Point of View
From what point of view is Ghost told?
First person
What are the two main types of conflict?
Internal and External
Again and Again: Ghost keeps bringing up the Guinness Book of World Records. Why might the author keep returning to it?
The symbol of "World Records" shows Ghost wants to be great at something and be remembered for it.
What does Mr. Charles say every single time Ghost walks into his store, and what's Ghost's comeback?
"Let me guess, sunflower seeds." Ghost's comeback is "Lemme guess, one dollar."
How does Ghost spend his first altercation-free evening?
Every chapter title starts with "World Record for..." (like "World Record for the Most Altercations"). Why might Reynolds title the chapters this way?
It connects to Ghost's obsession with the Guinness book and his wish to be great at something, and it keeps the story in his voice.
Name the pronouns that tell you a story is in first person.
I, me, my
Ghost vs. Brandon is what type of conflict?
External (character vs. character)
Again and Again: Sunflower seeds show up over and over. What might they reveal about Ghost?
The seeds are how he copes with stress, and they connect him to Mr. Charles and home.
Who is Brandon's crush in the lunchroom?
Monique
What does Brandon throw at Ghost in the cafeteria, and whose food was it?
Brandon throws a chicken drumstick (drummy) he grabbed off Monique's plate.
Ghost talks about serious things, like the night his dad fired the gun, in a casual and funny voice. Why might Reynolds mix humor with serious events?
The mix of humor with series events shows how Ghost copes with pain, and it makes him sound like a real kid telling his own story.
Name one thing we can't know because Ghost is the one telling the story.
What other characters are thinking
Ghost's anger and fear about what his dad did is what type of conflict?
Internal (character vs. self)
Memory Moment: Ghost remembers the night his dad fired a gun at him and Ma. Why is this memory important to understanding him?
The memory explains where his running and his anger come from. Almost everything he does traces back to that night.
What name did Lu use to be called by his bullies?
Ghost, because of his albinism
Who was the student who first noticed Castle's modified shoes?
Shamika, when she leaned to pick up her pencil.
Brandon's insults go after Ghost's clothes, his mom's job, and Glass Manor. What do these insults reveal about Ghost, and why do they make him explode?
The insults hit on his shame about being poor and his need to protect his mom, which are the places he's most sensitive.
How does hearing the Brandon fight from Ghost's point of view change how we feel about it?
We know his feelings and what Brandon said, so we understand why he snapped, even if hitting him was wrong.
Ghost wants real running shoes but can't afford them. Explain the conflict and name its type.
He wants to fit in and run well but doesn't have the money, which creates an internal struggle about what to do. You could argue external with good reasoning. (i.e. the money barrier created the internal struggle, so if he had more money the internal struggle wouldn't have existed.)
Contrasts and Contradictions: Ghost finally has a team and a coach who believes in him, yet he steals a pair of running shoes. Why would he risk everything he's worked for?
Ghost wants to belong and look like a real runner so badly that he doesn't think about the consequences. Deep down he still feels like the poor kid in the wrong shoes.
After Coach talks to Ghost's mom, how long does Ghost make it without getting into a fight?
Seventeen hours and two minutes
(Page 30)
What grade was Ghost in when his dad fired the gun at him and Ma, and how long was his dad sent to prison?
Fourth grade; 10 years
Why does Reynolds include Mr. Charles' story about his own family laughing at him?
Mr. Charles' story shows Ghost that adults deal with shame too, and that you can be proud of your life even when others judge it. Mr. Charles mirrors what Ghost is going through.
Is Ghost a reliable narrator? Give an example to support your answer.
Partly. He's honest about his feelings, but he makes excuses for his choices, like justifying taking the shoes.
What is Ghost's biggest conflict so far? Explain why.
His internal conflict with anger from his past, because it drives his fights and bad choices and threatens his spot on the team.
Words of the Wiser: Coach gives Ghost advice about his past and his future. What's the life lesson, and how might it change Ghost?
You can't outrun where you come from, but you can choose where you're going. It could help Ghost stop letting his past, and his anger, make his choices for him.
Mr. Charles tells Ghost he knows what it's like to be laughed at. Who laughs at Mr. Charles, and why?
His family of over-achievers, because he runs a store instead of being a doctor or lawyer like the rest of them
When Coach picks up the newbies for dinner, how is Sunny's neighborhood different from Ghost's?
Sunny lives across town in a much wealthier area than Glass Manor. Everyone has a car, or two.
Ghost cuts the tops off his shoes, gets laughed at, and then steals new ones. Explain how shame drives his choices, and what theme Reynolds might be developing.
Each time Ghost feels embarrassed, he makes a bigger, riskier choice to hide it. Reynolds may be showing that when people try to run from shame instead of facing it, they end up making it worse.