Written by Rodman Philbrick
Wanting her son to learn more about the father he never knew, Zane Dupree’s mother searches out and finds Beatrice Jackson. After much coaxing, Zane and his loyal dog Bandit (Bandy) travel to New Orleans to meet his Great-Grandmother, “Miss Trissy,” who raised his father, who died before Zane was born. He is only there a short time when Hurricane Katrina strikes and Zane and Bandit are caught in the chaos and devastation of that horrific storm. Rodman Philbrick tells this story in Zane’s narrative. He has perfectly captured the setting, characters, confusion, destruction, and triumph of the human spirit in his writing. The voices of the characters are so amazing I felt as if they were real, that they were right next to me as I read. I loved the feistiness and humor of Malvina, the kindness and noble heart of Mr. Tru, the loyalty of Bandit, and the bravery of Zane. As Zane says himself, “The world turned upside down and inside out-and that was before the flood. I need to warn you right now, there’s some pretty gross stuff in this book, stuff so awful it made a dog hide his nose. And things so terrible I wanted to close my eyes. But we saw it all, me and Bandy. The good and the bad, they dark and the light. Acts of astonishing courage. Acts of cowardice and cruelty, of generosity and greed. Acts of terror and tragedy, tears, and laughter. My name is Zane Dupree, and this is my story.” (inside cover) You must read his story! This is one outstanding book.
Review by Renee Larsen, Hillside Elementary Media Center
Rating: ★★★★★ (5 stars)
Interest Level: Grades 5-8
Author Website: www.rodmanphilbrick.com
Zane and the Hurricane: A Story of Katrina
Written by Rodman Philbrick
Blue Sky Press (Scholastic)
181 pages
Release Date: February 25, 2014
ISBN: 9780545342384 (hardcover)
