Sobreviví el huracán Katrina, 2005

I Survived Graphix #6

by Lauren Tarshis, Alvin Epps (illustrator)

The story of a boy, a dog, and the storm of the century is brought vividly to life in this graphic novel adaptation of Lauren Tarshis's bestselling I Survived Hurricane Katrina, 2005, with text adapted by Georgia Ball.

Barry's family tries 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 to be as bad as predicted. But overnight the levees break, and Barry's world is literally torn apart. He's swept off by the floodwaters, away from his family. Can he survive the storm of the century — alone?



Lauren Tarshis's New York Times bestselling I Survived series comes to vivid life in graphic novel editions. Perfect for readers who prefer the graphic novel format, or for existing fans of the I Survived chapter book series, these graphic novels combine historical facts with high-action storytelling that's sure to keep any reader turning the pages. Includes a nonfiction section at the back with facts and photos about the real-life event.

Genres: Graphic Novels, Historical Fiction, Middle Grade, Survival, Comics, Fiction, Childrens

160 pages, Paperback

Published September 3, 2024

About the author

Lauren Tarshis often wonders how she came to spend most of her waking moments thinking about disasters, as the author of the children's historical fiction series "I Survived." Each book takes readers into the heart of history's most thrilling and terrifying events, including the sinking of the Titanic, the Shark Attacks of 1916, Hurricane Katrina, the bombing of Pearl Harbor, the San Francisco earthquake, 9/11, and the Battle of Gettysburg. Writing these books often makes her feel very nervous, as though at any moment a volcano could erupt right outside her window. Then again, she has learned a thing or two about avoiding being eaten by a shark.
Lauren is also the author of the the award-winning Emma-Jean Lazarus Fell Out of a Tree and its sequel, Emma-Jean Lazarus Fell in Love.

For more information, go to her website: www.LaurenTarshis.com

And check out the I Survived Website: www.Scholastic.com/ISurvived

Reviews

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

My elementary students will love this book!

[Abigail Mohn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another home run with I Survived! I really should read more of these books. Once again, the character development was better executed and the plot was more intriguing than many books 3x the length I’ve read. Barry was such a sweetheart and a great protagonist, and I loved watching him gain courage through his experiences, especially as he remembered how his dad had been brave for him. The graphic novel also conveyed the pure fear and desperation survivors of Hurricane Katrina experienced, and it makes me want to read more about these survivors and true stories.

[theperksofbeingmarissa ;) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Omg I'm so emotional. I can't imagine how traumatic Hurricane Katrina was. 💔

[Rachael Fryman]

Another great GN adaptation for the kiddos who can't get enough I Survived!

[Jett · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this book a lot, it was slow to start but I thought that the storyline was so good it was also very eventful though out the book. It could use work in some areas but a really good book. I like the pictures a lot. Overall a good book I would recommend.

[Shelley Neville · Rating 4 out of 5]

This graphic novel is about a kid who is stuck with his family in New Orleans when Katrina hit. The graphics are wonderful and I think it would be a great way for anyone to get an idea of how terrifying it must have been for those stuck below the levees. Great for ages 8-12, but this much older person thought it was worth reading.

[Panda Incognito · Rating 5 out of 5]

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

[Allison Behling · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is part of the New York Times bestselling series “I survived”. The series tells stories of kids who survived natural disasters or other historical dangerous events. The series is directed at kids in late elementary school. I decided to read the graphic novel adaptation of this book because this is a format I enjoy, and I wanted to see how the images of the hurricane were portrayed.

The story features the main character Barry, a school-aged boy who lives in New Orleans with his parents and his toddler sister. I really loved Barry as a character. He is a good brother, loves superheroes and drawing, and seems like an overall genuine and relatable young boy. Barry's family knows a hurricane is coming, but it is explained that many hurricanes have come and gone without major disaster. Barry doesn’t think this will be a big deal. I appreciated this explanation because I do not live in an area that experiences hurricanes. However, this hurricane becomes very different from the other hurricanes Barry remembers. An evacuation is ordered, but the roads are backed up and Barry’s sister gets sick, so they turn around and wait out the storm at home. When the levees break, water quickly floods the neighborhood, and Barry becomes stranded. He discovers the superhero inside of him to guide him and his neighbor’s dog find safety.

