Zane and the Hurricane: A Story of Katrina: A Story of Katrina Audiobook

Quotes

• “The myriad horrors of [Hurricane] Katrina, large and small, are cataloged in detail…The novel’s plot unfolds with the detailed precision of scrimshaw.”

  — New York Times Book Review

• “A boy’s visit to meet his great-grandmother for the first time turns into a nightmare when Hurricane Katrina hits New Orleans…Vivid descriptions of the toxic waters, the commotion at the Superdome, and racial tension are handled factually yet sensitively. Information about unique New Orleans customs, including ‘jazz funerals,’ its history of biracialism, and accents are occasionally inserted. The fast bond among Zane, Malvina, and Tru is believably drawn. A time line and facts about Hurricane Katrina and its aftermath are included.”

  — School Library Journal (starred review)

• “Zane’s first-person account is tense and authentically youthful as the group paddles through the flooded streets of New Orleans seeking refuge. Philbrick vividly portrays the destruction and multitude of threats facing citizens stuck in the city, along with undercurrents of racial and social tension that didn’t wash away with the levees.”

  — Publishers Weekly (starred review)

• “Philbrick examines issues of race and class with a deft hand (Zane is of mixed race himself), letting the story unfold directly and leaving moralizing to the reader. Though the convenience of a few plot points strains credibility, the tight prose, harrowing pace, and resonant relationships will appeal to a broad audience.”

  — Booklist