Jerome is a twelve-year-old boy killed by a police officer who thinks his toy gun is real. As a ghost, he follows his family and the officer, and meets Sarah, the officer's daughter, who can see him. He also finds the ghosts of other Black children who were killed, including Emmett Till, who help him to understand that his death is part of a long pattern. The novel is short and direct, with a final turn that is hopeful.
Middle-grade readers and their teachers will find it a way to talk about racism, police violence and empathy. It does not avoid difficult scenes but aims at understanding.
Inward-looking and thought-provoking; an easy read.
Best for readers like The Empathetic Explorer. Which reader are you?
- Published
- 2018
- Language
- EN
