Hurricane Song: A Novel of New Orleans by Paul Volponi

Volponi, P. (2008). Hurricane Song: a novel about New Orleans. New York: Viking.

ISBN-13: 978-0-670-06160-0

Plot Summary

Miles has been living with his jazz-playing father, Doc, in New Orleans for two months. The only thing Doc cares about is playing jazz in clubs, but Miles is looking forward to having a father figure in his life. School is about to start, and Miles is excited playing football. However, it is the end of August 2005, and Hurricane Katrina is barreling toward New Orleans. Miles, Doc, and Uncle Roy get in the car to stay in a motel inland, but they are directed to stay in the Superdome instead. Miles had hoped the first time he saw its grass would be when he played on it, not running from a storm. Miles, Doc, and Uncle Roy must survive the hurricane, the impatient and angry crowds, and the oppressive National Guard soldiers. When the rain finally passes, this small family realizes what is truly important to them.

Critical Evaluation

The setting of Hurricane Song is the backdrop and the catalyst for everything that occurs within the plot. Each chapter opens with a stanza of the song “When the Saints Come Marching In,” which cleverly sets the stage and foreshadows the events of the chapter. Of course, the significance of this song must not be overlooked: it is the Saints football team that calls the Superdome home. Now, though, it is home to the thousands of people seeking refuge from the storm. Also, each chapter begins with the date and time; tension builds as the hurricane approaches. The language of this first-person narration told with the voice of Miles is full of Southern dialect, which adds to the realism of the place and the characters. For example, Miles says, “Mom would bust on me whenever I complained about it” (4). Furthermore, the dialogue is rich with expletives and while some might be offended, it would be unrealistic to have anything other than that. Explicit language and derogatory terms bring to the forefront the racism and terrible experience endured by the people trapped in the Superdome. Through it all is Doc and Uncle Roy’s love of jazz, which exemplifies the strong culture of music that lives in New Orleans. Readers will be able to relate to the complicated father-son relationship. At the end, the theme of hope and perseverance will inspire readers.

Reader’s Annotation

 

When Miles chooses to live with his jazz musician father permanently, his relationship is put to the test when Hurricane Katrina threatens New Orleans. Struggling to survive in the Superdome, he realizes what is important and what people need to get through the storms of life.

 

Author Information

 

Paul Volponi is a teacher, a writer, and a journalist who lives in New York City. Between the years of 1992 and 1998, he was a teacher to incarcerated adolescents on Riker’s Island, New York City’s main jail facility. There, he taught teens how to read and write. During another six year period of time, Volponi taught teens in drug day-treatment centers. His work with teens influenced much of his writing, and his particular experience working on Riker’s Island inspired his first young adult novel, Black and White, which won the 2006 IRA Young Adult Book Award and an ALA Best Book Young Adult. Volponi holds a BA in English from Baruch and an MA in American Literature from the City College of New York.

 

Paul Volponi is available for contact through his website. He also enjoys visiting schools and libraries, and he offers to chat with students in classrooms via a video or speakerphone conference.

 

For more information or to contact Paul Volponi, please visit his website:

http://www.paulvolponibooks.com/index.htm

 

Genre

Young adult

Historical Fiction

Survival

Curriculum Ties

Hurricanes, weather, flooding, jazz music

Book Talking Ideas

What do you remember about Hurricane Katrina? How did it affect people’s lives?

Reading Level/ Interest Age

Appropriate for ages 14 and up

Challenge Issues

Language, racism

Challenge Defense

If it were challenged, I would consult ALA's Strategies and Tips for Dealing with Challenges to Library  Materials.

I would also cite these reviews:

Booklist 05/01/08

School Library Journal 08/01/08

Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books 05/01/08

Voice of Youth Advocates (V.O.Y.A.) 06/01/08

Horn Book 10/01/08

Wilson's Junior High School 01/09/10

Kirkus Review 05/01/08

Wilson's Senior High School 06/01/10

Why did I include this title?

This is the first historical fiction novel I have seen about Hurricane Katrina. The story is incredibly moving and often frightening. It sheds light on something I only saw from the safety of my couch watching television and while I knew it was bad in the Superdome, this novel shows me how horrible it really was. Hopefully, once people read this book, they will think twice about how they treat people during difficult times like natural disasters as well as on a daily basis.