Ninth Ward

Fiction Book: Ninth Ward
Author: Jewell Parker Rhodes
Grade Level: 4th - 7th
Pages: 217

Follow 12 year old Lanesha and her Mama Ya-Ya as they are faced with one of the most memorable natural disasters of the century: Hurricane Katrina. Lanesha and her Mama Ya-Ya live in the 9th Ward of New Orleans, a district that is settled along the Mississippi River. She and Mama Ya-Ya  live a happy live without the fancy clothes and their cupboards aren't always packed with food but they always have each other. But as the hurricane quickly approaches Lanesha and Mama Ya-Ya have no other option than to stay in their home and face the storm head on. Perseverance, bravery and the will to live is the only thing keeping the family alive.

This is a must read even if weather is not a topic in your classroom. Any teacher can use this to teach how weather and the earth affect us humans. This is a perfect story about the will to survive that has been based on real events. It would be a great supplement book when talking about natural disasters. The author uses fantastic descriptions, almost too real. I think students would like to see the real life photos of Hurricane Katrina while reading this book.

The following website offers a packet that is filled with ideas for curricular connections including math, science, language, and history: 
http://www.hachettebookgroup.com/features/ninthward/NinthWard-Home.html