Hurricane Song

Volponi, Paul. Hurricane Song. New York: Viking Juvenile, 2008. Print.

Paul Volponi's novel Hurricane Song follows the story of Miles, a 16-year-old boy who recently moved to New Orleans to live with his dad. Just a few months after he arrives, Hurricane Katrina rips through the city, displacing Miles, his dad, and his uncle. They are taken to the Superdome where they witness the mounting frustration and rage of thousands of people when food, water, and care are impossible to find. This deterioration of spirits continues as Miles encounters looting and violence. He and his dad must redefine their relationship and make a new life after the harrowing days of the storm and recovery.

This immediately struck me as a good book for reluctant readers, specifically males. It is relatively short and written in a simple style through the eyes of an observant and relatable male protagonist. There is a lot of dialogue written in the vernacular which may raise objections about grammar, but the overall effect is very realistic and grounded. The pain and suffering caused by the hurricane is extremely evident, and it was interesting to see a novel portray the more human side of a natural disaster and huge news story.