PORCH LIES: TALES OF SLICKSTERS, TRICKSTERS, AND OTHER WILY CHARACTERS

1. Bibliographic

McKissack, Patricia. 2006. PORCH LIES: TALES OF SLICKSTERS, TRICKSTERS, AND OTHER WIY CHARACTERS. Ill.by Andre Carrilho. New York, New York: Random House. ISBN 037593619X

2. Plot Summary

This book is a collection of "stories, or porch lies, [...] tales of humor and exaggeration told to listeners of all ages" (McKissack, X). According to the author's note, these are all tales that she heard as a child and has only now written them down with a few modifications. The characters are humorous, clever, and overall, larger than life. The tales themselves are reminiscent of other tall tales found in other cultures.

3. Critical Analysis

This collection, while quite humorous, is also an important multicultural work. These stories, or porch lies, serve as a tool for preserving the African American culture. In these tales, African American protagonists use their wits to out-smart their adversaries and, no matter what the challenge, end up on top. At the same time, these stories are also didactic in nature as they impress upon the reader the importance of knowledge, hard work, and perseverance.

While the stories are multicultural, they also may be classified as a form of traditional literature. The tales began in oral form with no known originator. Also, the characters are symbolic of good and evil and the plots are simple, direct, and episodic. For example, in "The Devil's Guitar", Bukka Black, the protagonist, represents good while evil is represented by the Devil himself. We learn very little about Bukka as the story progresses other than that he is a musician that wants nothing more than fame and fortune. However, in the end he chooses to go home to his mother rather than sell his soul to the Devil in exchange for riches. In short, these humorous folktales are examples of multicultural tall tales.

The black and white illustrations in this collection are few but effective. The use of light versus shadow as well as the disproportionate nature of the characters make these people seem imaginary rather than life-like. This mimics the feel of the text in which the characters are described in ways that are very symbolic rather than realistic.

4. Review Excerpts

School Library Journal- "These ten literate stories make for great leisure reading and knowing chuckles."
Horn Book - "Grandly melodramatic black and white illustrations capture the mood of the stories and the flavor of the period."
Booklist - "the nine original tales in this uproarious collection draw on an African American oral tradition and blend history and legend with sly humor, creepy horror, villainous characters, and wild farce."

5. Connections

- Discuss the examples of African American culture found in the story
* Spirituals
* food
* family structure

- Other multicultural collections
*PIO PEEP! TRADITIONAL SPANIST NURSERY RHYMES collected by Alma Flor Ada and Isabel Campoy
*MOONBEAMS, DUMPLINGS & DRAGON BOATS: A TREASURY OF CHINESE HOLIDAY TALES, ACTIVITIES & RECIPES collected y Nina Simonds and Leslie Swartz