Mama's Chicken and Dumplings

Mama's Chicken and Dumplings

Growing up in segregated 1930’s Charlottesville, ten-year-old Allie is determined to find a man for her mama to marry— but not just any man will do! Allie’s life with Mama isn’t bad, but she knows it could be better if Mama would find someone to marry. Allie’s worst enemy, her NOT-friend Gwen, has a daddy, and Allie wants someone like that—someone to fix things when they break, someone who likes to sing, and has a kind-smile. So Allie makes a plan—her super secret Man-For-Mama plan. She has a list of candidates with a clear top choice: Mr. Johnson, who owns the antique store. Best of all, Mr. Johnson went to school with Mama, and he wants to get reacquainted! The battle’s half won, and Allie is sure that when he tries Mama’s yummy chicken and dumplings, he’ll be head over heels. But someone else is interested in Mama: Mr. Coles, Allie’s teacher, who’s also Gwen’s uncle! Mama can’t marry him—no way is Allie going to be related to Gwen. On top of it all, Allie’s best friend is moving to Chicago; Allie keeps getting in trouble; and everyone seems to think she’s jealous of Gwen, for some reason. Nothing is going how she planned, but Allie is determined to get things back on track toward the life she knows she and Mama both deserve. . . even if Mama doesn’t agree yet. A Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection ★ "Mann delivers a stellar, historically accurate novel, inspired by real members of the 1930s Black Charlottesville community of Vinegar Hill. Short chapters keep up the pace as Allie navigates intertwined relationships, familial expectations, classism, and race. This outstanding, funny novel is a welcome addition to the historical fiction genre focused on BIPOC in the U.S. and should be perfect for fans of Ways to Make Sunshine by Renée Watson." Shelf Awareness Starred Review   "Mann weaves in many period details that bring authenticity to the narrative. The well-drawn school, church, and home settings create believable backdrops for Mann’s first middle-grade novel, a simply told, heartening story of a girl facing ethical dilemmas and achieving what had once seemed to be impossible." —Booklist "[An] amiable story." — The Horn Book "[A] sweet tale" —Publishers Weekly "Mann delivers all the right ingredients—an original setting, fresh characters, one truly spunky girl—and serves them up with honesty and love. Mama’s Chicken and Dumplings is delicious!" — Kathryn Erskine, National Book Award Winner Dionna L. Mann is an independent researcher and resident of Virginia who loves uncovering human-interest stories hidden within African-American history. As a work for hire author, she's written for Scholastic Press, Lerner, and Capstone, among others. This is her debut novel. Visit her at dionnalmann.com. Chapter One: Pinching Pennies I’m sitting on our front stoop, brushing my doll Mitzy’s hair, when Mr. Gray, the rent man, comes, smiling his fat smile. He ­ floomp-­paloomps his great big body up the steps. Who does he think he is, almost squishing my fingers? “You’re excused,” I say, though he didn’t ask to be. When Mr. Gray knocks, Mama doesn’t answer. That’s because she’s hanging up clothes on the clothesline out back. But I’ve decided I’m not getting Mama. I’m ignoring Mr. Gray just like he’s ignoring me. Besides, Mr. Gray doesn’t deserve one red cent of my mama’s ­hard-­earned money. He never fixes anything around here. But you watch. Mama will soon be handing Mr. Gray every bit of our rent money just like she always does. I hate the way my mama has to pinch pennies just to pay the rent on this ­run-­down excuse for a house. Do you think Mr. Gray cares that my daddy ran off like a no‑good nobody when I was five years old, then got himself killed, leaving my mama to scrub and wash and sew and clean, working her fingers to the bone all by herself ? No. Do you think Mr. Gray cares that I never have two cents to buy a couple of Mary Janes from the jars of penny candy lined up inside Mr. Inge’s grocery store? No. Do you think he cares that I don’t have my own flute, and can’t practice for the school band all summer? No. Do you think he cares about my mama and me? No. All he cares about is collecting his rent. Too bad Mama can’t afford her own house here in Charlottesville like some of the other colored folks in my neighborhood, like Gwen Turner, my ­NOT-­friend. She lives in a nice brick house on Commerce Street, all because her daddy’s a builder. I’m sure Gwen’s daddy can fix anything that gets broken down at her house. Her daddy has so much money, Gwen gets to buy bags full of candy whenever she wants. She wears ­different-­colored ­store-­bought dresses with matching ribbons every day at school. She even has her own flute. Why can’t I have a daddy like Gwen’s? I’ve seen Mr. Turner walking through town with his wife and four daughters. I’ve seen him kind-smiling at them, paying attention whenever one of them is talking, holding them if they’re crying. I’ve even seen him break out