Meet the Defenders through Ghost
Start with Ghost, whose impulsive choices and raw speed bring him onto Coach Brody's team and introduce the runners featured in the next three books.
Reading order
How to Read the Track Books
For a first read, follow publication order: Ghost, Patina, Sunny, Lu, then Coach. The first four overlap around one team and give each runner the lead; together they build the relationships and neighborhood that make Coach Brody's guidance meaningful.
Coach is book 5 but takes place decades earlier, when Coach Brody was a boy called Otie. A chronological reread can begin with Coach, but new readers will understand its echoes and its final connection to Ghost best after the original four books.
Sources: Simon & Schuster's official Track series page, Official publisher page for Coach.
For parents
What Parents Should Know
These books are hopeful but emotionally serious. They address gun violence and domestic violence, parental death and incarceration, grief, bullying, poverty, stealing, family addiction, and the pressure young athletes place on themselves. Running and a caring team offer structure, but difficult experiences are not minimized.
Where to start
Where Should My Child Start?
Where the story begins
First Book in the Series
Sale price
$759
Book #1 · Chapter Book · Ages 10–13 · 2016
Ghost
A young sprinter must outrun his past to achieve greatness on the track team.
208 pages· 39,201 words· Est. 4.5 hour read
6.0/7 Bookroo
$7.99Save 5%
Paperback
Summary: Castle 'Ghost' Cranshaw dreams of being the fastest sprinter on his middle school track team, but his troubled past threatens to derail him. Haunted by memories of fleeing his violent father, Ghost struggles to channel his raw talent under the guidance of a former Olympic coach. As he races toward the Junior Olympics, Ghost must confront his fears and prove to himself that he can overcome his history. Will he find the strength to stay on track, or will his past catch up to him? Discover the electrifying journey of a boy running for more than just victory.
In reading order
Track Series
5 books · Published 2016–2025
#1
Sale price
$759
Ghost
Chapter Book · Ages 10–13 · 2016
A young sprinter must outrun his past to achieve greatness on the track team.
#2
Sale price
$759
Patina
Chapter Book · Ages 10–13 · 2017
Can Patty outrun her fears and learn to trust her team?
#3
Sale price
$858
Sunny
Chapter Book · Ages 10–13 · 2018
Sunny must find his place on the track team without running. Can he redefine his path and heal his past?
#4
Sale price
$759
Lu
Chapter Book · Ages 10–13 · 2018
Lu faces unexpected hurdles on and off the track to discover what true victory means.
#5
Sale price
$1697
Coach
Chapter Book · Ages 10–13 · 2025
A young sprinter's prized shoes vanish, leading to a deeper family mystery.
Good to know
Common Questions
How many books are in the Track series?
There are 5 books in the Track series. It began with Ghost in 2016, and the newest book, Coach, was published in 2025.
What order should you read the Track books in?
Start with Ghost and follow the series order — the books above are numbered #1 through #5.
What ages are the Track books best for?
The series is best for ages 10–13, based on the age ranges of the individual books.
Which Track book is the longest?
Coach (Book #5) is the longest book in the series at 52,823 words (256 pages).
Which Track book is the shortest?
Sunny (Book #3) is the shortest at 24,658 words (192 pages).
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