Dear Jewell,

I am writing to you because your book, “Ninth Ward,” really helped me process what happened to my family and me during Hurricane Harvey. In August 2017, I was 9 years old when I lost my house to Hurricane Harvey. Even with a neighborhood full of people just like me who lost their homes, I felt so alone. I wish I had Lanesha’s story sooner to help me realize that I am strong and how it is powerful to help others and ask for help during times of crisis.

The Ninth Ward changed my view of myself and my thoughts and actions in the days leading up to, during, and after the hurricane. During that time, I questioned if I could have done more, if I really did all I could. One moment I still remember is trudging through my flooded house, panicking as I tried to grab and pack whatever I could while also trying to help my family pack and trudge out of the chest-high waters. I was really down on myself for panicking and feeling like I should have known what to do. Thankfully, my family was there, and we could all support each other and our neighbors during the many months after while we re-built.

Reading about Lanesha and her Mama Ya-Ya helped me see not only how blessed I am to have family support, but also how to normalize and process the thoughts I had. It taught me that panic was normal and how very little can prepare you for an event as large and devastating as a hurricane. As I read about Lanesha’s strength and the way she survived by observing and caring for her neighbors and her grandmother, I began to realize that strength does not always look like knowing what to do. Sometimes strength looks like surviving the day, helping when you can, and forgiving yourself when you are scared. After reading Ninth Ward, I also began to see my fellow students differently. I realized that many of them were probably carrying the same fears and doubts I was. Your book reminded me that communities survive disasters not because everyone is strong or smart in every moment, but because people lean on each other when they need to.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading your novel and look forward to hearing back from you. Your story of Lanesha helped me give myself grace for what I could not control and pride in what I, my family, and my community survived. Even though the hurricanes and locations were different, the feelings were the same, and that made me feel understood. Thank you for writing a story that reminded me that surviving is its own kind of courage. Please keep writing about how children think and face natural disasters, so children and teenagers like me do not feel so alone. Also, I would love to read a sequel about how New Orleans preserved their culture and rebuilt after Hurricane Katrina.

Sincerely,
Sophia Haagenson