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Quick answer: If you read Ghost Boys, read Jewell Parker Rhodes's other novels, then The Hate U Give, Dear Martin, Long Way Down and All American Boys. All are powerful young adult and middle-grade novels about race, police violence and justice.
Jewell Parker Rhodes's 2018 novel follows Jerome, a twelve-year-old Black boy killed by a police officer who mistook his toy gun for a real one, who becomes a ghost and meets the spirit of Emmett Till. It is short, moving and written for readers aged ten and up. The books below offer similar stories of injustice and hope.
Table of Contents
Quick Picks at a Glance
| Book | Author | Ages | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Hate U Give | Angie Thomas | 14+ | readers who want a modern classic |
| Dear Martin | Nic Stone | 14+ | readers who want a hard-hitting story |
| Long Way Down | Jason Reynolds | Teen | verse novel |
| All American Boys | Jason Reynolds and Brendan Kiely | 13+ | readers who want a two-sided story |
| Tyler Johnson Was Here | Jay Coles | 14+ | readers who want a contemporary story |
| Piecing Me Together | Renee Watson | Teen | opportunity and identity |
| Punching the Air | Ibi Zoboi and Yusef Salaam | 13+ | readers who like verse |
| Ghost | Jason Reynolds | 10-13 | sports and healing |
| New Kid | Jerry Craft | 8-12 | readers who like school stories |
| Brown Girl Dreaming | Jacqueline Woodson | 9-13 | poetry fans |
| Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry | Mildred D. Taylor | 10-14 | family strength |
| Monday's Not Coming | Tiffany D. Jackson | Teen | mystery and neglect |
| On the Come Up | Angie Thomas | Teen | more Angie Thomas |
| Concrete Rose | Angie Thomas | Teen | prequel |
| Dear Justyce | Nic Stone | Teen | prison stories |
1. The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas
Starr witnesses the shooting of her friend by a police officer and decides to speak up. A powerful, widely read novel.
Best for: readers who want a modern classic.
2. Dear Martin by Nic Stone
Justyce writes letters to Dr. King after a violent encounter with police. Short and gripping.
Best for: readers who want a hard-hitting story.
3. Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds
A teenager takes an elevator ride that changes everything. Fast, poetic and powerful.
Best for: verse novel.
4. All American Boys by Jason Reynolds and Brendan Kiely
A white teen and a Black teen face the aftermath of a police beating. Told in alternating voices.
Best for: readers who want a two-sided story.
5. Tyler Johnson Was Here by Jay Coles
Marvin's twin brother disappears and is found dead after a police encounter. Moving and honest.
Best for: readers who want a contemporary story.
6. Piecing Me Together by Renee Watson
A talented teenager navigates a mentoring program. Smart and heartfelt.
Best for: opportunity and identity.
7. Punching the Air by Ibi Zoboi and Yusef Salaam
Amal is wrongly convicted and uses art and poetry to survive. A verse novel co-written by a member of the Exonerated Five.
Best for: readers who like verse.
8. Ghost by Jason Reynolds
A boy who runs from trouble joins a track team. Fast and thoughtful, from the Track series.
Best for: sports and healing.
9. New Kid by Jerry Craft
Jordan, a Black seventh grader, starts at a prep school and navigates two worlds. Funny and thoughtful.
Best for: readers who like school stories.
10. Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson
Woodson tells her childhood in verse. A National Book Award winner, personal and lyrical.
Best for: poetry fans.
11. Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry by Mildred D. Taylor
The Logan family fights to keep its land in Depression-era Mississippi. A Newbery winner and a classic of historical fiction.
Best for: family strength.
12. Monday's Not Coming by Tiffany D. Jackson
A girl searches for her missing best friend. Gripping and sad.
Best for: mystery and neglect.
13. On the Come Up by Angie Thomas
A teen rapper in Garden Heights fights to be heard while her family struggles. Thomas's second novel, loud and warm.
Best for: more Angie Thomas.
14. Concrete Rose by Angie Thomas
A teenage father tries to do right by his son. Warm and gritty.
Best for: prequel.
15. Dear Justyce by Nic Stone
A teen in juvenile detention writes to his old friend Justyce. A companion to Dear Martin.
Best for: prison stories.
How We Chose These Books
Every pick is a real, widely available book that shares something specific with Ghost Boys: its tone, its themes, its pace or the kind of characters it puts at the center. We mixed well-known favorites with a few less obvious titles, and we noted who each book suits best so you can match it to the reader. Where a book belongs to a series, we list the first volume so you can start at the beginning.
If you are not sure where to begin, start with the first three picks in the table: they are the closest match to Ghost Boys. The rest of the list moves further out, so it works well once you know which part of the original you liked most.
How to Choose
For teen readers choose The Hate U Give, Dear Martin or All American Boys. For verse pick Long Way Down or Punching the Air. For younger readers read Ghost, New Kid or Brown Girl Dreaming. For historical context try Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry. Ghost Boys is brief, so these picks suit readers who want stories that spark discussion. Ghost Boys is widely used in classrooms and book clubs, and it appeared on many reading lists after its release. Teachers often pair it with a lesson on Emmett Till, whose story is central to the book.
Related: 15 Books Like The Boys in the Boat You’ll Love: Sports History and Underdog Triumphs · The Boys in the Boat Book Club Discussion Questions (With Summary and Themes)
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Ghost Boys about?
A boy killed by police becomes a ghost and meets other victims.
Who wrote it?
Jewell Parker Rhodes.
When was it published?
2018.
What age is it for?
Roughly ages 10 to 14.
Is it based on a true story?
It is fiction, inspired by real events including Emmett Till and Tamir Rice.
Is it sad?
Yes, but it also offers hope.
Is it used in schools?
Yes.
What should I read next?
Try Ghost or The Hate U Give.