Cover of Ghost

Ghost

by Jason Reynolds

Ghost by Jason Reynolds is assigned in US schools at grades 5–8, with a Lexile measure of 730L. It appears across 9 curriculum references and 9 states, sourced from state DOE pages and AP/IB/Common Core syllabi. 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.

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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; cited across 9 curriculum frameworks.

Themes

running · family violence · mentorship · identity · teamwork

Content notes

domestic violence · poverty

Common Sense Media recommends age 10+.

Where this book is assigned

Similar grade-level books

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.
What curricula assign Ghost?
Ghost appears on reading lists for Buckeye Children's & Teen Book Award, Connecticut Nutmeg Book Award, Great Lakes Great Books Award, and 6 others. Each assignment on this site links to its primary-source citation.

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
Cited in 9 curricula on this site (see “Where assigned” above for primary-source links).
State-level evidence
Cited in 9 states ELA frameworks or DOE list (see citations above).
Removal / banning records
No tracked removal or challenge records in cited sources.
Seasonal / contextual tags
Tagged for: award-winner, book-club.