Sorrow's Kitchen: The Life and Folklore of Zora Neale Hurston

by Mary E. Lyons

This nonfiction middle grade biography explores the life and work of one of the greatest African American woman writers, Zora Neale Hurston.

Zora Neale Hurston was a prominent figure of the Harlem Renaissance whose stories, plays, essays, and articles recorded black folklore and portrayed the struggles of life in the South—including Their Eyes Were Watching God .

Genres: Biography, Nonfiction

144 pages, Paperback

First published October 31, 1990

About the author

Mary E. Lyons, a former teacher and librarian, became a full-time writer in 1993. She is the author of nineteen books for young readers published by Scribner, Atheneum, Henry Holt, Houghton Mifflin and Oxford University Press.

Born and raised in the American South, Mary Lyons lives in Charlottesville, Virginia, with her husband, Paul. Her publications for adults include The Blue Ridge Tunnel: A Remarkable Engineering Feat in Antebellum Virginia (History Press, 2014), The Virginia Blue Ridge Railroad (History Press, 2015), and Slave Labor on Virginia’s Blue Ridge Railroad (History Press, 2020).

Reviews

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I learned about the life and writing of Zora Hurston. I like how Lyons writes the facts about Zora's life but then shows us Zora through her the things Zora has written. Zora's writing is amazing. Her voice and word choice creates mental imagines that come alive while you read.

[C. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sorrow’s Kitchen was an intriguing look at Zora Neale Hurston’s life, education, careers, and achievements. I loved hearing about her strength, integrity, and tenacity. Through this stories and vignettes we learn of Zora’s zest for life, writing, freedom, and folklore. The author did a beautiful job of bringing Zora to life. Each chapter was intriguing, though I skipped the sections on Zora’s voodoo expeditions and indoctrination.

I enjoyed learning about what made her happy, who she loved, why she made choices, and the risks she took to get the stories, articles, plays, and books written. The details were plentiful, and it was easy to picture many of the moments. We follow Zora’s humble begingings down south, her family issues, the Harlem Renaissance, newspapers, and poverty. This is a beautiful book that I think would encourage aspiring writers.

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book told me more than I knew about ZNH, but I didn't realize it was a middle grade book. It was in the adult biography section of my library. I might need to try another biography for ZNH in the future.

[Lauren · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had read about this famous and controversial writer’s life in Valerie Boyd’s Wrapped in Rainbows, but it was not until I read this book that I learned so much more. I’m thankful to include this book in my personal library of Harlem Renaissance writers. I highly recommend this book.

[Roger · Rating 3 out of 5]

Worth reading

[Nabilah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Simple biography written for middle grade readers but it is really good for adults too. Love the excerpts from Zora Neale Hurston's own works.

[Patty · Rating 3 out of 5]

This year for our Big Read, we are doing Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston. I figured that this book would give me a quick intro to Hurston's life. It did that - very well.

This biography was written for younger readers and Lyons did an excellent job. I am very glad that she put parts of Hurston's own writings. I think it is a good way to show readers what Hurston is like.

I now need to go find the authoritative biography - for adults.

[Kristin Boldon · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good, short biography and overview of Zora Neale Hurston's life and work, written for the children's market. Full of photos, and even better, many excerpts from Hurston's own writing. It does a good job showing what a divisive person Hurston could be, and doesn't condescend by simplifying her complexities.

[Nhan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting view for Zora Neale Hurston's life, a gifted African-American author. She seems like a very witty and intelligent person - it was only money that was stopping her from becoming the best she could've been.

[Laurie Kutil]

I definitely want to read Zora's books now that I know about her.

[Elizabeth]

hardcover with a dustjacket good condition