome’s fear, his confusion, and his determination to be heard. It’s the kind of book that lingers long after you’ve finished it, a story that not only sucks you in but also makes you feel and think deeply about justice, empathy, and change.
September 3, 2025
As a school librarian, I have long recommended Ghost Boys by Jewell Parker Rhodes to my students--even at the high school level. While dealing with difficult and very real topics, it is also engaging and informative. The story follows a 12-year-old boy named Jerome both alive and as a ghost after being shot by a police officer because he had a toy gun. The graphic novel version further enhances the story, creating an additionally engaging visual to go alongside the story. The story loses nothing by being in visual form and, in fact, it makes it even more emotional and compelling. The story clearly jumps back and forth in Jerome's life before and after his death. It follows the people in his life as they work through the aftermath of this violent event, one that, as the story demonstrates, is in a long line of young black boys who have been killed as Jerome meets Emmett Till's ghost. This graphic novel is highly recommended for all school libraries. Thank you to Net galley and the publishers for this ARC.
December 18, 2025
Rhodes wrote the original in 2018 and now with Fiadzigbey as illustrator, they've have collaborated on a graphic novel version that uses the medium to full effect in bringing out the emotional story that was first shared with readers about a twelve year old boy, Jerome who is shot and killed by a white police officer in a park when he's holding a toy gun.
For the intended audience, it eloquently and usefully gives you "alive" and "dead" sections and Jerome, after he's dead has an ethereal quality that shows that he's a ghost. This attention to specific details won me over because it removes the figurative mysteries to better help a reader process the story itself about a young boy shot dead and meeting other "ghost boys" like Emmett Till who have been felled by gun violence.
The art style is sensitively handled but there is violence on the page that captures the grief of Jerome's family, as well as the white cop's daughter who Jerome speaks to after death as the trial happens on whether to charge her dad with manslaughter.
For the intended audience, it eloquently and usefully gives you "alive" and "dead" sections and Jerome, after he's dead has an ethereal quality that shows that he's a ghost. This attention to specific details won me over because it removes the figurative mysteries to better help a reader process the story itself about a young boy shot dead and meeting other "ghost boys" like Emmett Till who have been felled by gun violence.
The art style is sensitively handled but there is violence on the page that captures the grief of Jerome's family, as well as the white cop's daughter who Jerome speaks to after death as the trial happens on whether to charge her dad with manslaughter.
February 10, 2026
Ghost Boys: The Graphic Novel by Jewell Parker Rhodes & Setor Fiadzigbey
Years ago, I listened to the original novel as an audiobook. I remember listening to the scenes illustrated in pages 203-205, and having my breath completely taken away, so much so that I had to sit down and just think for awhile.
I knew it was coming this time around, so it didn't take my breath away. But I wept reading this a few times.
Enormously effective in novel form, and this is an enormously effective interpretation.
Reading history:
Normally I keep this in my private notes section, but I'm moving it. Yay!
Reading history was not added on Goodreads, but was instead kept on a post-it note with the book.
Started January 19th, 2026.
Restarted January 28th, 2026.
Finished January 29th, 2026.
January 19th, 2026: read pp. 1-6 in physical copy.
January 28th, 2026: read pp. 1-72 in physical copy.
January 29th, 2026: read pp. 73-254 + acknowledgments in physical copy.
Years ago, I listened to the original novel as an audiobook. I remember listening to the scenes illustrated in pages 203-205, and having my breath completely taken away, so much so that I had to sit down and just think for awhile.
I knew it was coming this time around, so it didn't take my breath away. But I wept reading this a few times.
Enormously effective in novel form, and this is an enormously effective interpretation.
Reading history:
Normally I keep this in my private notes section, but I'm moving it. Yay!
Reading history was not added on Goodreads, but was instead kept on a post-it note with the book.
Started January 19th, 2026.
Restarted January 28th, 2026.
Finished January 29th, 2026.
January 19th, 2026: read pp. 1-6 in physical copy.
January 28th, 2026: read pp. 1-72 in physical copy.
January 29th, 2026: read pp. 73-254 + acknowledgments in physical copy.
November 24, 2025
Ghost Boys is a powerful young readers graphic novel about the aftermath of an unjust police shooting of a 12 year old black boy. It is definitely a conversation starter and IMO would make a great book for schools, because it is a conversation starter. There are so many things to unpack. It covers friendship, families, racial bias, racism, injustices, education, activism, need for change, and death. I loved how it incorporated Emmitt Til, Trayvon Martin and so many other young black kids who lost their lives too soon because their killers “felt threatened” by their presence. This book layout, graphics, and wording was done very well. It is not overwhelming and is age appropriate as to not overwhelm with details, but does present a definite truth that kids these days (at least black kids) are very much aware of at an early age. Kids should not have to live scared. They should just be kids. Thanks #netgalley for the ARC.
