SLIS 5420, Module #3: Ninth Ward

This week's genre: Award Winners! Let's start with the 2011 Coretta Scott King Honor book, Ninth Ward by Jewell Parker Rhodes.

Summary
In the beginning of Ninth Ward, readers meet the narrator, Lanesha, and learn right away she is very special. Lanesha is unique for several reasons, one being she sees the spirits of those passed on, another being that she lives with her adopted grandmother, Ninth Ward's old midwife, Mama Ya-Ya.

Lanesha narrates her story of living in the Ninth Ward pre and post Hurricane Katrina, from just days before when Mama Ya-Ya starts sensing danger unlike troubles she's ever known to actually experiencing Katrina's wrath and the days of flooding that follow after. Perhaps what makes Ninth Ward so special, however, is the kindness Lanesha shows to TaShon, a boy from her neighborhood that has always been the "quiet-type" until the two meet up after TaShon saves a stray dog, Spot, from some neighborhood bullies.

As the news stations begin to report that a hurricane is brewing, and Mama Ya-Ya gets more and more distressed, Lanesha begins to prepare for a storm. Her neighbors begin to evacuate and some head to the Superdome and it becomes more and more apparent to Lanesha that Mama Ya-Ya needs Lanesha more than she needs Mama Ya-Ya.

Lanesha's narrates the night of the hurricane in chilling detail, but its not until the next day when TaShon shows up after losing his parents and Mama Ya-Ya becomes even more ill, that life for Lanesha will never be the same. As the flood water begins to raise to drastically high levels, Lanesha must remain strong for her friends, family, and the spirits around her.

My thoughts
I recently recommended Ninth Ward to one of my students that is a Katrina Evacuee. She was looking for a shorter book that represented her culture and I knew the book was perfect for her. What I didn't expect was for her to come back to the library the very next day, raving about the book and inquiring where she could get a copy of her own. The book seemed to have touched her in a special way that I haven't seen before- I knew then that I'd have to read the book for myself.

Ninth Ward brought up a lot of memories from Hurricane Katrina. While I wasn't in New Orleans during the storm, I'd just moved from Seattle to Houston and knew nothing of hurricanes, let alone the disaster that was Katrina. Ninth Ward's narrative, almost poetic, style touched me, shocked me, and has left behind a special place in my heart for Lanesha, Spot, and TaShon.

What have others said?

From School Library Journal (2010):

Lanesha is a wonderful character who exudes resilience and fortitude in the face of a catastrophe as well as a personal vulnerability in terms of her status as an orphan and an outsider. Words, numbers, and colors as seen through her eyes show

the magic and wonder that exist in everyday things. The unique writing style even

allows the unlikely combination of elderly Mama Ya-Ya's heady scents of Vicks Vapor Rub and Evening in Paris perfume to seem wonderful and inviting.

And, from Kirkus Reviews (2010):

Born with a caul, 12-year-old Lanesha can see and sometimes communicate with spirits, and her guardian, former midwife Mama Ya-Ya, has dreams and visions that foretell the future. Their exquisitely happy, though poor, life in the New Orleans Ninth Ward is disrupted by news of a powerful storm approaching. Mama Ya-Ya knows it will get bad, but she has no means to get Lanesha out of the city. Knowing she herself will soon die, Mama Ya-Ya decides to wager that Lanesha's talents, both her supernatural skills and her more commonplace pluck and creativity, will see the young girl and her friend TaShon through Hurricane Katrina safely. The two children must confront not only the intense storm and Mama Ya-Ya's death but rapidly rising flood waters to survive. Rhodes's characters are likable and her story gripping. Unfortunately, though, romanticized depictions such as this one threaten to undermine our collective sense of the true plight of pre- and post-Katrina Ninth Ward residents. A good title for discussion when balanced with historical accounts of Katrina and her aftermath.

And, another thought from me:

After reading the thoughts from Kirkus Reviews, I have to admit, I was a bit shocked that the reviewer felt the book "...threaten[ed] to undermine our collective sense of the true plight of pre- and post-Katrina Ninth Ward residents." True, I think Ninth Ward does paint a hopeful and slightly-less-intense version of the Ninth Ward, but above all, I think it's important that we recognize and remember the disaster that was Katrina. And, I think Ninth Ward will truly help us remember not to forget.

Some ideas for the library or classroom
I have several students in mind whom I will recommend Ninth Ward to when school starts again. I've ordered another copy to ensure that it gets in as many hands as possible. Furthermore, after learning about several award-winning books this semester, I am excited to promote award winners more in the library. The Coretta Scott King awards winners (and honor recipients) are a must on my list of awards to begin promoting in the library.

As for the classroom, Ninth Ward lends itself to narrative and descriptive writing very well. There are several powerful excerpts that can be read aloud and discussed before students begin writing their own personal narratives. The book will also work well in a Civics classroom or Current Events unit, particularly when discussing the events of Katrina and the unrest that ensued.

References

Auguste, M. (2010). [Review of the book, Ninth ward by Jewell Parker Rhodes]. School Library Journal, 56(8), 110-110.

Ninth ward. (2010). [Review of the book, Ninth ward by Jewell Parker Rhodes]. Kirkus Reviews,

(14), 682-682.

Rhodes, Jewell Parker. (2010). Ninth Ward. New York, NY: Little, Brown and Company.