About This Book
A parent would reach for this book when looking to explore the complexities of real-world crises and systemic issues with an older child or teenager. It provides a raw, honest look at Hurricane Katrina, moving beyond the weather report to examine the human experience of the 2005 New Orleans flood. Through kinetic graphic art, it explores themes of survival, heroism, and the deeply troubling failures of government and infrastructure. This is an excellent choice for initiating difficult but necessary conversations about social justice, racism, and community resilience. While the subject matter is heavy, the format of a graphic narrative makes the historical facts accessible and visceral. It is best suited for middle and high schoolers who are ready to engage with the reality that natural disasters are often compounded by human error and inequality.
What Parents Should Know
Sensitive Topics
1. DISTRESS: The book contains visceral depictions of suffering and death. There are panels showing bodies floating in floodwaters and people trapped in sweltering attics. The sense of desperation at the Superdome and the Convention Center, where people lack food, water, and medicine, is palpable and may be distressing to sensitive readers. 2. CONVERSATION: Be prepared to discuss systemic racism and classism, specifically how these factors led to the disproportionate abandonment of Black and low-income residents during the flood. Be ready to explain what a 'levee' is and why they failed, as well as the role of government agencies like FEMA in disaster relief. The book also mentions 'criminality,' so conversations about why people might take supplies during a crisis (survival versus looting) may arise.
Ideal Reader
A middle schooler interested in history or social justice who prefers visual storytelling. It is perfect for a student who wants to understand the 'why' behind historical events rather than just the dates.
Parent Prep
I recommend parents flip through the book first to gauge their child's maturity regarding the illustrations of deceased individuals and the intense depictions of distress. A child asking, 'Why didn't the government help them faster?' or 'Why did so many people have to die?'
Age Experience
Younger teens (12-14) will focus on the survival and disaster elements. Older teens (15-18) will likely engage more deeply with the book’s critique of the government's failure to protect marginalized communities.
What Makes It Special
Brown's 'as-it-happens' narrative style combined with watercolor-and-ink illustrations creates an urgent, documentary-like feel that traditional textbooks cannot replicate.
Read plot summary
Drowned City is a non-fiction graphic narrative documenting the timeline of Hurricane Katrina, from its formation in the Atlantic to the devastating breach of the New Orleans levees. It covers the harrowing conditions at the Superdome, the rooftop rescues, the abandonment of the city's most vulnerable citizens, and the eventual slow recovery. It highlights both individual acts of heroism and the systemic failures of FEMA and local leadership.
This overview was generated by AI based on the book's content and reviews, and may not capture every nuance.
Discussion Prompts
1
The book describes the disaster as a mix of 'heroism' and 'incompetence.' Can you find an example of each in the story?
2
How did the illustrations change your feeling about the storm compared to just reading facts in a textbook?
3
Why do you think some people were unable to leave the city before the storm hit, and how did the city's response fail them?
4
Don Brown mentions 'criminality' and 'racism.' How did these things complicate the rescue efforts?
5
What does the ending of the book suggest about the resilience of the people of New Orleans?
