In 1935, Vinegar Hill was an African American community, located in Charlottesville, Virginia. The main character and narrator of the story is 10-year-old Alexander Lewis (Allie).

She’s a spunky girl with a lot of passion, especially when it comes to fixing her broken life. Her dad left the family and eventually died. Now Allie has a plan to find a new husband for Mama, one that will adore Mama’s cooking like her delicious Chicken and Dumplings. If her plan works she will finally have the complete family she’s always wanted.

Allie finds the perfect match in kindly Mr. Johnson, but Mama has eyes on Allie’s band teacher, Mr. Coles. This connection will never work because her in-school enemy, Gwen, happens to be the niece of of this man. Allie will just have to push her Mama a little harder to make her see she is making the wrong choice.

The 26 chapters flow smoothly through many humorous and memorable scenes. You get a peak at the segregation and the town’s history. MAMA’s CHICKEN AND DUMPLINGS would make a great read-aloud and be perfect for any young readers (ages 8-11) just beginning their journey through middle grade books.

BOOK BIRTHDAY: August 6, 2024 PAGE COUNT: 208

FIVE MORE THINGS TO LIKE ABOUT: MAMA’S CHICKEN AND DUMPLINGS by Dionna L. Mann

1. Such a strong set of supporting characters- both adults and kids. They each have distinct personalities that meld together to lift the story up even higher.
2. The principal’s solution for bringing peace between Allie and Gwen would even be useful in today’s schools.
3. When Allie’s best friend moves away, it vividly shows how hard it was to keep in touch. No cell phones or the internet to stay connected. Snail mail was your only hope.
4. Having visited Charlottesville myself many times, I was captivated by how this part of town used to be almost 90 years ago.
5. Mann’s author note is a must read giving you insights as to how this story might have been a non fiction look at the Vinegar Hill in 1935. Also included are extended resources and a link to a recipe for Mama’s Chicken and Dumplings.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR, Dionna L. Mann

I was born in Chicago, but grew up in its suburbs where my imagination placed me onto my bike and into the woods on all-day-make-believe adventures. I attended Bloom High School where I enjoyed learning the ropes of journalism as the features’ editor of The Broadcaster, an award-winning student newspaper.

As a teen, I dreamed of becoming a trainer of dolphins or a journalist or a special ed. teacher or a speech pathologist, but gave up my four-year academic scholarship to pursue a Bible educational work. As a young woman, I called South Bend, Indiana, my home, and it was on the lawn of the University of Notre Dame where my husband proposed.
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Since 1989 I have lived in rural Virginia with my family, and was blessed to have raised my three (most-talented!) children surrounded by Blue Ridge Mountains, friendly smiles, and howdy-dos.

For nearly twenty-five years, I worked within my children’s school system first as a parent volunteer, then as substitute teacher, a high school office secretary, and as a special ed. instructional assistant. I was known as the oxymoron Mrs. Mann who got kids involved in creative writing.

My kidlit writing journey has included being a work-for-hire author who’s published both fiction and nonfiction books with Scholastic Press, Lerner, Capstone, Little, Brown, and other educational publishers. My work has appeared inside Cricket, Ladybug, and Spider, children’s magazines.

As an independent researcher, I especially love uncovering uplifting human-interest stories hidden within African American history in order to share their inspiration with children from all backgrounds. 

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