The events featured in these books can be scary for children, with Hurricane Katrina being no exception. However, I appreciated that the topic was handled without watering down the seriousness of what happened. It is acknowledged that Barry and his family are some of the lucky ones, and that many people did not survive or find their families after the hurricane. I also really like themes of believing in yourself, being persistent even in the face of fear, and how your impressions of people might be different from reality. The tie-in at the end of the superhero introduced in the beginning of the story felt like a full-circle moment for Barry. Another great touch was the nonfiction section at the end of the book which, still in graphic novel form, explained the events of Hurricane Katrina from a scientific perspective.

I could see this book being used for many different purposes in the upper elementary classroom. Because the book is historical fiction, it lends itself to discussing real life events but also incorporates the literary elements of character development, plot, central message, and more. As with any historical book, I feel that supplementing it with nonfiction materials about the time period or event is helpful for students to see how the story connects (or differs from) reality. In this book, the nonfiction section in the back helps with this purpose. But adding more real-life articles, interviews, photographs, or even science texts about hurricanes in general would be a great addition to this text. Students could use these to determine how true to the actual events the historical fiction text is. Determining which parts are fiction and which parts actually happened is an important skill in this genre. In this case, even with how dramatic the story feels, I feel that it is very consistent with what real people actually experienced in this traumatic event.

[eleanor · Rating 3 out of 5]

i was recommended this by a student who read this overnight (getting a reluctant boy reader to read an entire book overnight- go me!!!!). and it was actually really informative and GOOD! not great because i wasn't amazed, but good illustrations, good storyline based on fact & some factual information at the end

[Zac Wastier · Rating 5 out of 5]

From start to end it keep me reading

[Sara Heijerman · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this recommended by my daughter. I'd definitely check more of this series out. I hear there are both adult and youth versions of the books, which would be fun to read together with Charli.

[Jacob Reuterink]

this book was really good and I would Recommend this book

[Sandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

They were headed out, that was their intention but sometimes things don’t always go as planned. It was a mandatory evacuation, and they were going. If they could make it.

Barry had just finished creating a comic adventure with Jay. This piece was going to win them first prize in a contest, they were sure of that. They had plans to split the cash prize but now with the storm coming, Barry had Akivo, their winning piece, in his possession until he could drop it off in the mail. Most individuals were taking this storm seriously. Jay’s family was headed to Birmingham while Barry’s family would head towards Houston. Their neighbor Abe was told to head out with his grandma to a safe spot but lately, Abe did what he wanted. Since his dad left, Abe had changed. He claimed his new dog Cruz was a killer dog and by the time this storm was over, Barry would know firsthand if Abe was correct about his dog.

Barry’s family headed out along with hundreds and thousands of other individuals. Bumper to bumper traffic on the road and then, Barry’s sister Cleo gets sick and the family heads back home. They’ll ride the storm out at home, they decide. Overnight the storm pounds the house. By morning, the water rushes into their home, flooding everything. The family moves upstairs but so does the water. The family moves into the attic and soon, the water is lapping at their feet. The intensity and urgency can be felt as the family moves quickly and must think on their feet to keep themselves safe.

Holding onto their roof, the family feels somewhat relieved until Barry falls into the swirling water around them. He’s immediately swept away as his family calls for him. Panic and desperation mounds! Barry’s trying to grab onto anything that’s floating nearby but he’s coming up with nothing substantial. As he finds a tree and gets comfortable, he looks around and sees a large building headed towards him! Stay in the tree or jump back into the water? Both options can be deadly but what else can he do?

