# Ghost

**Author:** Jason Reynolds
**Lexile:** 730L
**Grade range:** Grades 5–8
**Age range:** 10–14
**First published:** 2016
**Page count:** 192
**Genre:** Realistic Fiction
**ISBN-13:** `9781481450157`
**ISBN-10:** `1481450158`
**Canonical URL:** https://readinglist.school/book/ghost
**License:** [CC BY 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) — please credit ReadingList.school when citing.

## 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.

## Themes

- running
- family violence
- mentorship
- identity
- teamwork

## Content notes

- domestic violence
- poverty

Common Sense Media age recommendation: 10+

## Where this book is assigned

### Buckeye Children's & Teen Book Award

- **recommended** · 6th grade · Ohio — [source: Buckeye Children's & Teen Book Award — official winners list (Ohio, K-12 grade bands, voted biennially/annually since 1982)](https://bcbookaward.info/childrens-previous-nominees/)
- **recommended** · 7th grade · Ohio — [source: Buckeye Children's & Teen Book Award — official winners list (Ohio, K-12 grade bands, voted biennially/annually since 1982)](https://bcbookaward.info/childrens-previous-nominees/)
- **recommended** · 8th grade · Ohio — [source: Buckeye Children's & Teen Book Award — official winners list (Ohio, K-12 grade bands, voted biennially/annually since 1982)](https://bcbookaward.info/childrens-previous-nominees/)

### Connecticut Nutmeg Book Award

- **recommended** · 5th grade · Connecticut — [source: Connecticut Library Association + Connecticut Association of School Librarians — Nutmeg Book Award (student-choice; Elementary/Intermediate/Middle/Teen; annual since 1993)](https://nutmegaward.org/)
- **recommended** · 6th grade · Connecticut — [source: Connecticut Library Association + Connecticut Association of School Librarians — Nutmeg Book Award (student-choice; Elementary/Intermediate/Middle/Teen; annual since 1993)](https://nutmegaward.org/)
- **recommended** · 7th grade · Connecticut — [source: Connecticut Library Association + Connecticut Association of School Librarians — Nutmeg Book Award (student-choice; Elementary/Intermediate/Middle/Teen; annual since 1993)](https://nutmegaward.org/)
- **recommended** · 8th grade · Connecticut — [source: Connecticut Library Association + Connecticut Association of School Librarians — Nutmeg Book Award (student-choice; Elementary/Intermediate/Middle/Teen; annual since 1993)](https://nutmegaward.org/)

### Great Lakes Great Books Award

- **recommended** · 5th grade · Michigan — [source: Michigan Reading Association — Great Lakes Great Books Award (student-choice, grade-band shortlists; annual, since 1989). Winner/honor/nominee rolls Grades 4-5, 6-8, 9-12.](https://michiganreading.org/Great-Lakes-Great-Books)
- **recommended** · 6th grade · Michigan — [source: Michigan Reading Association — Great Lakes Great Books Award (student-choice, grade-band shortlists; annual, since 1989). Winner/honor/nominee rolls Grades 4-5, 6-8, 9-12.](https://michiganreading.org/Great-Lakes-Great-Books)
- **recommended** · 7th grade · Michigan — [source: Michigan Reading Association — Great Lakes Great Books Award (student-choice, grade-band shortlists; annual, since 1989). Winner/honor/nominee rolls Grades 4-5, 6-8, 9-12.](https://michiganreading.org/Great-Lakes-Great-Books)
- **recommended** · 8th grade · Michigan — [source: Michigan Reading Association — Great Lakes Great Books Award (student-choice, grade-band shortlists; annual, since 1989). Winner/honor/nominee rolls Grades 4-5, 6-8, 9-12.](https://michiganreading.org/Great-Lakes-Great-Books)

