
Age rating and parents' guide:Ghost
by Jason Reynolds
Ages 12–14
Ghost by Jason Reynolds is best for children aged 12–14. It has mild violence, a few mildly scary moments, no romance and no bad language. Worth knowing: Difficult family backstory (gun incident referenced).
Castle Cranshaw joins an elite track team, but running forces him to confront anger, poverty, and painful memories.
Content ratings
How much of each a parent can expect, from none to strong.
- Violence
- Mild
- Scary moments
- Mild
- Romance
- None
- Bad language
- None
Worth knowing: Difficult family backstory (gun incident referenced)
Content checked by Dhiraj Bodade, co-founder of Bookstaken, on .
At a glance
- Novel
- Part of the Track series
- A steady start that picks up quickly
- Mostly text
- Emotionally light
- A good pick for reluctant readers
Reading mood
- Playful
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Ages 12–14
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