Zeitoun's story depicts the obstacles of post-Katrina New Orleans

In 2008 when “Zeitoun” was published, many readers were hesitant to pick up Dave Eggers’ latest work, fearful of what it may contain.But contrary to most readers’ expectations, the book does not focus on the heart wrenching stories of victims in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, but instead provides an inspiring true story of a man who gave what he could to assist after the initial shock of the storm.“Zeitoun” outlines the story of a Abdulrahman Zeitoun, a business owner  who was living in New Orleans when Hurricane Katrina hit. In the days leading up to the storm, Zeitoun’s family fled, but he chose to stay behind and take care of their home and business. After the worst of the inital storm, Zeitoun traveled around the city of New Orleans in an old canoe passing out supplies to the people he could find and rescuing any in need.“[Eggers] simply lets the surreal and tragic facts speak for themselves,” Entertainment Weekly reviewers said. “And what they say about one man and the city he loves and calls home is unshakably poignant—but not without hope.”A committee of students from 9th to 11th grade, parents, teachers and the public and school librarians collaborated to determine the summer reading selection. The process consisted of two meetings: the first to look at a variety of books and narrow down the options to two or three, after which the committee read each of the finalists; the second to choose which of the novels they found most suitable.“We talked about the three books in depth and, for a number of reasons, ‘Zeitoun’ was the favorite,” head of the Summer Reading Selection Committee Meredith Louria said. “We felt first of all that students could relate to it.”Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans in August of 2005, making it not only relevant but also very personal for many students.“Katrina happened in your lifetime,” English teacher Amy Chapman said in response to the new summer reading selection. “We read about these things that occurred other places and times, but this was in all of our lifetimes and is really important to look at that in the wake of [everything] that happened.”The story and success of the novel also reaches the hearts of the Muslim community.“One rarely imagines the quintessential image of an American hero having a Muslim, Arabic name,” Wajahat Ali of Huffington Post said. “The Syrian American protagonist of Dave Eggers’ elegant and powerful new book ‘Zeitoun’ bravely endures the harrowing tragedy of an apocalyptic, post Katrina New Orleans with dignity and resolve.”After writing the novel, Eggers worked with Abdulrahman and Kathy Zeitoun to form the Zeitoun Foundation. This organization was created to raise money towards the rebuilding and health of New Orleans. Eggers receives no income from the sales of “Zeitoun”; all of the proceeds go directly to the foundation.“Anyone who cares about America, where it is going and where it almost went, before it caught itself, will want to read this thrilling, heartbreaking, wonderful book,” Chicago Sun-Times reviewed.The history surrounding Hurricane Katrina is preserved in the story of Zeitoun and his family, which is sure to be remembered in the distant future.“Fifty years from now, when people want to know what happened to this once-great city during a shameful episode of our history,” The New York Times Book Review said, “they will still be talking about a family named Zeitoun.”McKenna JensenStaff Writermjensen@thesamohi.com