Ninth Ward - Hardcover

"Another gem by Jewell Parker Rhodes. Two youngsters, friends forever, find a way to survive, to love, to begin again. Wow! What a legacy to pass along."--Nikki Giovanni "A beautiful, moving, personal story. Unforgettable. I loved it."--Justine Larbalestier "A girl with special powers awakens to the New Orleans around her in a story told with gritty poetry."--Richard Peck "An enjoyable, satisfying novel about the magical spirit of a young girl navigating her way through an American tragedy."--Christopher Paul Curtis "Lanesha is a miraculous candle of a girl: her flame burns steadier in hurricane winds, and glows brighter against dark flood-waters. Jewell Parker Rhodes's book shines with love."--Sara Pennypacker "An absolutely exquisite children's debut by Jewell Parker Rhodes. Jewell's vivid writing brings the setting to life, in a story that is both timely and unforgettable."--Patricia Reilly Giff A CCBC Recommended Multicultural Book for Children and Teens "Jewell Parker Rhodes has written a powerful novel about family and survival in the face of tragedy and has created in her twelve-year-old narrator Lanesha, a true heroine. [She] shows a kind of bravery and big-heartedness that is a gift she passes along to her friend, her community and the readers of this luminous book."--Walter Mosley

Abandoned by her peers because of her ability to see spirits, Lanesha longs for connection despite the strong love of her adopted grandmother, Mama Ya-Ya. As hurricane Katrina approaches and her neighbours flee, Lanesha must stay and brace for a storm of epic proportions. As the levees break, Lanches must find a way to survive the floods on her own...