Hurricane Song: A Novel of New Orleans
Grade 10 Up—Set in New Orleans during Hurricane Katrina, Paul Volponi's novel (Viking, 2008) provides a graphic description of the horrors that ensued during the evacuation and for those who took shelter in the Superdome—no electricity or running water, and groups of thugs competing for turf. Sixteen-year-old Miles and his musician father and uncle seek shelter in the Superdome after their car overheats during their evacuation. Miles and his dad have only been living together for a couple of months and are still trying to reach common ground between his father's love of music and the teen's love of football. It is music, however, that is the catalyst that brings the two together after Miles's father rebels against the rules set by the Superdome's weekend soldiers. Jacob C. Norman does a good job of voicing Miles and his father, but does not clearly differentiate between the other characters. Their eventual journey to Seattle and return to New Orleans is related in an epilogue. Versions of "When the Saints Go Marching In," sung by Norman slightly off key, opens every chapter. Jazz riffs play at the opening and closing credits. An additional purchase.—Suanne Roush, Osceola High School, Seminole, FLCopyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.