August 28, 2025
This book is powerful. It is about a young boy who is shot by a cop. The story has a back-and-forth timeline of when Jerome, our main character, was shot. It goes between life and death. Looking both backwards and forwards. Ghost boys are the boys left behind to help welcome the dead. To help them transition and to tell the stories that need to be told. to help the people who can make changes, understand what what’s happening. In today’s society, this book is more important than ever. The graphic novel version was just moving as the standard book, but in a format that can be read by a much broader audience. Unfortunately, stories like this still happen every day in the United States. And as Jerome and Emmett Till both say within its pages, this won’t stop until viewing people as stereotypes stop.
September 9, 2025
Thank you to Little, Brown Ink and NetGalley for the eARC to read and review.
Ghost Boys: The Graphic Novel met all of my expectations and did not disappoint.
Ghost Boys is a powerful story that deftly ties together modern and timely social commentary with distinctive historical events that continue to impact our world today. Ghost Boys is a book that I am continually recommending, especially to middle readers, and Ghost Boys: The Graphic Novel will definitely now be added to that recommendation as well. Setor Fiadzigbey's beautiful illustrations bring to life the richness and raw honesty that Jewell Parker Rhodes brings to the issues that need to be faced head on.
With the edition of this gorgeous graphic novel version, more people will be able to access this story that should be read by everyone.
Ghost Boys: The Graphic Novel met all of my expectations and did not disappoint.
Ghost Boys is a powerful story that deftly ties together modern and timely social commentary with distinctive historical events that continue to impact our world today. Ghost Boys is a book that I am continually recommending, especially to middle readers, and Ghost Boys: The Graphic Novel will definitely now be added to that recommendation as well. Setor Fiadzigbey's beautiful illustrations bring to life the richness and raw honesty that Jewell Parker Rhodes brings to the issues that need to be faced head on.
With the edition of this gorgeous graphic novel version, more people will be able to access this story that should be read by everyone.
September 24, 2025
I love this author! This book is one that I've used repeatedly with 8th grade and 9th grade students. It's a quick read for that age group. However, the learning that is attached to this is more appropriate for 8/9th grade. There's so much that can be tied to this, from the judicial system, influential trials in US history, stories of racial violence-particularly Emmett Till-are heavy issues that require complex thinking and systems of respect in a well established classroom community. This is an excellent graphic novel version. The images are spare, but I really like the focus on the well drawn characters' emotions. This version could definitely help students with learning needs be a key part of this important book. Many students will identify with various aspects of family and neighborhood. SO glad to see this version, it's well done and I will definitely be requesting it.
February 17, 2026
An important read about the racism and police brutality Black men and boys have to face and fear on a daily basis.
The story was moving and devastating. The author shows how the main character learns to accept and grieve of his own death caused by a white police officer while also showing us just how many Black boys suffered the same fate and how their families are abandoned by the justice system.
At the same time there was a huge emphasis on family, friendship ans community. The characters and their relationships were well fleshed out.
Jewell Parker Rhodes managed to show grief and it's many facettes in such a realistic way. Not only grief but lonliness as well and the illustrator Setar Fiadzigbey managed to capture all these emotions and relationships within his beautiful illustrations.
The story was moving and devastating. The author shows how the main character learns to accept and grieve of his own death caused by a white police officer while also showing us just how many Black boys suffered the same fate and how their families are abandoned by the justice system.
At the same time there was a huge emphasis on family, friendship ans community. The characters and their relationships were well fleshed out.
Jewell Parker Rhodes managed to show grief and it's many facettes in such a realistic way. Not only grief but lonliness as well and the illustrator Setar Fiadzigbey managed to capture all these emotions and relationships within his beautiful illustrations.
October 22, 2025
Ghost Boys: The Graphic Novel
I am a huge fan of graphic novels, especially for introducing tough topics to younger readers. They often provide the needed visuals to events that tweens/teens may have not experienced yet.
I was very moved by the novel and this graphic version doesn’t disappoint. The story definitely feels harder when you see it-especially that opening scene, ugh.
I thought it was interesting that they chose to have the “dead” pages as white and “alive” pages as black. Almost like the pain if life was relieved in death.
Trigger warning: child death, racism, violence
5 ⭐️Stars
Publication date: Dec. 1, 2025
** Thank you Little, Brown Books for Young Readers for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.**
I am a huge fan of graphic novels, especially for introducing tough topics to younger readers. They often provide the needed visuals to events that tweens/teens may have not experienced yet.
I was very moved by the novel and this graphic version doesn’t disappoint. The story definitely feels harder when you see it-especially that opening scene, ugh.
I thought it was interesting that they chose to have the “dead” pages as white and “alive” pages as black. Almost like the pain if life was relieved in death.
