Zeitoun by Dave Eggers

"The true story of one family, caught between America’s two biggest policy disasters: the war on terror and the response to Hurricane Katrina. Abdulrahman and Kathy Zeitoun run a house-painting business in New Orleans. In August of 2005, as Hurricane Katrina approaches, Kathy evacuates with their four young children, leaving Zeitoun to watch over the business. In the days following the storm he travels the city by canoe, feeding abandoned animals and helping elderly neighbors. Then, on September 6th, police officers armed with M-16s arrest Zeitoun in his home. Told with eloquence and compassion, Zeitoun is a riveting account of one family’s unthinkable struggle with forces beyond wind and water." (Goodreads.com)

The damage that Hurricane Katrina caused is something that I've always been vaguely aware of because I was so young when it happened. So when I picked up this book to read it was the first look that I had into what it was really like for the families that went through it. Even the people that left New Orleans still suffered from the damage Hurricane Katrina did. The story also covers the prejudice Zeitoun has to face due to his religion as an Islamic-American. Eggers' really did his research and it shows, despite being the experience of only one family.

Kelsey Fitzgerald
Library Assistant

Available at the Langley-Adams Library