File this under "The Best Book You've Never Heard Of," or at least it was one of the best books I'd never heard of until it was recommended as the next read for our book club.

This narrative non-fiction book chronicles the story of Abdul Zeitoun in the days before and weeks after Katrina. Zeitoun is a Syrian immigrant who ultimately settles in New Orleans, becomes an American citizen, and builds a successful painting/property ownership business.

As Katrina prepares to make landfall, Zeitoun's wife and children leave New Orleans but he stays behind. Following the storm, he paddles through his section of city in his canoe -- far away from the chaos and looting in downtown -- and manages to rescue several people who are trapped.

What happens next falls into the category of disbelief. He is arrested inside one of his own properties, though he isn't told why he is being arrested. In the chaos that is post-Katrina New Orleans, he's held in a make-shift jail for weeks, never being told why he was arrested, never allowed a phone call, and never given access to a lawyer. His family is sure he is dead.

Katrina is a dark stain on America's history. On the news we heard plenty about the lawless, roving gangs terrorizing the city after the storm. What we didn't hear is that some of those gangs were under the authority of our own government.

This book should be required reading for anyone interested how a lack of leadership can have far-reaching consequences. ( )

This story is such an indictment of the fear-filled Bush administration. What have we become? ( )

This is a true story about events that occurred during and after hurricane Katrina. Zeitoun is the name of the main character. The book follows Zeitoun and his wife, Kathy, in the days following the hurricane as they try to escape the storm and rebuild their lives. It's an amazing story and very sad to read about what happened to the people of New Orleans. ( )

I read this for Book Group, thanks to my superb librarian friend, Kathy, who checked out the ICPL's book group bag (10 copies) for our group. It is an account of a family, particularly of the father, during the ravages of Hurricane Katrina and its aftermath. ( )

What an incredible story! I couldn't stop reading this book. The main characters were so sympathetic and compelling, putting the horrific Katrina-related treatment of people in stark relief. ( )