A bleak, brutal and heartbreaking story of struggle and survival set against the backdrop of Hurricane Katrina. this book was far from an easy read, yet I found myself reluctant to put it down, Esch lives with her father and brothers and helps to care for them following the death of her mother several years ago. Times are hard and money is scarce but the family still manages to to struggle on , and when they learn a storm is coming they begin to prepare as they have done so many times before, but this time Esch is hiding a secret, and none of them are ready for the destruction that is headed their way.
I really empathized with this family and their struggles, particularly Esch who just wants the boy she loves to look at her, and just once really see her, and her brother Skeetah who pours all his love and pins all his hopes on China, his fighting pitbull , and her litter of puppies. Despite the bleakness described in the book, the characters have so much heart that it is hard not to feel for them . As the hurricane draws near, and the tension mounts , their fear is almost palpable .
An exceptional and emotional book, and one that I would recommend highly .

I am afraid that I found this book very drawn out and soon found myself skipping through pages. I found some parts of the book upsetting especially regarding the puppies.