### Great Stone Face Book Award

- **recommended** · 5th grade · New Hampshire — [source: Children's Librarians of New Hampshire / NH Library Association — Great Stone Face Book Award (student-choice, grades 4-6; 20 nominees/year, annual since 1980). Winner + nominee rolls via the LibraryThing award/757 mirror of the official sponsor records.](https://www.librarything.com/award/757/Great-Stone-Face-Book-Award)
- **recommended** · 6th grade · New Hampshire — [source: Children's Librarians of New Hampshire / NH Library Association — Great Stone Face Book Award (student-choice, grades 4-6; 20 nominees/year, annual since 1980). Winner + nominee rolls via the LibraryThing award/757 mirror of the official sponsor records.](https://www.librarything.com/award/757/Great-Stone-Face-Book-Award)
- **recommended** · 7th grade · New Hampshire — [source: Children's Librarians of New Hampshire / NH Library Association — Great Stone Face Book Award (student-choice, grades 4-6; 20 nominees/year, annual since 1980). Winner + nominee rolls via the LibraryThing award/757 mirror of the official sponsor records.](https://www.librarything.com/award/757/Great-Stone-Face-Book-Award)
- **recommended** · 8th grade · New Hampshire — [source: Children's Librarians of New Hampshire / NH Library Association — Great Stone Face Book Award (student-choice, grades 4-6; 20 nominees/year, annual since 1980). Winner + nominee rolls via the LibraryThing award/757 mirror of the official sponsor records.](https://www.librarything.com/award/757/Great-Stone-Face-Book-Award)

### Kansas William Allen White Children's Book Award

- **recommended** · 5th grade · Kansas — [source: Kansas William Allen White Children's Book Award (Emporia State University) — winner list (grades 3-5 + 6-8 divisions) via Wikipedia — 2019 winner](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Allen_White_Children%27s_Book_Award)
- **recommended** · 6th grade · Kansas — [source: Kansas William Allen White Children's Book Award (Emporia State University) — winner list (grades 3-5 + 6-8 divisions) via Wikipedia — 2019 winner](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Allen_White_Children%27s_Book_Award)
- **recommended** · 7th grade · Kansas — [source: Kansas William Allen White Children's Book Award (Emporia State University) — winner list (grades 3-5 + 6-8 divisions) via Wikipedia — 2019 winner](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Allen_White_Children%27s_Book_Award)
- **recommended** · 8th grade · Kansas — [source: Kansas William Allen White Children's Book Award (Emporia State University) — winner list (grades 3-5 + 6-8 divisions) via Wikipedia — 2019 winner](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Allen_White_Children%27s_Book_Award)

### Kentucky Bluegrass Award

- **recommended** · 5th grade · Kentucky — [source: Kentucky Association of School Librarians — Kentucky Bluegrass Award Winner's Circle (grades 3-5 + 6-8; annual since 1983)](https://www.kasl.us/kba/kba-winners-circle)
- **recommended** · 6th grade · Kentucky — [source: Kentucky Association of School Librarians — Kentucky Bluegrass Award Winner's Circle (grades 3-5 + 6-8; annual since 1983)](https://www.kasl.us/kba/kba-winners-circle)
- **recommended** · 7th grade · Kentucky — [source: Kentucky Association of School Librarians — Kentucky Bluegrass Award Winner's Circle (grades 3-5 + 6-8; annual since 1983)](https://www.kasl.us/kba/kba-winners-circle)
- **recommended** · 8th grade · Kentucky — [source: Kentucky Association of School Librarians — Kentucky Bluegrass Award Winner's Circle (grades 3-5 + 6-8; annual since 1983)](https://www.kasl.us/kba/kba-winners-circle)

### Odyssey Award (Best Audiobook)

- **recommended** · 5th grade — [source: Odyssey Award (best audiobook) winners + honors, via Wikipedia — 2017 Honor](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Odyssey_Award)
- **recommended** · 6th grade — [source: Odyssey Award (best audiobook) winners + honors, via Wikipedia — 2017 Honor](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Odyssey_Award)
- **recommended** · 7th grade — [source: Odyssey Award (best audiobook) winners + honors, via Wikipedia — 2017 Honor](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Odyssey_Award)
- **recommended** · 8th grade — [source: Odyssey Award (best audiobook) winners + honors, via Wikipedia — 2017 Honor](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Odyssey_Award)