There are times when the story relaxes a bit, but the intensity of the situation was still there. I liked how the ending centered on the characters and when Barry reflected on himself. The ending answered many of the questions I had as I read this story. The graphics in this story followed the story and the illustrations provided enough detail without overdoing it. It was a great graphic novel. At the back of the book there was more information discussing Hurricane Katrina that should be looked at too. 5 stars

[Alyson Stone · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book: I Survived: Hurricane Katrina, 2005
Author: Lauren Tarshis
Rating: 4 Out of 5 Stars

My middle school students love this series! I have read a hand full of the “I Survived” books and I must say that each one I read is better than the last. I am in love with the fact that they are now being printed as graphic novels, which means that my struggling readers can also enjoy this series. Plus, the artwork is gorgeous and adds much to the story. It gives students a visual background knowledge, which deepens their understanding of what is going on. I wish that these books had been out when I was in middle school. I would have eaten these up. Oh well, I can enjoy this as an adult.

In this one, we follow Barry and his family who live in the Lower Ninth Ward in New Orleans. There is a hurricane called Katrina coming their way. At first, the family wasn’t going to leave. After all, New Orleans has been hit by hurricanes before and the levees will protect them. However, as the storm grows stronger, they decide to leave and return when it is all over. Cleo, Barry’s sister, gets sick and the family is forced to stay behind. Katrina strikes. At first, it doesn’t seem that bad, but then the levees break. Barry and his family are forced to see higher ground. Then, Barry falls into the floodwaters and the wild ride begins.

One thing that I like about this series is the fact that we have children in dangerous and historical situations, yet the author keeps it age appropriate. Children are exposed to the danger and horror of what it was like living through a historical period, but it’s not too much for them. I hope that makes sense. I also like that the author includes bits of hope. This shows everyone that even in the worst of times, there is hope and you have to hold onto that hope. It is hope that keeps people going and it is the drive to be with the ones that you love that make even the worst of situations have a bit of light to them.

This book shows us that even in the darkest of times, there is always a light at the end of the tunnel. It may not always be what you think it is. Even when everything is lost, there is always something or someone out there. It’s the small things in life that keep us going and this book gives us that.

Overall, I did enjoy this one. I highly recommend this series to anyone who is looking for a solid middle-grade historical series.

[Tiffany · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review

One thing I like about the I Survived Graphic Novel series is that it educates and entertains, using relatable tween characters which is who the series is targeted for. In this story, Barry is a young member of the New Orleans community. He’s aware that a storm is on its way and so while there isn’t any immediate urgency, Barry realizes this might be a different type of storm when his father insists that everyone try to get out of the City.

The family is unable to evacuate New Orleans and they decide to turn around and ride out the storm at home. Things quickly take a turn for the worse when their family home begins to flood after the levee breaks. The family makes their way onto the roof where Barry falls into the churning flood waters.

Barry survives by taking shelter with a familiar dog but the traumatic experience of being alone in a dangerous environment will stay with him forever.

One important aspect of I Survived Hurricane Katrina is the honest portrayal of survival in the water. Many kids don’t know that floating in flood waters is actually really dangerous. There can be floating cars or busted wood from homes, toxic fluids in the water and so realizes that the water isn’t the safest place to be. Barry acknowledges this by describing his irritated skin and wounds from floating in the rising flood waters.

The I Survived Hurricane Katrina graphic novel is illustrated and colored by Alvin Epps and this book fits nicely in with the other I Survived graphic novels. The illustrations are vibrant and interesting with just the right amount of detail to keep the reader’s attention. This graphic novel captures the terror and uncertainty of a community absolutely torn apart by a hurricane. It also touches on some native New Orleans people who leave the community for good after losing their homes, jobs, and livelihood.

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[Kayla Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I Survived Hurricane Katrina 2005 Graphic Novel is a historical fiction book by Lauren Tarshis and art by Alvin Epps. This graphic novel for middle-grade children gave a factual and emotional look into the tragedy of Hurricane Katrina. Barry, a young boy, was excited to enter a comic book competition with his best friend Jay. His parents inform him they must evacuate soon due to the hurricane, but no adults seem worried. Due to his sister getting sick and extreme traffic, Barry and his family must return to their home during the hurricane. The Levees broke, and their neighborhood was totally flooded. Eventually, the family had to climb on the roof, and Barry was separated. This story does an excellent job of adding the child’s perspective to this tragedy. Children who read this can really be put into the shoes of children who experienced it firsthand. The artwork in this graphic novel is incredibly detailed, especially in facial expressions. This is essential in this book because the depth of emotion primarily comes through the artwork. Although Barry does say he is scared multiple times. There are many scary events where facial expressions say it all. Adding the dog character was important for the theme and brings across yet another forgotten piece of Hurricane Katrina: the thousands of pets that were abandoned. The story's conclusion brings it full circle to the beginning, Barry and jay can revise their superhero comic and submit it to the contest. The ending is optimistic but does not skip over the trauma Barry (and real-life victims) endured and will have to deal with for the rest of his life. There are more facts about Hurricane Katrina after the ending for anyone who wants more factual information.

