Sugarcane Academy, by Michael Tisserand, is a nonfiction story that reveals the effects Hurricane Katrina had on Louisiana residents. When Michael Tisserand and his family abandon their New Orleans home in late August 2005, they like many others, faced the struggles of starting a new life. Before Hurricane Katrina hit landfall, Tisserand and his family evacuated New Orleans, traveling to their friend’s house in Carencro, Louisiana. The hurricane’s impacts turned out severe and the Tisserands ended up living with their friends for the following months.
Despite Michael Tisserand’s struggle of losing his house and job, he sought to start a new life for his children. Tisserand urged to provide a primary education for not only his son and daughter,…show more content… An individual’s responses to life’s disasters have an impact on many people’s futures. When the hurricane destroyed New Orleans, Tisserand thought of his children’s future. Instead of giving up like many others, remaining dependent on refugee centers, Tisserand organized a school that not only provided an education, but led to a life-lasting impact of connections and “community” (161). The school impacted the lives of many children and led them to “recovery” (163). Today, we need to consider our own responses to hardships and tough situations, as any type of action can ultimately decide the future of the whole world.
After reading Sugarcane Academy, I gained a new perspective of those involved in natural disasters. I thought the book was very enlightening and enjoyable as I better understood the reactions and hope within hardships. When events appear on television, disconnection and misunderstanding of the people that live through the disaster develop. By reading Sugarcane Academy, I gained a deeper understanding of inhabitants’ experiences and responses to natural disasters. Therefore, I would recommend this book to those who have not experienced a natural disaster in order to gain new
