As Hurricane Katrina approaches New Orleans, Cora Boisdore refuses to leave. Her parents, Joe Boisdore, an artist descended from freed slaves, and his white "Uptown" wife Dr. Tess Eshleman, are forced to evacuate without her. Thus begins a chain of events that leaves their marriage in shambles and Cora catatonic - the victim or perpetrator of violence mysterious even to herself. This dazzling debut novel is the Katrina story that needed to be told.