Soft cover book in good condition.

Journey through the fast-paced and inspiring first book in Jason Reynolds’ Track series: Ghost — a powerful middle-grade novel about running, family, trauma, and finding your place on and off the track.

Castle Cranshaw, nicknamed “Ghost,” has been running his whole life — not for fun or glory, but to escape. He ran the day his father tried to shoot him and his mom, ran from the trouble that followed, ran from the anger inside him. Now in seventh grade, Ghost is fast — faster than anyone knows — but he’s never been on a real track team. When he shows up at a local track practice and outruns one of the top sprinters without even trying, Coach Brody sees something special in him and offers him a spot on the Defenders, an elite middle-school track team. For the first time, Ghost has a chance to run toward something instead of away from it — but joining the team means facing new rules, new teammates, new expectations, and the ghosts of his past that still haunt him.

Jason Reynolds writes with raw honesty, rhythm, and heart, capturing Ghost’s voice in short, punchy chapters that feel like a sprint themselves. The story explores themes of poverty, anger, forgiveness, friendship, mentorship, and the courage it takes to change direction — all wrapped in the excitement of track and the thrill of belonging.

Ideal for readers who love realistic fiction with strong, relatable voices and sports stories that go deeper than the game, teens and tweens dealing with tough family situations or finding their own path, educators and parents looking for books that spark discussions about resilience, trauma, and second chances, and anyone who enjoys fast, emotional reads with humor, hope, and authentic characters — perfect for classroom reads, reluctant readers, or anyone who needs a story about outrunning your past!