Ghost
Ghost by Jason Reynolds is assigned in US schools at grades 5–8, with a Lexile measure of 730L. Every citation below links to the primary source.
This page shows where Ghost is assigned in US schools — curricula, states, grades, and the primary-source citations behind each placement. Not a summary or study guide.
- Lexile
- 730L
- Grade range
- Grades 5–8
- Difficulty for grade
- Below the grade 4–5 band (740–1010L)
- Age range
- Ages 10–14
- Pages
- 192
- Reading time
- about 3h 30m (est.)
- First published
- 2016
- Genre
- Realistic Fiction
- ISBN-13
- 9781481450157
Reading difficulty: At 730L, Ghost reads below the typical 740–1010L text-complexity range for 5th grade (Common Core Appendix A). It is an accessible read for the grade — often assigned for its themes and discussion value rather than for reading challenge.
Where to find this book
Other formats on Amazon: Kindle · Audiobook
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About this book
Castle 'Ghost' Cranshaw has always been running — from bullies, from his father's violence, from himself. When a track coach spots his natural speed, Ghost finds a team, a mentor, and a chance. First book in the Track series. National Book Award finalist and widely assigned in 5th-8th grade urban-setting units.
Why widely assigned
This Realistic Fiction title, reads at middle-grade prose complexity, typically at grades 5–8. Written in the 2010s; pairs with curriculum units on running and family violence.
Themes
running · family violence · mentorship · identity · teamwork
Content notes
domestic violence · poverty
Common Sense Media recommends age 10+.
Where this book is assigned
No curriculum assignments on file yet.
Similar grade-level books
The OutsidersS.E. Hinton · 750L
The GiverLois Lowry · 760L
The Diary of a Young GirlAnne Frank · 1080L
To Kill a MockingbirdHarper Lee · 870L
See all books like Ghost→ — matched on theme + reading level.
Common questions
- What grade level is Ghost?
- Ghost is most commonly assigned in US schools in grades 5–8, with a Lexile measure of 730L. Specific grade placement varies by curriculum — AP Literature and IB English Literature typically use it in grades 11-12.
- What is the Lexile level of Ghost?
- Ghost has a Lexile measure of 730L according to MetaMetrics. Lexile measures text complexity, not content maturity — check the grade range and content notes separately for age-appropriateness.
- How long does it take to read Ghost?
- It takes about 3h 30m to read Ghost (192 pages) at an average adult reading pace of about 250 words per minute — roughly 210 minutes. Faster or slower readers will vary; the estimate is a planning guide for assigning the book.
- Is Ghost hard to read for 5th grade?
- At 730L, Ghost reads below the typical 740–1010L text-complexity range for 5th grade (Common Core Appendix A). It is an accessible read for the grade — often assigned for its themes and discussion value rather than for reading challenge. Lexile measures text complexity, not thematic maturity — check the content notes for age-appropriateness separately.
- Is Ghost banned in schools?
- Ghost does not appear in PEN America's Index of School Book Bans 2022-2024. No documented multi-district removals on record, but individual districts may challenge titles locally.
Why this book is on this list
Each dimension below is sourced from a public reference. The full framework is documented on the classification standard page.
- Lexile measure
- 730L — sourced from MetaMetrics’ Lexile Hub.
- Grade band
- Grades 5–8 — drawn from state ELA frameworks and AP/IB syllabi citing this book.
- Curriculum alignment
- Not yet documented in any tracked curriculum.
- State-level evidence
- Not yet documented in a state-level framework on this site.
- Removal / banning records
- No tracked removal or challenge records in cited sources.
- Seasonal / contextual tags
- No seasonal or program-specific tags on this book.