Porch Stories: A Grandmother's Guide to Happiness

by Jewell Parker Rhodes

The award-winning author of Voodoo Dreams shares life lessons culled from the stories told by a grandmother who raised her and four of her other abandoned siblings with love and wisdom in spite of economic disadvantages. 35,000 first printing.

176 pages, Hardcover

First published September 12, 2006

About the author

Jewell Parker Rhodes has always loved reading and writing stories. Born and raised in Manchester, a largely African-American neighborhood on the North Side of Pittsburgh, she was a voracious reader as a child. She began college as a dance major, but when she discovered there were novels by African Americans, she knew she wanted to be an author. She wrote six novels for adults, two writing guides, and a memoir, but writing for children remained her dream.

Now she is the author of eleven books for youth including the New York Times bestsellers Will's Race for Home, Ghost Boys and Black Brother, Black Brother. Her other books include Soul Step, Treasure Island: Runaway Gold, Paradise on Fire, Towers Falling, and the Louisiana Girls Trilogy: Ninth Ward, Sugar, and Bayou Magic. She has also published six adult novels, two writing guides, and a memoir.

She is the recipient of numerous awards including the American Book Award, the Black Caucus of the American Library Award for Literary Excellence, a Coretta Scott King Honor Award, an NAACP Image Award nomination, and the Octavia E. Butler Award.

When she’s not writing, she’s visiting schools to talk about her books with the kids who read them, or teaching writing at Arizona State University, where she is the Piper Endowed Chair and Founding Artistic Director of the Virginia G. Piper Center for Creative Writing.

Reviews

[Jan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A collection of autobiographical stories from Jewell Parker Rhodes' life, describing her childhood in Pittsburgh, and from her grandmother's life "down South." Though her grandmother describes enslavement, Jim Crow, and poverty, her loving voice comforts and sustains the author, and inspires her to write. In turn, Rhodes encourages readers to write and even leaves space at the book's end for our own "porch stories." I can imagine this as a gift book for a special family member or friend.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good book of family memories!
Thank You

[Suzy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Simply beautiful.

[J · Rating 5 out of 5]

A treasure. Rhodes puts us on that porch, listening to stories of a grandmother and sharing the family's lives.

[Margaret · Rating 5 out of 5]

This Book is Meant To Be Savored


Jewell Parker Rhodes has delivered another winner with Porch Stories. She has penned a wonderful story about her relationship with her grandmother. Deserted by her mother before she could crawl always left her feeling insecure, but not unloved because her wonderful grandmother filled her empty spaces with a love that was rich and pure. The two of them spent time bonding while sitting on the front stoop of their house. It was then that her grandmother, Ernestine, used to tell her stories of the past. Not only were these stories of the past, but they also taught Ms. Rhodes a strong moral code, and values that she could use throughout her life. Whenever Jewell's behavior was not up to code Grandmother Ernestine had a story to tell that made her understand why her particular action was not wise.” “Remember your name, who you be in love with your good self” was the number one message that Ernestine wanted to make sure Jewell understood
.

For a short time Jewell had to go live with her mother who did not share the same views in life that were instilled in her daughter. This made the period of time during Jewell's parents attempt at reconciliation very hard for her. Living with her mother made her realize just how complex the world really is. It was her grandmother' s efforts that made her into the writer that she is today. Ernestine was determined that Jewell get the education that she herself had always longed for but was not able to get.
I truly enjoyed reading this book just as I have enjoyed each book by this author, it left me feeling good. Maybe you have a grandmother or a great- aunt in your life that has told you stories that helped you down life's path. If you did you will enjoy this book as it brings back memories of a time when the world was a lot less complicated. In fact I think that anyone who likes a book that lifts your spirits will enjoy reading this book. Just as usual Ms. Rhodes has delivered a winner.











Reviewed by Margaret Ball



APOOO BookClub

[Jacob Hale · Rating 4 out of 5]

Through retelling stories her grandmother told her on the porch (well, it was really a stoop, but the Southern tradition was recreated in the north), Jewell Parker Rhodes draws a moving and beautiful portrait of her grandmother, explores the importance of the porch for community, and urges girls and women to preserve and pass on cross-generational, self- and female-affirming knowledges. These three themes are woven together extremely well. I was just left wanting more, especially about how the porch functions to create and sustain community.

[Alicia Vogl Saenz · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great book for teen-age girls. A powerful story of the author's conection to her strong and amazing grandmother.

[Tammy]

F Rho