69 pages • 2 hours read
Ninth Ward
A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more. For select classroom titles, we also provide Teaching Guides with discussion and quiz questions to prompt student engagement.
Book Brief
224
Novel • Fiction
New Orleans • 2000s
2010
Middle grade
10-14 years
HL470L
Super Short Summary
Ninth Ward by Jewell Parker Rhodes follows 12-year-old Lanesha in New Orleans’s Ninth Ward during Hurricane Katrina, where she relies on her resourcefulness, resilience, and fortitude to survive the storm and subsequent flooding alongside her elderly caregiver, Mama Ya-Ya, and their neighbor, TaShon. This novel features themes of survival, community, and the supernatural.
Emotional
Heartwarming
Melancholic
Inspirational
Hopeful
Reviews & Readership
7,364 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
Review Roundup
Jewell Parker Rhodes' Ninth Ward is praised for its compelling depiction of a young girl’s resilience during Hurricane Katrina, blending magical realism with real-life events. Critics laud its poignant narrative and strong characters, though some feel its pacing is uneven. Overall, it's seen as a powerful and emotional story for middle-grade readers.
Who Should Read Ninth Ward?
Fans of The Watsons Go to Birmingham—1963 and A Long Walk to Water will appreciate Ninth Ward by Jewell Parker Rhodes. This poignant tale appeals to middle-grade and young adult readers who enjoy heartfelt, coming-of-age stories that tackle historical events through the eyes of resilient, young protagonists.
7,364 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
Mama Ya-Ya
Mama Ya-Ya
The wise midwife who raised Lanesha and has special powers of perception, guiding Lanesha with love and foresight.
TaShon
TaShon
A small, courageous boy who becomes Lanesha’s friend and ally, known for his love and protection of his dog, Spot.
Ginia
Ginia
A kind classmate of Lanesha's who expresses genuine interest in friendship and shares a grandmother with perceptive abilities similar to Mama Ya-Ya.
Lanesha’s Mother
Lanesha’s Mother
The ghost of Lanesha's young mother, who is a quiet but constant presence in Lanesha’s life, becoming more active during the storm.
224
Novel • Fiction
New Orleans • 2000s
2010
Middle grade
10-14 years
HL470L
Continue your reading experience
Subscribe now to unlock the rest of this Study Guide plus our full library, which features expert-written summaries and analyses of 8,000+ additional titles.