Finding Someplace

With her thirteenth birthday approaching Reesie is expecting new changes and opportunities. What she wasn’t expecting was that her home would be destroyed by Hurricane Katrina. Her mother, a nurse, and her father, a police officer, disagree on whether or not to leave the city before the storm hits but neither are able to leave themselves when things get desperate. Separated from her mother and father Reesie finds solace with her neighbors and they do everything they can do to survive the rising flood waters. Reesie finds the strength to help her elderly neighbor make it to safety, along with the assistance of others. But when Miss Martine has medical complications is taken by paramedics, Reesie has to find her parents through the disarray and chaos. After being reunited with her parents her mother decides that they should stay in New Jersey with family. Reesie desperately misses her father, who stayed behind, and has to find a way to reunite her parents and find what home means.Finding Someplace is a story that demonstrates the courage of one young girl in the face of natural disaster and the turbulence within her own family. Reesie is a strong character who is well developed through the story and through her own journey. She is a normal teenage girl who enjoys fashion and is falling for her first boyfriend, however she shows extreme strength and resilience through her ability to survive the flooding of Hurricane Katrina while helping her elderly neighbor and then dealing with the consequences of her parents struggling marriage. Denise Lewis Patrick has crafted a tale that gives agency and endurance to a young female character who is also relatable. This story sheds light on how natural disasters affect and alter the lives of people who live through them, not just during, but for long after. This is not just a story about a young girl, but about a city and the aftermath of tragedy.

I really enjoyed this coming-of-age story surrounded by one of the worst natural disasters in American history, Hurricane Katrina. Reesie is about to turn 13 but Hurricane Katrina is bearing down on the Ninth Ward. We see Reesie go from friends to something more with her best friend, Orlando. We see how the hurricane, and subsequent breaking of the levees, changes not only her town but also her family. This is sad and hopeful at the same time. A great character-driven middle grade novel.

FINDING SOMEPLACE by Denise Lewis Patrick is the gripping story of a young teen’s experiences surviving Hurricane Katrina.Written for middle grade youth, this compelling work of historical fiction begins a few days before the hurricane as Teresa prepares for her 13th birthday. Unaware of the severity of the storm, Teresa is caught in the 9th Ward when the levee breaks. The rest of the story follows her escape, temporary move to New Jersey, and return home.Patrick’s well-developed characters draw readers into the culture of New Orleans. Her authentic portrayal of the disaster and its aftermath are shocking realistic.It’s been a decade since this disaster, so it’s important to revisit this event with a new generation of youth. Librarians will find the combination of disaster, suspense, and real-life popular with youth. Pair it with nonfiction works about forces of nature and other books about natural disasters.To learn more about the author, go to http://www.deniselewispatrick.com/.Published by Henry Holt, an imprint of Macmillan on August 4, 2015. ARC from NetGalley.

Thank you to Denise Lewis Patrick and Goodreads for giving me this book. The main character is a 12 year old girl that was looking forward to her birthday. She had plans of becoming fashion designer. On her birthday however hurricane Katrina hits her city of New Orleans. Her live changes dramatically and she has to find her way back home. I saw the aftermath of hurricane Katrina in Alabama a few years after it hit. I can only imagine what it was like in New Orleans. This was a great way for it to become more personal.

This was such a good book. I love that it was told from the perspective of a young teenager. I only wish it had focused more on the daily challenges instead of skipping forward several months.**I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.**

An easy read, I couldn't put it down. Characters are well developed. Paints a clear picture of New Orleans culture and what makes it different. The main character Reesie is endearing and discovers how strong she is when put in a difficult situation. Very much worth the read. You will not forget it. Even though it's written for young readers adults will enjoy this was well.

Very inspiring. My dad used to grew up in N.O and my grandperants live there now( in they're renovated house) my dad lost important certificates to Katrina making it hard to find a job.But N.O still lives on its not the same (it might never be) but in the storm there's still family.