Totally Booked with Zibby — Jewell Parker Rhodes (February 2, 2026)

Overview

In this heartfelt and vibrant episode, Zibby Owens welcomes back the acclaimed author Jewell Parker Rhodes to discuss her latest projects and literary legacy. The conversation centers on the graphic novel adaptation of Ghost Boys, Jewell’s recent Coretta Scott King Author Award for Will’s Race for Home, her journey as a writer, and the reissue of her adult novel Douglass’s Women. The episode is rich with warmth, mutual admiration, and deep dives into race, history, mentorship, and the transformative power of storytelling—especially for young readers.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Celebrating Will’s Race for Home and the Coretta Scott King Author Award

• Jewell shares her excitement about receiving the Coretta Scott King Author Award for her latest book, Will’s Race for Home.
  • Reflects on the journey of the book—rooted in the Tulsa Race Massacre and the experience of African Americans during the Oklahoma Land Rush.
  • Discusses the many challenges in bringing the book to publication and credits her editor Alvina Ling’s support.

  “It was like one of the most difficult books, in a way, to write because there were issues with text, illustrations, cover art... But it did—the award. Yay. Yay, yay, yay.” (07:15, Jewell Parker Rhodes)

2. The Power and Process Behind Ghost Boys and its Graphic Novel Adaptation

• Zibby’s reaction to the graphic novel:

  “You know how certain books you just, you can feel with your whole body. I felt it with my whole body. It was such an emotional, visceral read—so beautifully done, not heavy-handed, but just the right everything to make anyone just feel absolutely heartbroken and yet also inspired by the end. Inspired to act.” (09:48, Zibby Owens)

• Jewell unpacks the origins and purpose of Ghost Boys:

  • Wrote it at her editor’s request, despite initial reluctance, inspired by the impact of Emmett Till’s murder and ongoing violence toward Black youth.
  • Intentionally started the book with the protagonist, Jerome, already dead to focus on what else his story could mean.
  • Incorporates African American spiritual beliefs:

    “My African American tradition where Grandma used to say, ‘Jo Tao, every goodbye ain't gone.’ … The spirit lives on, and whether you want to say the spirit goes to heaven or to some other place... something so beautiful as a human soul does not ever dissipate.” (12:21, Jewell Parker Rhodes)

• Themes and Characters:

  • Wanted Jerome to remain more than just a passive victim—emphasizes agency and growth for young readers.
  • Introduced diverse characters like Carlos to broaden the conversation beyond African Americans, touching on parallel struggles faced by other communities.
  • Sought to create “a catharsis” and encourage youth that they can make the world better.

• On Adaptation Challenges and Triumphs:

  • It took nearly six years for the graphic novel to come to fruition, eventually finding the perfect illustrator in Charly Palmer (referred to as "Cedar" in transcript).
  • The visual storytelling elevated the emotion and accessibility for young readers, especially those who gravitate toward graphic novels.
  • Jewell reminisces about her own love for comics as a child and how full-circle the adaptation feels.

  “Several outlets have said that they believe Ghost Boys, the graphic novel, is in fact better than the original novel. And I'm going to tell you something. I agree.” (22:41, Jewell Parker Rhodes)

3. Writing, Legacy, and Mentorship

• Reflections on Being a Teacher and Author:

  • Jewell discusses the dual fulfillment of teaching and writing, mentioning her former student Tayari Jones (author of An American Marriage), and the joy in seeing mentees succeed.

    “Not only am I a teacher, and look at Teari, who's just awesome and wonderful, and I'm still doing that... So I kind of like the idea that I'm a teacher who also keeps doing what it is that I do.” (26:01, Jewell Parker Rhodes)

  • Writing and reading as necessities for inner balance:

    “If I'm not writing or working on something, then there's something wrong with me. There's something wrong with my heart or my my psychic balance.” (27:08, Jewell Parker Rhodes)

  • Zibby and Jewell relate over how their families respond to their creativity, with humor.

• Origins as a Writer:

  • Initially dreamed of being an actress or dancer and attended Carnegie Mellon’s drama school but was called to writing in college.
  • Recalls the importance of seeing representation in books and how late in life she discovered that Black people wrote books.

