GENRE 2: Porch Lies: Tales of Tricksters, Slicksters, and Other Wily Characters by Patricia C. McKissack

Bibliography
McKissack, Patricia C. 2006. Porch Lies: Tales of Slicksters, Tricksters and Other Wily Characters. Illustrated by Andre Carrilho. New York: Schwarz & Wade Books. ISBN 9780375936197

Plot Summary
This collection of stories by Patrcia C. McKissack draws on African American oral traditions and range from side-splittingly funny to hair-raisingly spooky. Readers will meet a variety of slicksters and tricksters who outsmart and charm others to get what they want. In “Aunt Gran and the Outlaws,” a little old lady called Aunt Gran comes face to face with Frank and Jesse James. She somehow manages to outsmart them so that they help her rid the town of a racist businessman who wants her land. “When Pete Bruce Came to Town” shares how Pete Bruce, charmer extraordinaire, manages to flatter a baker out of a coconut cream pie and a quart of milk. For a chilling read, “The Devil’s Guitar” shows how James “Bukka” Black is tempted by the devil’s offer of fame and fortune.

Critical Analysis
Based on African American oral traditions, the stories in McKissack’s collection are rich in African American history. There are mentions of slavery, segregation, harassment by the Klu Klux Klan, and the Great Depression. The inclusion of these historical events tends to give the stories an essence of truth that adds to the task of determining whether to believe the “porch lie.”

McKissack prefaces her collection of stories with a reminiscence of her younger days in Nashville, Tennessee and shares how her summers spent on the porch of her grandparents’ home helped shape the stories in the collection. Each story is initially set up for the reader by introducing the porch visitor, sometimes male and sometimes female, who will tell the story. There is a bit of background given as to why the visitor is telling the porch lie, and then the story begins. The plot and conflict of the tale is quickly established at the beginning, and the “narrator” draws the reader in with the authentic style of the language and dialect used to tell the story. The elements of a trickster tale are alive and well in each story as the various male, and one female, tricksters use their cunning and humor to make up for any weaknesses they may have in overcoming their obstacles. There are lessons to be learned from each story, and though each trickster can seem cruel or heartless, readers will come to realize that a common theme among the stories is that of the scoundrel who does indeed have a saving grace.

Adding to McKissack’s stories are the illustrations by Andre Carrilho. Done in black and white, the illustrations are dramatic and well-matched with the stories. Each illustration showcases the trickster in the story and manages to capture the essence of the character in their facial expressions and actions. The standout feature of each illustration is Carrilho’s use of shadows and the elongated physical dimensions of the character being drawn. It gives the character an otherworldly quality that fits with the idea that the character isn’t your average person.

McKissack’s collection is a wonderful addition to library rich in oral traditions. Though not necessarily intended for young readers, children of all ages will enjoy listening to adults share the stories within this collection.

Review Excerpt(s)
Children’s Literature – “Wonderful for reading aloud, these serve not only as entertainment but inspiration for others to write down family stories told in the oral tradition.”

Booklist - *Starred Review* “Great for sharing, on the porch and in the classroom.”

School Library Journal – “These 10 literate stories make for great leisure listening and knowing chuckles.”

Connections
* Students can create a graphic organizer analyzing the characteristics of a slickster or trickster in a story of their choosing.
* Have students organize and perform one of the stories in the collection for the class.
* Moderate a debate in which students argue over which slickster or trickster was the most effective in his or her methods.
* Students can research one of the historical events mentioned in the tales (segregation, slavery, etc.) and create a multimedia presentation.