Ninth Ward

Fiction | Novel | Middle Grade | Published in 2010

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Summary

Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Chapters 1-3

Chapters 4-6

Chapters 7-9

Chapters 10-12

Chapters 13-14

Character Analysis

Themes

Symbols & Motifs

Important Quotes

Essay Topics

Quiz

Tools

Beta

Discussion Questions

Symbols & Motifs

Symbols of Fortitude

A strong symbol of Lanesha’s forethought and fortitude is the axe. Going to the shed to collect the axe is proof of Lanesha’s prudence: “Then I think, I don’t know why, what if we’re trapped?” (161). It is also notable that although Mama Ya-Ya must work to convince Lanesha to move supplies to the attic, she never mentions the axe; that choice is Lanesha’s forethought at work. She shows fortitude in entering the rickety shed and hauling the dangerous tool up the attic; later, it takes great physical strength to use it: “Bam. The power is in my arms. I swing and swing ‘til there’s a ragged hole around the window” (136). Ultimately, the axe is the key to survival and the reason Lanesha, TaShon, and Spot do not drown in the attic.

Other symbols of fortitude exist throughout the story too. The pre-algebra book Miss Johnson gives Lanesha is a symbol for her strength with numbers and problem-solving; those strengths will help her gauge the rate of the rising water and the angles needed to free the boat. The tree trunk is another symbol for fortitude; it is big, heavy, strong, and when wielded correctly, packs enough of a punch to free the boat, which leads to their rescue.

Bridges

Inspired by Miss Johnson to consider engineering as a possible career, Lanesha takes to drawing and daydreaming about bridges. Even before the storm forecasts take center stage, Lanesha wonders about building a bridge that would magically connect her to her Uptown family she has never met. Bridges serve as a symbol of connectedness between people in the novel and consequently support the theme about accepting help and support from loved ones. The supportive actions of Mama Ya-Ya, TaShon, and the neighbors act as a series of figurative bridges that help Lanesha conquer her challenges and continue her journey toward survival. Bridges also serve as symbols that connect the pre-Katrina Lanesha with the Lanesha who prepares for the storm and withstands its destruction. This is evident when Lanesha initially tries to avoid and ignore the storm’s rising threat by focusing her energy on drawing bridges. This activity calms her enough to accept that the storm cannot be ignored, and soon she begins to ready the house.

Ghosts

Individual ghosts (in addition to Lanesha’s mother’s ghost) appear throughout the narrative, and their presence supports the theme of accepting death as part of life. Lanesha is cognizant that others may think of her as “crazy” or a “witch” because of her ability to perceive spirits in her environment, but Lanesha takes it in stride. Her usual strategy is to ignore them, though she sometimes responds to Jermaine, the young boy who died in a convenience store shooting, when he says hello on her way to school. Lanesha also sees ghosts in her school when she attempts to go there on the day it closes for the storm. There she sees “[m]ainly nuns. Sisters of Charity. A priest or two” (74). Lanesha knows the building used to be a convent so this does not surprise her; she also takes it in stride when Sister Margaret waves at her and other black-robed nuns “look like they’re gliding on ice” (74). Later, her living room has more ghosts than usual, and Lanesha wonders if they all used to live in the house. Before the storm, as her neighbors empty the street, ghosts in abundance come out to wander.