A Storm Called Katrina, by Myron Uhlberg and Colin Bootman

It's hard to believe nearly ten years have passed since Katrina ravages the Gulf Coast.  The images of the rooftop rescues, the crowding in the Superdome, the flooded streets, and the collective human misery still seem fresh.  In A Storm Called Katrina, writer Myron Uhlberg and illustrator Colin Bootman capture the amazing devastation of Katrina on New Orleans through the eyes of a little boy.

When the storm hits, Louis's family thinks it's like any other hurricane, not an unfamiliar experience for New Orleans residents.  When the rain stops and the water starts rising, they realize the levees have failed and they have to flee.  They end up heading to the Superdome, where they join thousands of others.  On the way, they see lost pets, a dead body floating by, and rescue boats.

Uhlberg and Bootman strike a delicate balance between portraying the harsh reality of the storm and protecting innocent eyes.  It's not a political story or an environmental story but a story about one family's difficult experience of sticking together through adversity.  Well-told and nicely illustrated, A Storm Called Katrina is a harsh but sensitive reminder of a terrible chapter in our history.



Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the complimentary electronic review copy!