Zane and the Hurricane: A Story of Katrina
By: Rodman Philbrick / Narrated By: Jerry Dixon
Length: 4 hrs and 11 mins
History, horror, racism, friendship—all handled deftly: Perfect for kids and a treat for adults!
12-year old Zane Dupree has just discovered that, not only does he have a great-grandmother he never heard of, but he’s going to visit her down in New Orleans for a while this summer… Surprise! Tho’ he hates the idea, it’s made more tolerable when his mom says he can take Bandy, a mixed-breed dog who happens to be his best friend. A couple of weeks with Miss Tracy, the woman who raised his long-deceased father? Okay, with Bandy as his side, all will be just fine.
So Zane and Bandy arrive in “Smellyville”—as Zane has dubbed New Orleans for its oppressive heat, humidity, and that smell that is ONLY N.O.—in August, and while he’s still not thrilled to be down there (Coming from New Hampshire, it’s quite a culture shock), Miss Tracy is a sweet old woman with plenty of stories of his dad. Zane has never really thought of his dad but, through these stories, he starts to get a sense of who his dad may’ve been, and the tragedy that caused his dad to leave New Orleans, never to speak of it again.
All nice and good, but a storm is brewing, and it’ll be named Katrina. Zane’s mother tries to get him and Miss Tracy out, but all flights are cancelled, so there’s not much more to be done than to evacuate with Miss Tracy’s church group. Things go awry, and Zane wriggles outta the bus to get Bandy, and the two are left to fend for themselves as Katrina strikes.
Zane and the Hurricane follows the two through pretty much every scene/event that has become iconic of Katrina. There’s the destruction, the “Just-dodged-the-big-one” feel, the flooding, the escape to the attic, the chopping a hole through the roof, rescue on a boat. Then too there’s the Superdome, and bridges that can’t be crossed because police won’t allow it.
All these are handled deftly and with much care and make what could be a horror show into a very good story, suitable for kids. The story is about friendship and heroism too, so there’s THAT! Zane and Bandy are rescued by a girl named Malvina—about his age but a tough-talking, wisecracking, good-hearted thing—and a man named Tru—who can play just about any brass instrument out there. So it’s with these two truly well-written characters that Zane has some of his experiences, and he learns a heckuva lot about the culture that can only be New Orleans.
I really, really liked how something, Katrina, that gave me PTSD could be turned into something just plain interesting and a wonderful journey taken with friends. And need I say that I ADORED Bandy?!?
Jerry Dixon’s narration is at times a bit over-the-top, as sometimes happens with books for younger listeners, but all in all, he was very enjoyable. He had Miss Tracy and her humming done to a T, and he even fearlessly threw in a yip or two when Bandy talked. There were also some pretty nasty characters in the story, which he handled well, and there was plenty of drama, plenty of affection, plenty of care with the narrative. I truly enjoyed his delivery, and if I ever see that he’s narrated another middle-grade fiction audiobook, I would snap it up in a heartbeat!
Sure, nothing toooo bad happens to Zane and his companions… well, okay, one reeeeally bad thing happens… but there was still plenty of tension to be found in the story.
Good story, great characters, AWEsome dog?
Need I say it?: I’m THERE!!!
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