[Chloe · Rating 4 out of 5]

A graphic novel about one of the biggest disasters in the United States - Hurricane Katrina. I remember when I was a child, the news every night reported about this and it has been engraved in my mind until now. The art is very vivid, partly depicting the disaster that year.

The story follows the journey of Barry and his family through Hurricane Katrina. No one seemed to be able to predict how horrible it would be. Some people could escape but also some people were not that lucky. The message at the end of the story is quite lovely and meaningful. Usually, we think of a superhero as something very sublime, but anyone can be their own superhero. And behind a disaster, it's not the end, it's the new beginning as long as we have faith.

1 cuốn graphic novel về 1 trong những thảm họa lớn nhất nước Mỹ - siêu bão Katrina. Nhớ hồi nhỏ lúc ấy t chưa vào lớp 1, bản tin thời sự tối nào cũng đưa tin về việc này và nó khắc sâu vào trong tâm trí t đến tân bây giờ. Tranh vẽ rất sắc nét, sinh động, khắc họa phần nào thảm họa năm ấy.

Truyện kể về hành trình của Barry và gia đình của cậu ấy trải qua cơn bão Katrina. Dường như không ai có thể dự đoán đc mức độ kinh khủng của nó. Có người thoát nạn cũng có người k may mắn đc như thế. Thông điệp lồng ghép cuối truyện khá đáng yêu và ý nghĩa. Thông thường chúng ta hay nghĩ anh hùng (superhero) là cái gì đó rất cao siêu nhưng ai cũng thể là anh hùng của chính mình. Và đằng sau một thảm họa, đó k phải là sự kết thúc, mà là sự khởi đầu mới miễn là chúng ta có niềm tin.

[Becky B · Rating 4 out of 5]

Barry's family is about to head out of town from their home in New Orleans' Lower Ninth Ward when they hear the warnings about hurricane, but then his little sister gets sick and they are forced to hunker down at home. As the waters rise the family is forced to go higher and higher in their house. Will they make it, or will hurricane Katrina sweep them away?

One of the more recent natural disasters featured in the I Survived series (though it is still long enough ago the target audience wasn't born yet when it happened). It translates very well to graphic novel form, and the illustrator is a New Orleans native which is nice. Seeing the illustrations definitely helps you better empathize with what the people of New Orleans went through during Hurricane Katrina and the recovery process.

Notes on content: No language issues. No sexual content. Barry gets into some seriously dangerous situations but he makes it out ok. The back of the book talks mentions lives lost in the hurricane, briefly mentions diseases and injuries people got, and all the property damaged. It also talks about all the pets who had to be left behind.

[Katarina]

This is a story of boy and a dog, and a big storm. Barry's family tries to evacuate before Hurricane Katrina hits their home in New Orleans. When the his sister gets terribly sick they are forced to to stay home and wait for the storm. Hurricane Katrina doesn't seem to be as bad as they predicted. Overnight Barry's world it torn apart and turned upside down. Barry is swept off by the floodwaters, away from his family.

I think the dog was the cutest part of the book, I love how the dog appeared to be scary and protective, but in the end he just needed someone to save him from the hurricane. I do like the series and how they are about real events, and I love the real facts that they have in the back of the book. I really enjoy these graphic novels and how entertaining they are. They are great for all ages especially if they find history interesting. The art in this graphic novel was good and I loved the colours that the graphic novel had. This book was interesting and made me want to learned and read all about Hurricane Katrina.

Happy Reading!!!!

[Sue Jackson · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm not typically a graphic novel fan but this children's book about Hurricane Katrina is spot on. It tells through a simple story and pictures about a young boy who is separated from his family during a hurricane. The family attempted to evacuate as required but were unable to which led to them being at home and the boy being whisked away.

