Hurricane Boy - Softcover

Laura Roach Dragon

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1455619167 ISBN 13: 9781455619160

Publisher: Pelican Publishing, 2014

Synopsis

WINNER OF THE SCBWI CRYSTAL KITE AWARD

AN IN THE MARGINS LIST NOMINEE

This incisive coming-of-age story is set against the backdrop of Hurricane Katrina and its severe devastation to US soil. A compelling tale of growth and independence, this debut novel brings a fresh, evocative voice to the stage: Hollis Williams, whose resilience, strength of character, and personal growth are powerfully portrayed by the author's authentic narrative. This book will last for generations, giving voice to every young reader struggling to find his or her place in the world.

Hollis Williams is a middle-school student in the Ninth Ward of New Orleans. His father absent and his mother dead, Hollis and his siblings live with his grandmother. He dreams of reconnecting with his father, but Hurricane Katrina strikes and devastates his home and his plans. The young boy's family is trapped on the roof of their house, hoping and waiting to be rescued. When help finally arrives, Hollis and his family are separated and sent hundreds of miles apart. Taken to a shelter in a West Virginia church, Hollis must reunite his family against all odds.

About this title

About the Author

Laura Roach Dragon, a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators, is a licensed clinical social worker and psychotherapist. She specializes in working with children and adolescents at River Oaks Hospital in New Orleans. Her extensive work in the field has included opportunities as the executive director of Safe Harbor, a center for victims of domestic violence; an outpatient therapist at Methodist Hospital; and the owner of a private practice.

  

Although she was born in Missouri, Dragon has spent almost all of her life in the New Orleans area, and she has cultivated a deep passion for the Crescent City. After the devastation of Hurricane Katrina, Dragon decided to stay in New Orleans instead of moving north, as her parents and sister had done. Her expertise in social work and research enabled her to help her struggling patients through the after-effects of the disaster. She interviewed hurricane victims from all over the city, collected personal stories, and worked with children who had been separated from their families.

  

After a career as a restaurant manager and owner, Dragon returned to school to continue her education. She received her AA in substance abuse counseling and BA in psychology from Southern University and her MSW from Tulane University. Dragon enjoys writing, watching movies, and swimming at her home in Kenner, Louisiana.

From the Back Cover

"As in real life, told with both heart-wrenching poignancy and surprising humor, Hurricane Boy accurately depicts what happened to many children who were plucked from rooftops and separated from their families in the horrifying aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. It's a captivating account, a real page-turner."
-Virginia Howard, editor, THEMA

"As a child psychiatrist in New Orleans, I have treated many children who suffered through the events described in Ms. Dragon's book. Without resorting to overly simplified stereotypes, she sensitively depicts these children's suffering and survival, as well as the lives they led before. Thank you, Ms. Dragon, for honoring the children of New Orleans with a story of Katrina from their point of view."
-Byron A. Hammer, MD, infant, child, adolescent, and adult psychiatrist

". . . presented with great sensitivity and informed by clinical insight. Though written for youth, this grandfather could not put it down."
-Lincoln D. Paine, MD, medical director, River Oaks Hospital

"An engaging narrative of survival highlighting the impact of disaster on the most vulnerable among us: socioeconomically disadvantaged children."
-Jeffrey D. Thompson, MDiv, LPC, psychotherapist with the trauma-based disorders program at the New Orleans Institute

"Hurricane Boy doesn't just take readers through the devastation of Katrina. Hurricane Boy addresses loss, fear, insecurity, love, and joy-emotions so deeply embedded in the human condition that anyone, anywhere, can relate to them."
-Julie Gonzales, young-adult fiction author

Having worked with displaced children in the devastating aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, author Laura Roach Dragon has crafted a fresh, authentic voice in her dynamic protagonist. A licensed clinical social worker, she has drawn upon true stories from children and young adults torn from their families during the storm and its aftermath. A member of the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators, this is Dragon's first book.

Edition details

• Publisher: Pelican Publishing
• Publication date: 2014
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1455619167
• ISBN 13: 9781455619160
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 160