Discussion+Questions

Discussion Questions:


 * 1) What are some ways that Zeitoun copes with being detained in the jails?
 * 2) How does Zeitoun's past affect the way he acts during Hurricane Katrina when he stays in New Orleans? (before he is arrested)
 * 3) Why does Zeitoun disregard Kathy's advice to leave New Orleans?
 * 4) How would you describe the relationship between Zeitoun and Kathy? How would you describe the relationship with Zeitoun and his children?
 * 5) Why are Zeitoun and the other 3 men jailed?

Big Pictures Questions:
 * 1) What would you have done if you lived in New Orleans before Hurricane Katrina hit?
 * 2) Did Abdulrahman’s story give you a new perspective on a Muslim family in America?
 * 3) Do you think that America handled Hurricane Katrina well after it hit?
 * 4) How did Zeitoun's experiences affect him after he was released? How did it affect Kathy?
 * 5) What were different symbols in this book and what did they represent?