Buddy Zooka in the French Quarter & Beyond

Gr 5 Up—This meandering tale incorporates the flavor of New Orleans from its famous landmarks to its food delicacies like shrimp étouffée and beignets. Buddy Zooka, a quirky street performer, catches an alligator while fishing in a puddle. Mardi Gator decides to take up residence under Buddy's fleur-de-lis-festooned top hat. This strange turn of events causes the musician to lose his smile and begin a journey of discovery in which he encounters an odd assortment of characters including talking pigeons; a local TV personality; and Melanya, who can see people's energy auras. Buddy's eclectic adventures range from silly, when he's arrested for disturbing the peace because of his growling tummy, to serious when he learns about pollution and how coral reefs are cleansing "Mother Earth's blood." At times the narration is wordy and redundant. Buddy's frequent exclamations of "Zookarific!" and "How do you dooka?" quickly become annoying. The novel contains recipes, famous quotes, and detailed descriptions of Buddy's strange dreams and zany reality. In an effort to appeal to "all ages," this novel may be hard pressed to find an audience beyond tourists looking for a souvenir from the French Quarter.—Patricia N. McClune, Conestoga Valley High School, Lancaster, PA