Although the story is scary, it doesn't seem excessively so and puts in words that children could understand. It shows how houses and other things are being carried away by the flood water. It also shows how the boy hangs on to survive gathering a dog along with way. The pictures blend perfectly with the story.

The end of the book also includes facts to better explain what happened in this terrible storm. An interesting book for children and also a great and simple reminder for adults.

[Lila Glover · Rating 5 out of 5]

Barry Tucker's family tries to evacuate before hurricane Katrina hits their home in New Orleans. But when his little sister gets terribly sick, they're forced to stay at home and wait out the storm. At first Katrina doesn't seem to be as bad as predicted. But overnight the levees break, and Barry's world is literally torn apart. He's swept off by the floodwaters, away from his family. Can he survive the storm of the century-alone? (This is the blurb from the back of the book)
Lauren Tarshis
I Survived Hurricane Katrina, 2005: The Graphic Novel

[Natalie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Barry Tucker and his family try to evacuate New Orleans when Hurricane Katrina hits. But as the family is gridlocked amidst all the cars trying to head towards Houston, Barry's little sister gets sick and the family decides to turn around and head back home. They hunker down for the night and in the morning Barry wakes up to water knocking their house doors open. The levees have broken and the family takes refuge on their rooftop. Things take a turn for the worse as Barry falls off his roof into the water and is separated from his family.

Yet another good I Survived book. The illustrator of this one is a New Orleans native whose own family also had to evacuate bc of Katrina.

[Sandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Libby · Rating 4 out of 5]

My 6 year old chose this on our last visit to a bookstore. I'm currently reading it aloud with him, but I skipped ahead and read the end myself.

I've never read any of the I Survived books (and I'm breaking my own rule about not reading graphic novels aloud - but he was sick this weekend!), but I really liked this one for balancing the scary reality of Hurricane Katrina but telling it in a way that still works for younger kids. It also has great information in the end about both the true history of Katrina and the history of New Orleans with hurricanes.

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great introduction for kids of what happened during Hurricane Katrina to residents in New Orleans. The back matter of the book made me tear up remembering some of the things that happened in Louisiana and to my family after the storm. In the story, my favorite part is when Barry's grandpa mentions Hurricane Betsy. As someone with roots in NOLA, this made me laugh and remember my own Grammy telling me her Betsy story. Everyone who has family in NOLA will have a connection to that and it made the book more realistic to me.

[Seth · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book so much. I also love this book bc love helping animals. And this book has so much action or like um... maybe intense scenes yeah that's it. And the way he saved cruz and his new drawing that was cool. Thank u so much for making this book keep making more I love these.

Bye...Don't worry I will read more of these. Bye again and thank u agian.

This is Levi's review. We both read it at the same time.

[Camille · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've become a fan of the "I Survive" books. It's been a great tool to use to discuss difficult, tragic events with my children. You get the historical facts intertwined with a very personal story to relate to typically from a young person's perspective. It's brilliant. As I've read these books with my 7 year old (he's a fan), he stops me and asks a lot of questions. He's developing great empathy for the characters in the story. I would definitely recommend this book and the entire series.

[Peyton · Rating 3 out of 5]

First, and most important, I loved Cruz and was so happy that things worked well for the little pupper. This is another good installment in the I Survived series, graphic novel adaptations. The images definitely helped bring the hurrican to life, especially with showing the rising water level and debris. This was a good story, with interesting characters. I also liked the incorporation of Akivo and showing how people see others as heroes.

[Amanda Hall · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was really good and moving. This book talks about how to live through this devastation. It also talked about what it was like since many people left their pets behind. I would include this book in my classroom because it can give some information to the students about what it was like during this tragedy. It can also give some information about hurricanes and what the extreme of them looks like.

[Traci · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just got this book for my classroom library and already students have been checking it out! I decided to bring it home with me today, because I have a feeling more students will want to check it out. The graphics and writing were wonderful! When I was reading this, it sent me back to when I was seeing the breaking news of hurricane Katrina live. This graphic novel will make the story real and understandable for kids.