Trigger warning: child death, racism, violence
5 ⭐️Stars
Publication date: Dec. 1, 2025
** Thank you Little, Brown Books for Young Readers for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.**
January 19, 2026
I read this graphic novel for MLK Day--I had read GHOST BOYS when it was published and was so deeply moved by the novel that I have never been able to forget it, so when I saw there was a new graphic version I was eager to see it. And it's absolutely gorgeous! The illustrations drawn by Setor Fiadzigbey and Abigail Paradis's color palette capture the uncanny sense of life-and-death coexisting, the separation between Jerome and the ghost boys and the world of the living. This graphic novel will bring Jewell Parker Rhodes powerful story to a new audience. Librarians and teachers take note: your young readers, especially reluctant ones, will seize this from the shelves ASAP. It's a life-changer.
December 6, 2025
Copy provided by the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Wow, Ghost Boy is such an incredible and important middle grade graphic novel. This is the type of book I hope finds it way into the hands of everyone who needs it. It's a heavier read than most MG books but real. Jerome is a twelve-year-old boy that gets shot by a police officer, while playing with his toy gun. The cops said they mistook his toy gun for a real one. After his death, Jerome, watches as his family and friends deal with the aftermath. While he's watching his old life, Jerome meets a few new ghosts who help him deal with his new reality. This whole graphic novel was just perfect. I loved it.
Wow, Ghost Boy is such an incredible and important middle grade graphic novel. This is the type of book I hope finds it way into the hands of everyone who needs it. It's a heavier read than most MG books but real. Jerome is a twelve-year-old boy that gets shot by a police officer, while playing with his toy gun. The cops said they mistook his toy gun for a real one. After his death, Jerome, watches as his family and friends deal with the aftermath. While he's watching his old life, Jerome meets a few new ghosts who help him deal with his new reality. This whole graphic novel was just perfect. I loved it.
May 31, 2025
Thank you to Edelweiss and LYBR for this advanced review copy in exchange for an honest review.
I liked the original Ghost Boys, and was happy to see it was being adapted as a graphic novel. Reading this on the anniversary of George Floyd's tragic death felt chillingly ironic. Sadly, things are currently becoming more and more difficult for marginalized populations, especially Black males and others who are villainized without cause. Emmett Till, Trayvon Martin, Tamir Rice, and more are the ghost boys in Jerome's story - detailing a path of history that is disgraceful. The accessibility of this information, now in graphic novel format, is compelling and will reach more MG/YA readers. Rhodes' writing paired with Fiadzigbey's comic illustrations will pique interest of readers, especially if a teacher/librarian tells them the illustrator is the artist who did Black Panther - a great hand-selling point. Ghost Boys: The Graphic Novel would also be an insightful book club discussion pick for classrooms and libraries.
I liked the original Ghost Boys, and was happy to see it was being adapted as a graphic novel. Reading this on the anniversary of George Floyd's tragic death felt chillingly ironic. Sadly, things are currently becoming more and more difficult for marginalized populations, especially Black males and others who are villainized without cause. Emmett Till, Trayvon Martin, Tamir Rice, and more are the ghost boys in Jerome's story - detailing a path of history that is disgraceful. The accessibility of this information, now in graphic novel format, is compelling and will reach more MG/YA readers. Rhodes' writing paired with Fiadzigbey's comic illustrations will pique interest of readers, especially if a teacher/librarian tells them the illustrator is the artist who did Black Panther - a great hand-selling point. Ghost Boys: The Graphic Novel would also be an insightful book club discussion pick for classrooms and libraries.
November 10, 2025
Ghost Boy follows the accidental shooting of a young boy, Jerome, at the hands of a police officer. The only person that can see Jerome's ghost is the police officer’s daughter. Together they have to figure out how to bring peace to Jerome.
A great chapter book turned into a great graphic novel. The graphic novel brings this tragic story to life in pictures. The dialogue and dark graphics create the feeling of loss and tragedy of a young person’s life. This will be a sought after graphic novel just like the chapter book was a hit.
A great chapter book turned into a great graphic novel. The graphic novel brings this tragic story to life in pictures. The dialogue and dark graphics create the feeling of loss and tragedy of a young person’s life. This will be a sought after graphic novel just like the chapter book was a hit.
January 27, 2026
This graphic novel is incredibly powerful and very relevant. It will move you. The story is about a young Black boy who was senselessly shot and killed by police for playing with a toy gun. The timeline alternates between past events leading up to the shooting and present in which 12-year old Jerome is a ghost coming to terms with his death and the history of racially-motivated wrongful deaths. It’s a must read. I have not read the novel upon which it’s based, but this book stands alone and will stay with you. I borrowed a hard copy from the library.
September 28, 2025
This is a heartbreaking graphic novel of Jewell Parker Rhodes original novel published back in 2018. Thank you to NetGalley and Little Brown for young readers for letting me read this advanced copy.. This story is difficult, tragic, and painful, but the author deftly uses age appropriate language and broader messaging to deliver hope in the end. There is no sugarcoating here. Artwork and compositions bring the emotional weight to life. Well done.
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