Ghost (RUN SERIES): 1

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Ghost would be at home both in a middle grade and YA section, and thus is of interest to pre-teens and younger teens, especially ones who will see some aspect of their own lives reflected in Ghost’s. Life hasn't been super kind to Ghost - the kids at school make fun of him because he's poor and he carries around the weight of his father's betrayal.

It kept me engaged and it was enthralling to read from the perspective of Ghost (Castle Cranshaw) , about his thoughts and choices made which were closely linked to his circumstances and past events. He’s got a load of anger inside that he doesn’t know how to deal with so he tends to take it out on others at school.

That’s easier said than done when Brandon Sanderson is in your face every day at school, you can’t forget your painful past, and when you want a new pair of trainers so badly you’d do anything to get them.

Since then, Ghost has been the one causing problems—and running away from them—until he meets Coach, an ex-Olympic Medalist who sees something in Ghost: crazy natural talent. But they are also four kids chosen for an elite middle school running team-a team that could qualify them for the Junior Olympics if they can get their acts together. Of middle-grade education professionals and middle-grade novel enjoyers, I am definitely in the minority of this one.I was at the library looking for another book to read and I have seen this cover several times and I decided I wanted to read it. One of the central conflicts in the novel involves Ghost’s desire to acquire an expensive pair of running shoes.

Now Jason Reynolds, a young adult author until this year, has produced a middle grade novel centered on that must unlikely of sports: track. I just sit there with the other people waiting for the bus, except I’m never actually waiting for it. Jason Reynolds is a New York Times bestselling author, a Newbery Award Honoree, a Printz Award Honoree, National Book Award Honoree, a Kirkus Award winner, a two time Walter Dean Myers Award winner, an NAACP Image Award Winner, and the recipient of multiple Coretta Scott King honors.Charles is also the guy who gave me this book, Guinness World Records, which is where I found out about Andrew Dahl and Charlotte Lee. I had my head sandwiched between the mattress and my pillow, something I got used to doing whenever they were going at it, when my mom crashed into my bedroom. Ghost isn’t destitute or anything but his single mom makes ends meet by working long hours at a hospital. This was just a pitch perfect middle grade / youngish YA book that was a total delight from start to finish.