Zane and the Hurricane
Scholastic Inc | ISBN 9780545342391 Paperback
192 Pages | 5.24" x 7.58" | Ages 9 to 14
Scholastic Inc | ISBN 9780545342384 Hardcover
192 Pages | 5.74" x 8.59" | Ages 9 to 14
Scholastic Inc | ISBN 9780545633475 Ebook
192 Pages | Ages 9 to 14
From the author of Freak the Mighty, a poignant novel set during the horrors of Hurricane Katrina.
Zane Dupree is a charismatic twelve-year-old boy of mixed race visiting a relative in New Orleans when Hurricane Katrina hits. Unexpectedly separated from all family, Zane and his dog experience the terror of Katrina's wind, rain, and horrific flooding.
Facing death, they are rescued from an attic air vent by a kind, elderly musician and a scrappy young girl--both African American. The chaos that ensues as storm water drowns the city, shelter and food vanish, and police contribute to a dangerous, frightening atmosphere, creates a page-turning tale that completely engrosses the reader.
Basing his novel on the facts of the worst hurricane disaster in US history, Philbrick includes the lawlessness and lack of government support during the disaster as well as the generosity and courage of those who risked their lives and safety to help others. Here is an unforgettable novel of heroism in the face of truly challenging circumstances.
Raves & reviews:
Praise for Zane and the Hurricane:
* "Zane's first-person account is tense and authentically youthful . . . [and 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
* "An appropriately serious and occasionally gruesome tale of surviving Hurricane Katina, buoyed by large doses of hope and humor." -Kirkus, starred review
* "Vivid descriptions of the toxic waters, the commotion at the Superdome, and racial tension are handled factually yet sensitively." -School Library Journal, starred review
"The tight prose, harrowing pace, and resonant relationships will appeal to a broad audience." -Booklist
"Philbrick writes with a taut pace, turning the realities of the Katrina disaster into a grim, absorbing adventure that incorporates the infamous details without forcing documentary into the story." -Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books