👟 GHOST

Genre: Middle Grade • Sports Fiction • Contemporary Fiction
Recommended Age: 10–14 • Grades 5–9
Themes: Running • Family • Friendship • Anger • Resilience • Self-Discovery

by Jason Reynolds

Ghost can run faster than anyone. But he can't outrun his past.

Castle “Ghost” Cranshaw has always known how to run. But he hasn't always been running for the right reasons.

After being chosen for an elite middle school track team alongside Lu, Patina, and Sunny, Ghost discovers that he could have a shot at the Junior Olympics. But becoming a champion means more than being fast—it means learning to control his anger, face his past, and believe in himself.

The four young runners come from very different backgrounds, and their personalities don't always mix. But as teammates, they begin to discover that they may have more in common than they realize.

👟 Track & competition
🏃 A talented young runner
🤝 Friendship & teamwork
❤️ Family & belonging
🔥 Anger, resilience & growth
🏅 Dreams of the Junior Olympics

You can't outrun your past forever. Sometimes you have to face it.

📚 The electrifying first book in Jason Reynolds's acclaimed Track series—a powerful story about finding your place, facing your challenges, and discovering what you're capable of.