Title: Ninth WardPublication Date: August, 2010
ISBN 13: 978-0316043076
Lanesha lives with her Mama Ya-Ya, a wise old midwife steeped in eclectic spirituality, in the ninth ward of New Orleans. When clairvoyant Mama Ya-Ya foresees a great storm, Lanesha begins to prepare herself for survival. It will take all her strength and "fortitude" to survive Hurricane Katrina and its aftermath. Is love enough to buoy Lanesha?
A poignant, and encouraging story. Lanesha has been raised from birth by Mama Ya-Ya because when her young mother died in childbirth, her "uptown" family refused to acknowledge her. The sadness of this rejection sticks with Lanesha and is symbolized by the languishing ghost of her pregnant mom. For all of Lanesha's young life, this sadness has been opposed by the love and devotion shown to her by Mama Ya-Ya. Mama Ya-Ya's love becomes a bulwark of spiritual strength for Lanesha and ultimately saves her from the "star-crossed" fate of more tragic literary characters. At times frightening and wrenching, Rhodes' prose is beautifully written with multiple layers of meaning. This book is essential to any library serving young teens. A Coretta Scott King Honor book and an ALA Notable book.
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