Irene Jennie and the Christmas Masquerade: The Johnkankus

With the hard life of being a slave, Irene tries to stay happy. The big Christmas event is coming soon but Irene is not excited this year. Her parents have to work at Christmas parties and can not be with her. Irene starts to get happier as the event starts.Irene is not fully excited until her parents show up. The author shows the love of family and the culture of this little girl. I would read this to my class during Christmas. Students could share their traditions and compare what different cultures do for the holidays.

Irene Jennie is sad this Christmas because both her mother and father have gone to work at another plantation. Her only Christmas wish is for her parents to come home. Though she’s sad, Irene Jennie gets caught up in the excitement of music, dancing, and costumes of Johnkankus, and right when things are ending and her sad reality begins to return, Irene Jennie gets her Christmas wish.

shows how African-American family values survived even in slavery.

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