    “I was a kid who didn’t know until I was a junior in college that Black people even wrote books.” (23:35, Jewell Parker Rhodes)

4. Adult Fiction: Douglass’s Women

• Overview:

  • Originally published in 2002, winning several awards, now being reissued to coincide with Frederick Douglass’s birthday.
  • Explores the intertwined lives of Anna Murray Douglass (Douglass’s Black wife) and Ottilie Assing (his German Jewish mistress), delving into themes of race, gender, class, and the complexities of love.
  • Jewell discusses the legacy and agency of women—even those who society deems powerless—and the hope that women from different backgrounds might find solidarity if given the chance.

  “You have two free women, a Black free woman, a German Jewish woman, who actually both became enslaved in a way, romantically to this ex-slave man… at critical times… they come to an understanding and... if circumstances had been different, they would have been allies. They would have been the best of friends.” (34:23, Jewell Parker Rhodes)

5. Legacy, Relevance, and the Power of Story

• Jewell’s reflections on literary legacy and being ahead of her time:

  • Her early novels (Magic City, Douglass’s Women) are being reissued, affirming their continued relevance.
  • Feels her work bridges generations and cultural gaps, giving voice where it was once missing.
  • Emphasizes resilience, connection, and perseverance—both in literature and life.

  “When I look back at my legacy, I think there were ways in which I was ahead of my time, like people didn’t get me, but... I'm still here. And today's award made me feel, oh, I am truly now part of my time, and it's just wonderful.” (36:41, Jewell Parker Rhodes)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Literary Creation and the Youth Audience:

  “There's something special about writing a book that's, that's so hard that you don't think you can quite do it. But in the striving for it, all of a sudden, you know, you learn so much.”
  (11:00, Jewel Parker Rhodes)

• On Collaboration in the Graphic Novel:

  “This great visual artist matched my intent and yet took it another step further with his very, very best… in our realms, we created something that is incredible, new and wondrous in a different kind of way.”
  (22:30, Jewel Parker Rhodes)

• On Mentorship:

  “Women who lifted me up, you know. And so now it's my turn to do—well, I try to do lifting for other people, too, like you do. I mean, you lift us all up, Zibby.”
  (24:47, Jewel Parker Rhodes)

• On Perseverance and Legacy:

  “I'm going to be 72 years old. It's like better late than never… I decided I'm going to live until at least I'm 100… so when I got to my 50s, like, oh, then I got to my 60s, oh, and then my 70s, and it's like, oh, well, girl, I'm just going, and I'm gonna do it.”
  (37:20, Jewel Parker Rhodes)

• On Connection and Kindness:

  “There are people that I carry in my heart. And you're, you're one of, you know, one of them. It's… I don't know, it's part of the magic, I guess, of just what happens when humanity connects, you know, and you feel it.”
  (36:05, Jewel Parker Rhodes)

Important Timestamps

• 05:57–07:15 — Jewell celebrates the Coretta Scott King Author Award for Will’s Race for Home
• 09:42–13:59 — Zibby and Jewell discuss the impact and process behind Ghost Boys and its adaptation
• 16:43–22:06 — Jewell explores challenges and breakthroughs with the Ghost Boys graphic novel, and shares childhood reading memories
• 25:56–28:17 — Reflections on being both a writer and a teacher; the creative life and calling
• 29:49–35:30 — Discussion on Douglass’s Women, its themes, and enduring significance
• 36:41–37:20 — Jewell reflects on legacy, relevance, and the joy of sustained creativity

Tone and Atmosphere

The conversation is marked by mutual admiration, warmth, humor, and emotional resonance. Jewell Parker Rhodes is both candid and deeply generous, sharing wisdom, literary insights, and personal stories. Zibby’s admiration and effusive energy set readers/listeners at ease, making the episode a comforting and inspiring listen for book lovers and aspiring writers alike.

If You Missed the Episode...

This conversation is a loving testament to resilience, representation, and the healing power of story. Jewell Parker Rhodes’s commitment to truth, empowerment, and nurturing young minds is palpable—from her award-winning novels to her impact as a mentor and teacher. Ghost Boys (graphic and prose), Will’s Race for Home, and Douglass’s Women are recommended reading for those seeking powerful, empathetic, and galvanizing narratives. The episode is a must for anyone interested in the intersection of literature, social justice, and the enduring quest for human connection.