Thelonious Rising

By: Judith Richards

Narrated by: A.J Carter

Over the hot tropical waters of West Africa, a fitful breeze flung salt spray in the faces of fishermen. Storms are common in the Atlantic between June and November. Most weather disturbances falter and die, no sooner born than ended. Wind blowing from the east six miles high may collide with wind blowing from the opposite direction, creating a shear that will decapitate a storm and rip it apart before an eye can solidify. Warm waters fuel a hurricane, but cold ocean currents can destroy the system before it gains strength. For the moment, this particular disturbance has no name. Meteorologists say she is a tropical depression that should be watched, but five days east of Florida, with gale force winds, she is worthy of no more than a warning to seafaring ships. When winds reach hurricane force, they will dignify her with a name: Katrina.

Nine-year-old Thelonious Monk DeCay lives in New Orleans' Lower Ninth Ward with his grandmother. His mother dead and his father missing, Monk is determined to find his father. With their harmonicas and bottle-cap taps, Monk and his best friend entertain the tourists in Jackson Square under the watchful eyes of eccentric historian Quinton Toussaint, who knows where to find Monk's father. Hurricane Katrina changes everything. Left homeless and alone after the storm, Monk befriends a deranged man and survives by sneaking across the rooftops and courtyards of the French Quarter, stealing food and supplies while hiding from both a murderer and the police. In the midst of the storm and its aftermath, a woman Monk has never met appears in New Orleans with answers to his questions about his long-lost father.

©2014 2018 Judith Richards (P)2018 Judith Richards

New Orleans through the eyes of a nine year old BK/AK and a hope fore the future.

Once again Judith had me on the edge of my seat wondering what’s going to happen next. I really felt I was there watching them dance on Jackson Square, then swimming through the muddy waters of Katrina. Judith painted such a great word picture, I could smell and taste the wonderful food of New Orleans as well as the death and destruction after Katrina. I know it is not always realistic to have a happy ending but it was satisfying to know that the boy would have a happy life after all that he had been through. Two things that I did not feel were realistic were.the cover portrayal of Thelonious because his mother was a light skinned Afro American and his father was white and the fact that they had no TV. These were minor things that did not take away from the story. All and all it was a great read.

Great read with lots to learn and refresh about New Orleans & Hurricane Katrina. Great characters.

The narrators in this (2) were wonderful and really brought the story alive. My book club had this for a monthly selection and EVERYONE loved it!