Reviews

I Survived Hurricane Katrina, 2005 A Graphic Novel by Georgia Ball, Lauren Tarshis

sandylovesbooks's review against another edition

5.0

Once again the I Survived series makes a great graphic novel. So interesting and full of facts about the terrible event - Hurricane Katrina. I'm sure this story is less traumatic than what most people in the area went through. My heart goes out to everyone there at that time. It's so easy to ask "why didn't people leave?" But it was more of a "couldn't" than "wouldn't".

I absolutely loved the comic in a comic with Akivo. And how it was made better after the storm. And now Akivo has a sidekick dog and a guardian angel. And, yes, how many brave Barry's there must have been.

lydia_bryant's review against another edition

emotional sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

I Survived Hurricane Katrina, 2005: The Graphic Novel, by Lauren Tarshis, illustrated by Calvin Epps and published in 2022. This book was written for the age group of eight to twelve-year-olds. The story is about Barry's family trying to evacuate before Hurricane Katrina hits their home in New Orleans. But when his little sister gets terribly sick, they're forced to stay home and wait out the storm. At first, Katrina doesn't seem as bad as predicted, but that soon changes. This book gives the reader an inside look into the natural disaster and how someone might have felt when experiencing this. Throughout the story, the main character starts very worried. Then it develops into being brave and gains the attitude of thankfulness as he has survived this natural disaster that others have not and how blessed he is to have his family still. The illustrator also does a fantastic job showing the wide variety of how the characters are feeling throughout the novel. <Graphic Novel><fiction><hopeful><informative><sad><tense>

norahgm12's review against another edition

fast-paced

3.5

ajohn0227's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful informative sad tense fast-paced

4.0

kalikin's review

fast-paced

4.0

ashleyreadstoomuch's review against another edition

informative tense fast-paced

4.0

panda_incognito's review against another edition

5.0

This graphic novel is amazing. It conveys the horror of Hurricane Katrina in a gripping way without being too explicit for school-age readers, and the main character and his family are so realistic that anyone can relate to them. They're not cardboard cut-outs going through a disaster, but feel like real people to the point where readers can imagine themselves into the same situation.

Although this may be too harrowing for some sensitive readers, I highly recommend this to school-age kids, teens, and adults. The story has enough depth that it can appeal to a broad readership, and the historical and personal notes at the end are also excellent. The primary artist for this book is from New Orleans, and he was in college when his family had to evacuate. That personal touch elevates the book even more, and will show children just how current this now-historical disaster is.

I haven't read the original book that this graphic novel is based on, but I think that the graphic novel is an amazing way to tell the story, since it brings the visual details to life. On the other hand, it does make the story more intense for young readers. Some parents might choose to read this with their child to help them process it, but they should know that even though this disaster story is intense, it is less traumatic than some books in the I Survived series.

Spoiler

Everyone the main character is close to survives, including the dog that he befriends and cares for.

toric90's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful inspiring sad fast-paced

5.0

rachaelfryman's review against another edition

adventurous hopeful informative reflective tense fast-paced

3.0