Gr 8 Up—Six years after the events of
Paperboy, Victor Vollmer is 17 and working as a copyboy at the
Memphis Press-Scimitar before heading to college in the fall. Upon the death of his mentor and friend, Mr. Spiro, Victor promises to scatter his ashes at the mouth of the Mississippi River. Despite his parents' disapproval, Victor sets off for New Orleans in the summer of 1965, just as Hurricane Betsy sets its course for the Gulf Coast. The carefully crafted novel moves slowly, building to a palpable tension as Victor and the hurricane travel toward their mutual destination. Victor experiences many markers of adulthood: his first road trip, his first beer, and his first intimate encounter with a girl—the bold and independent Philomene Moreau, who introduces him to the complexities of Cajun culture as urban development rapidly threatens traditional ways of life. Although Victor must still cope with his stutter, this book focuses more on his struggle to understand and express his purpose in the wider world.
VERDICT A thoughtful, character-driven novel that offers a nuanced depiction of coastal Louisiana in the 1960s; perfect for fans of historical fiction.
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