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Quick answer: If you loved Ghost, try Patina, Sunny, Lu, The Crossover, Booked and Long Way Down. Each one is a fast, funny and heartfelt story about a kid who finds a team, a mentor or a way to outrun the past.
Jason Reynolds's 2016 novel introduces Castle Cranshaw, known as Ghost, a boy who has been running since the night his father fired a gun at him and his mother. When he races a sprinter at a track practice in his sneakers, a coach sees his talent and invites him onto the elite Defenders team. Ghost has to learn to run toward something instead of away. Readers love its voice, its humor and its heart. These books share its energy and its hope.
Table of Contents
Quick Picks at a Glance
| Book | Author | Age | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Patina | Jason Reynolds | 10-14 | readers who want the next Track book |
| Sunny | Jason Reynolds | 10-14 | readers who want the third Track book |
| Lu | Jason Reynolds | 10-14 | readers who want to finish the series |
| The Crossover | Kwame Alexander | 10-13 | readers who like sports and family |
| Booked | Kwame Alexander | 10-13 | readers who like soccer |
| Long Way Down | Jason Reynolds | 13+ | older readers who want more Reynolds |
| Hoops | Matt de la Peña | 13+ | readers who like basketball |
| Restart | Gordon Korman | 9-13 | readers who like second chances |
| Wonder | R.J. Palacio | 8-12 | readers who like kindness |
| Bud, Not Buddy | Christopher Paul Curtis | 9-12 | readers who like a boy on a mission |
| Maniac Magee | Jerry Spinelli | 9-12 | readers who like running legends |
| Brown Girl Dreaming | Jacqueline Woodson | 10+ | readers who like real-life stories |
| Front Desk | Kelly Yang | 8-12 | readers who want an underdog kid |
| Ghost Boys | Jewell Parker Rhodes | 10+ | readers who want a serious story |
| Fish in a Tree | Lynda Mullaly Hunt | 9-12 | readers who like supportive teachers |
1. Patina by Jason Reynolds
Ghost's teammate Patina runs to cope with family troubles.
Best for: readers who want the next Track book.
2. Sunny by Jason Reynolds
Teammate Sunny decides to try a new event.
Best for: readers who want the third Track book.
3. Lu by Jason Reynolds
The team's star Lu faces his final race of the season.
Best for: readers who want to finish the series.
4. The Crossover by Kwame Alexander
Twin basketball players face change in their family.
Best for: readers who like sports and family.
5. Booked by Kwame Alexander
A soccer-loving boy deals with family troubles and a bully.
Best for: readers who like soccer.
6. Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds
A teen rides an elevator with a gun and the ghosts of his past.
Best for: older readers who want more Reynolds.
7. Hoops by Matt de la Peña
A Los Angeles teen faces pressure and temptation on the court.
Best for: readers who like basketball.
8. Restart by Gordon Korman
A bully loses his memory and gets a chance to be different.
Best for: readers who like second chances.
9. Wonder by R.J. Palacio
A boy with a facial difference starts school.
Best for: readers who like kindness.
10. Bud, Not Buddy by Christopher Paul Curtis
An orphan in the Depression searches for his father.
Best for: readers who like a boy on a mission.
11. Maniac Magee by Jerry Spinelli
A runaway boy becomes a legend in a divided town.
Best for: readers who like running legends.
12. Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson
Woodson's memoir in verse about growing up.
Best for: readers who like real-life stories.
13. Front Desk by Kelly Yang
A girl helps run a motel and fights for fairness.
Best for: readers who want an underdog kid.
14. Ghost Boys by Jewell Parker Rhodes
A boy killed by a police officer watches the aftermath as a ghost.
Best for: readers who want a serious story.
15. Fish in a Tree by Lynda Mullaly Hunt
A girl with dyslexia meets a teacher who sees her talents.
Best for: readers who like supportive teachers.
How We Chose These Books
Every pick is a real, widely available book that shares something specific with Ghost: 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. The rest of the list moves further out, so it works well once you know which part of the original you liked most. If a pick is part of a longer series, read the first book before you commit, and check the age or content notes in the table before passing a book to a younger reader.
How to Choose
Read Patina, Sunny and Lu to finish the Track series, since each book follows a different teammate. For the same mix of sports and family, The Crossover and Booked are perfect. If Coach's mentoring moved you, Fish in a Tree and Restart show kids getting another chance. Older readers can try Long Way Down, which is darker but just as powerful. Maniac Magee is a classic about a boy who can outrun almost anyone.
Related: Front Desk by Kelly Yang: Summary and Key Takeaways · Fish in a Tree by Lynda Mullaly Hunt: Summary and Key Takeaways
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Ghost about?
A boy named Castle Cranshaw joins an elite track team and learns to deal with his anger and past.
What age is Ghost for?
It is usually recommended for ages 10 to 14.
Is Ghost part of a series?
Yes. It is the first book in Jason Reynolds's Track series.
What order are the Track books?
Ghost, Patina, Sunny and Lu.
Was Ghost a National Book Award finalist?
Yes. It was a finalist for the National Book Award for Young People's Literature in 2016.