### Oregon Reader's Choice Award (ORCA)

- **recommended** · 5th grade · Oregon — [source: Oregon Library Association — Oregon Reader's Choice Award (ORCA) winners by division (statewide young readers' choice program; students vote)](https://oregonreaderschoiceaward.wordpress.com/past-winners/)
- **recommended** · 6th grade · Oregon — [source: Oregon Library Association — Oregon Reader's Choice Award (ORCA) winners by division (statewide young readers' choice program; students vote)](https://oregonreaderschoiceaward.wordpress.com/past-winners/)
- **recommended** · 7th grade · Oregon — [source: Oregon Library Association — Oregon Reader's Choice Award (ORCA) winners by division (statewide young readers' choice program; students vote)](https://oregonreaderschoiceaward.wordpress.com/past-winners/)
- **recommended** · 8th grade · Oregon — [source: Oregon Library Association — Oregon Reader's Choice Award (ORCA) winners by division (statewide young readers' choice program; students vote)](https://oregonreaderschoiceaward.wordpress.com/past-winners/)

### Rebecca Caudill Young Readers' Book Award

- **recommended** · 5th grade · Illinois — [source: Rebecca Caudill Young Readers' Book Award — official winners list (Illinois grades 4-8, voted annually since 1988)](https://www.rebeccacaudill.org/past-awards/past-winners-list)
- **recommended** · 6th grade · Illinois — [source: Rebecca Caudill Young Readers' Book Award — official winners list (Illinois grades 4-8, voted annually since 1988)](https://www.rebeccacaudill.org/past-awards/past-winners-list)
- **recommended** · 7th grade · Illinois — [source: Rebecca Caudill Young Readers' Book Award — official winners list (Illinois grades 4-8, voted annually since 1988)](https://www.rebeccacaudill.org/past-awards/past-winners-list)
- **recommended** · 8th grade · Illinois — [source: Rebecca Caudill Young Readers' Book Award — official winners list (Illinois grades 4-8, voted annually since 1988)](https://www.rebeccacaudill.org/past-awards/past-winners-list)

### Washington Sasquatch Book Award

- **recommended** · 4th grade · Washington — [source: 2026 Sasquatch Book Award Nominees (Washington Library Association)](https://www.wla.org/2026-sasquatch-nominees)
- **recommended** · 5th grade · Washington — [source: 2026 Sasquatch Book Award Nominees (Washington Library Association)](https://www.wla.org/2026-sasquatch-nominees)
- **recommended** · 6th grade · Washington — [source: 2026 Sasquatch Book Award Nominees (Washington Library Association)](https://www.wla.org/2026-sasquatch-nominees)
- **recommended** · 7th grade · Washington — [source: 2026 Sasquatch Book Award Nominees (Washington Library Association)](https://www.wla.org/2026-sasquatch-nominees)
- **recommended** · 8th grade · Washington — [source: 2026 Sasquatch Book Award Nominees (Washington Library Association)](https://www.wla.org/2026-sasquatch-nominees)

### William Allen White Children's Book Award

- **recommended** · 6th grade · Kansas — [source: William Allen White Children's Book Award winners (Emporia State University), via Wikipedia — 2019](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Allen_White_Children%27s_Book_Award)
- **recommended** · 7th grade · Kansas — [source: William Allen White Children's Book Award winners (Emporia State University), via Wikipedia — 2019](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Allen_White_Children%27s_Book_Award)
- **recommended** · 8th grade · Kansas — [source: William Allen White Children's Book Award winners (Emporia State University), via Wikipedia — 2019](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Allen_White_Children%27s_Book_Award)

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