Castle Cranshaw/Ghost
Castle Cranshaw—who nicknames himself Ghost—is the novel’s protagonist. After Ghost’s father is jailed for attempting to shoot Ghost and Terri, Ghost has a difficult time regulating his emotions. He regularly gets into fights at…
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Otis Brody
Otis Brody is the head coach of the Defenders, the team for whom Ghost, Lu, Sunny, Patty, and many others, run. Otis is serious when discussing running, but he generally has…
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Lu
Lu is an African American boy on the Defenders who was born with albinism, which makes him feel insecure. Like Ghost, Lu is a sprinter, though they do not get along at first. Ghost…
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Sunny
Sunny is a long runner for the Defenders. Although he isn’t strong at running the 100-meter dash, he has the most endurance of anyone on the team. Sunny comes from the wealthiest part of town…
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Patina/Patty
Patty runs medium distance events for the Defenders. She is one of the first people on the team to show Ghost kindness. At the rookie dinner, Patty shares that she is adopted, but that she…
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Brandon Simmons
Brandon Simmons is Ghost’s bully at school. He regularly makes fun of Ghost’s appearance and goads him into fighting. One day in the cafeteria, Ghost lashes out at Brandon and repeatedly hits him in…
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Terri Cranshaw
Terri Cranshaw is Ghost’s mother. She works hard to provide for Ghost, putting in long shifts at the hospital cafeteria during the day and studying to be a nurse in the evenings. Terri is…
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Minor Characters
Mr. Charles
Mr. Charles is the elderly owner of a convenience store near Ghost’s house. Ghost stops in every day to buy sunflower seeds from Mr. Charles, and the two of them become good friends. Mr. Charles also harbored Ghost and Terri the night they escaped Ghost’s father.
Red Griffin
Red Griffin is one of Ghost’s friends from school. Ghost feels he understands Red because Red also had something traumatic happen to him when he was young, though Ghost is not sure what.
Aunt Sophie
Aunt Sophie is King’s mother and Terri’s sister. Aunt Sophie and King come over to visit Terri and Ghost nearly every weekend. They are the only family Ghost regularly talks to and receives support from.
King
King is Aunt Sophie’s son. He is around Ghost’s age, and they hang out together on the weekends.
Dre Anderson
Dre Anderson is one of Ghost’s friends from school. Ghost and Dre get along because of their shared interest in basketball.
Principal Marshall
Principal Marshall is the principal at Ghost’s school. He is a stern but fair authority figure who wants to help Ghost if he can.
Curron
Curron is one of the veteran runners for the Defenders. Curren and Ghost get in a brief spat after Curren makes an ill-advised joke.
Ghost’s Father
Ghost’s father is an alcoholic who is serving a 10-year prison sentence for firing a pistol at Terri and Ghost while intoxicated.
Tia
Tia is a teenage girl who works the counter at the local sports store. Ghost apologizes to her for shoplifting a pair of Nikes.
Shamika Wilson
Shamika Wilson is a girl in Ghost’s class who has an uncontrollable and infectious laugh.
Coach Whit
Coach Whit is Coach Brody’s assistant. She leads the team on long runs.
Aaron
Aaron is one of the veteran runners for the Defenders.
Mikey
Mikey is one of the veteran runners for the Defenders.
