Acclaimed novelist Jewell Parker Rhodes is an American Book Award winner. Rhodes' Ninth Ward is a stunning tale set against the horrors of Hurricane Katrina. Orphaned 12-year-old Lanesha lives with Mama Ya-Ya, the midwife who birthed her, in New Orleans' Ninth Ward. Although Lanesha is different-able to see ghosts like that of her dead mother-she never feels unloved, an empowerment that helps her survive the devastating storm. 'If there are awards for books that celebrate the triumph of the human spirit, this one is a clear contender.'-Children's Literature