Ninth Ward

         Lanesha lives in a knit community in New Orleans's Ninth Ward. She doesn't live in a fancy house like her uptown family or like other kids in her neighborhood. Lanesha lives with her grandma, Mama Ya-Ya. Mama Ya-Ya is her caretaker who is wise and able to predict the future. Mama Ya-Ya has a vision that shows a powerful hurricane, Katrina coming fast. It is up to Lanesha to call upon hope, bravery, and strength Mama Ya-Ya has given her to help them survive the storm. 

Lanesha has lived with her grandma since she was born. Her mother died giving birth. Lanesha and Mama Ya-Ya both have the power to see ghosts. Her mother always sits on Mama Ya-Ya's bed still pregant. Mama Ya-Ya has helped giving birth to other kids until one baby died, one was born with a caul, and one who grew twelve fingers scared everyone and started calling her a witch. Lanesha loves learning and reading. Throughout the story, she makes new friends, Ginia and TaShon. TaShon is a child who was born with twelve fingers but got the extra ones caught off. Lanesha ends up defending him, when she finds him in trouble in an alley with a dog. She scares away the boys and together they take care of the dog. Ginia is a runner just like Lanesha, they both run track. Ginia tries to become friends with her, but Lanesha only thinks it is for pity. They end up hanging out until the storm hits. 

       Every since Mama Ya-Ya saw her vision she has become weaker and weaker. She never lives the tv and stays put. She believes that something is different from the other storms. Lanesha ends up having to prepare of the storm. During the storm Lanesha tries to keep Mama Ya-Ya awake but she ends up dying during the hurricane. TaShon and Lanesha end up having to leave the house because of the flood. In the end they survive and get rescued. 

     This story would be a 10 out of 10. I had so many emotions for this story. I would count it as one of my favorites. It talked about many different topics. It involves bullying, love, and survival. She only had one person in her life to guide her. If I had to choose from her grandma or her Uptown family I would choose the grandma. She never discouraged her and allowed her to express herself. She found who she truly is though an American tragedy. She was different, but a very good different that you don't see often. She also had hope in her heart that allowed her to survive during the storm.