41 pages • 1 hour read
Paradise on Fire
A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Background
Authorial Context: Dr. Jewell Parker Rhodes
Dr. Jewell Parker Rhodes is an author and educator known for storytelling that often addresses complex social issues and Black history and culture. Born in 1954 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Parker Rhodes read voraciously from a young age. She became interested in African American literature in college, earning a BA in drama criticism, an MA in English, and a Doctor of Arts in English from Carnegie Mellon University.
Parker Rhodes began her career writing for adults, with her work primarily focusing on historical fiction featuring the Black experience. She then wrote several acclaimed middle grade novels, including Ninth Ward, which explores a preteen girl’s struggle to survive Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans; Towers Falling, which addresses the impact of 9/11 on a new generation; and Ghost Boys, a story about racial violence and police brutality. She has been praised for tackling difficult subjects with sensitivity and insight.
Beyond her writing, Parker Rhodes is committed to education. She serves as the Piper Endowed Chair and Founding Artistic Director of the Virginia G. Piper Center for Creative Writing at Arizona State University. Through her work, she urges readers to confront injustice, embrace their heritage, and find their voices. She has received numerous awards, including the American Book Award, the Black Caucus of the American Library Award for Literary Excellence, the Jane Addams Peace Association Book Award, the Walter Award, and the Prix des Libraries du Quebec, among others.
Genre Context: Middle Grade Realistic Fiction
Paradise on Fire is an advanced middle grade novel. Middle grade literature typically focuses on readers aged eight to 12. Parker Rhodes centers Black stories and characters in her middle grade fiction, diversifying the genre.
In her middle grade works, Parker Rhodes often focuses her narratives on young Black protagonists who face real-world challenges, such as surviving 9/11, Hurricane Katrina, or a devastating wildfire. Her protagonists are children of color, and the supporting characters reflect a range of cultural backgrounds and experiences, which helps foster inclusivity and representation. This representation is crucial to readers who may benefit from reading stories with characters who reflect themselves or who help them see from a perspective outside their culture.
Parker Rhodes also ensures that her characters find strength in their cultural backgrounds. In Paradise on Fire, Addy calls on her Nigerian background and the knowledge and strength her Grandma Bibi has instilled in her to survive the wildfire. Leo shows her maps of Nigeria, and they explore the ways that deforestation has occurred in Nigeria, which piques Addy’s interest in visiting the country that her grandmother and mother came from. Addy’s journey through the wilderness is not just a physical challenge but also an emotional one because she has to embrace that she is now a part of a community and not isolated. Parker Rhodes’s characters confront difficult issues, embrace their identities, and find hope and strength in the face of adversity.
Unlock all 41 pages of this Study GuidePlus, gain access to 8,800+ more expert-written Study Guides.
Including features:
Related Titles
By Jewell Parker Rhodes
