Book Review: Hurricane Song

Hurricane Song by Paul Volponi
Click on the book to see which libraries own it.

SUMMARY: Hurricane Katrina is raging and you are inside the Superdome! Miles has only lived in New Orleans with his dad, a musician, for a few months when Hurricane Katrina hits. Father and son haven’t exactly been getting along. Miles is obsessed with football; his dad’s passion is jazz. But when the storm strikes, they’re forced to work through their differences to survive a torturous few days in the Superdome. (adapted from the back cover)

OPINION: I am a big fan of Paul Volponi's book Black and White, which deals with how two boys, one black and one white, are treated in the justice system after commiting a crime. And I have to give Paul Volponi credit for addressing challenging race issues in Hurricane Song as well. However, he is a NYC guy, and it shows. This book seemed very generic to me in its treatment of New Orleans culture, Hurricane Katrina, and life in the Superdome. Maybe I just take in a lot of news, but I didn't really feel like he explored much new territory. However, the father-son relationship was really a driving force in this book, and the way they built a relationship through music added a layer of complexity to this straightforward story. This is a quick read that is a good introduction to the realities of Hurricane Katrina. Check it out if you enjoy contemporary fiction with an urban edge.