Porch Stories: Jewell Parker Rhodes on Ghosts, History, and Staying Open to Love

“For every child that thinks something is wrong with them, my books are saying, ‘be you, even if others can’t see you. The people who don’t see your beauty, see your glory–they have a problem. Something is wrong with their eyes, their soul.’” – Jewell Parker Rhodes Raised mainly by her grandmother on a steady diet of porch stories (and lots of bread), Jewell Parker Rhodes spent decades writing for adults, perfecting her craft in order to “be good enough” to write for kids. For Jewell, that has meant creating books that speak to a range of kids with different experiences and backgrounds (like her grandma used to refer to as a “mixed blood stew”) and to the educators and librarians supporting them. Jewell channels her inner Hamilton, as she notes, always writing like she is running out of time. And since she started writing for kids, she has indeed been prolific. Jewell is an award-winning author whose work spans adult and children's fiction. Her children’s books include her children’s debut, “Ninth Ward,” which won a Coretta Scott King Honor Award, “Bayou Magic,” “Towers Falling,” and “Ghost Boys,” a New York Times bestseller that continues to spark critical conversations about racial justice. And many, many more.  In this episode, Jewell opens up about her tumultuous childhood, reflects on her grandmother’s wisdom, and recounts many of the surprising twists of her life. That includes Jewell’s amazement at living this long and what she’d tell her students if she ever returned as a ghost. Settle in for an episode you don’t want to miss with the exceptionally colorful stories of Jewell Parker Rhodes! *** Jewell’s reading challenge, Comic Trips, celebrates timeless classics she adored as a child alongside today's graphic novels. It’s an opportunity to explore how the comic art form has grown and to challenge the misconception that graphic novels aren’t “real” books.  Learn more and download Jewell’s recommended reading list at thereadingculturepod.com/jewell-parker-rhodes *** This episode's Beanstack Featured Librarian is once again Kat Gatcomb, previously a youth services supervisor at Nashua Public Library in New Hampshire and now in customer success at Beanstack! This week, she shared two key lessons she wished she had known earlier as a librarian.  *** Show Chapters Chapter 1 - Bread Freak (03:27) Chapter 2 - Spellbound (09:53) Chapter 3 - Prince(ss) Valiant (15:13) Chapter 4 - The People Could Fly (17:50) Chapter 5 - Simply Complex (25:10) Chapter 6 - Schoolbound (32:32) Chapter 7 - You Can’t Pierce My Soul (35:25) Chapter 8 - Gunnin’ for 120 (41:49) Chapter 9 - Comic Trips, Jewell's Reading Challenge (45:10) LinksThe Reading CultureThe Reading Culture Newsletter SignupJewell Parker RhodesJewell Parker Rhodes Instagram“The People Could Fly” by Virginia HamiltonFollow The Reading Culture on Instagram (for giveaways and bonus content)Beanstack resources to build your community’s reading cultureJordan Lloyd Bookey Host: Jordan Lloyd Bookey Producers: Mel Webb, Jackie Lamport and Lower Street Media Script Editors: Josia Lamberto-Egan, Mel Webb, Jackie Lamport, Jordan Lloyd Bookey