Sugarcane Academy: How a New Orleans Teacher and His Storm-Struck Students Created a School to Remember – A Moving Memoir of Community Healing After Disaster

by Michael Tisserand

Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans, taking lives and livelihoods and displacing thousands. Because the hurricane struck at the beginning of the school year, the city’s children were among those most affected. Michael Tisserand, former editor of the alternative cultural newspaper Gambit Weekly, evacuated with his family to New Iberia, Louisiana. Then, rather than waiting to find out when―or if―schools in New Orleans would reopen, Tisserand and other parents persuaded one of his children’s teachers, Paul Reynaud, to start a school among the sugarcane fields.

So was born the Sugarcane Academy―as the children themselves named it―and so also began an experience none of Reynaud’s pupils will ever forget. This inspiring book shows how a dedicated teacher made the best out of the worst situation, and how the children of New Orleans, of all backgrounds and races, adjusted to Katrina’s consequences.

Genres: Nonfiction, Education

184 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2007

Reviews

[Sarah Nelson · Rating 4 out of 5]

When New Orleans evacuates in the fall of 2005, the author and his young family find themselves camped out with several other families in New Iberia, Louisiana. As the days pass and news from the city grows grimmer, the families decide to enlist the help of an evacuated teacher to start a makeshift school for their children and other displaced children of the hurricane. As they journey to create some normalcy for one another and ultimately return together to live and learn again in their New Orleans neighborhood, we get a window into an unimaginably painful episode in recent American history. We also see how people pick up the pieces and carry on.

I bought this book several years ago, and promptly neglected to read it. This week, in the midst of the pandemic and a year of overwhelming climate change disasters, Sugarcane Academy delivered some hope and perspective. Sometimes terrible circumstances call forth kindness, community, and creative solutions--it helps to remember that.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Michael is a friend of mine and many of the "characters" in the book are friends also. I loved this book because it tells the story of their times during the storm. Well written and very personal.

[Alyssa Miller · Rating 2 out of 5]

As someone who is all about alternative methods of education, I was so excited about this book. Sadly, it totally missed the mark for me. I appreciate how Tisserand wanted to write a story about how this school uniquely merged the educational experience with the realities of day-to-day life in the wake of hurricane Katrina. However, it read much more like a newspaper editorial than a narrative and was heavily focused on the trauma that was experienced rather than the school itself. It seemed like Tisserand wanted to cover too much material surrounding the storm - the damage done to this building and that one, who survived and who didn't, what happened to neighbor/friend/acquaintance x, y, z, the food available to eat, etc. As such, the true purpose of the book was lost. I cannot help but wonder if Tisserand subconsciously wrote this book for himself, his own memories and healing, and not for the reader.

[Carol E. · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a story about a school that is created by parents and teachers, for kids who had been evacuated at the time of Hurricane Katrina. The perspective of the kids and their experiences was one of the best parts of the book. The poor children were so frightened, and this is the first book I've seen which features their stories. The other best part of the book was the great teachers who knew how to help the kids through their fears, express themselves through art, and respect their stories. They helped guide the kids back to safety by being a comforting, understanding presence at a time when they needed this stability.

[Lauren Ball · Rating 4 out of 5]

The ebook had quite a few typo/grammatical/formatting errors, which was distracting.

But the story of community and the resilience of New Orleanians rang true. If you lived through Katrina, vivid mental images will abound as you read the scenes of destruction. In fact, you will smell it.

A great, quick read about how the community came together to solve problems when the government (at every level) mostly abandoned them.

[Vic · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars

This one was...weird. I couldn't tell if it was fiction or not. I couldn't tell if it was poorly conceived or poorly recorded dialogue or not. Hell, I couldn't even tell if I LIKED it or FELT anything about the characters or not. All the stars come from me learning a lot more about what it was like for people during the immediate aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.

[Liz · Rating 3 out of 5]

This isn't an especially well-written text; the narrative jumps around and lacks cohesion. It's a valuable cultural artifact, though, and a remarkable slice of life that describes the experiences of people who evacuated their homes in New Orleans during Katrina.

[QuietRabbit · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is really about the children of Hurricane Katrina, their families, and their educational predicament more than it is a story of a one particular teacher and school.
Very reporter like.
An important historical document.

[Rolando Gonzalez · Rating 2 out of 5]

The Sugarcane Academy
The Sugarcane Academy by Michael Tisserand, tells a story about him and his family and hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans, taking lives and homes and destroying thousands. Michael Tisserand, former editor of local newspapers, evacuated with his family to New Iberia, Louisiana. Then, instead of waiting when the schools in New Orleans open a school in the Sugar fields with an old school teacher Paul Reynard. When the school open with about 25 students that know each other; Michael and another parents try so hard to make the school a perfect place for there kids by taking them to places like a local Donut shop by their school. As the months go by everyone tries to make sugar cane academy expanded, but the people’s fear of another hurricane that comes by them they remain as a small but motivating school. Then throughout the end Michael goes to Houston’s Relent Center to talk with some New Orleans that evacuated from there home to come live here and camp out and is being provide with education, food, and a place to stay, but doesn’t seen to have much affect on them. When Michael gave he’s speech on how hard the hurricane had an effect on his family and is trying so hard to maintain a family style going to the students, he made a change in his mind set about going back home and going to live in Louisiana to live a new live. Then to the very end the kids of sugarcane academy graduated in a sad ending.
In my option about this book was a bit confusing and a little to much detailed, because of all the characters the author put in the setting which makes it hard to know each character and his or hers own purpose in the book . Another is a lot of random detail in the book that makes the setting sometimes a little harder to understand and sometimes had to reread it to better understand the character’s actions in the plot. But as I kept reading the book further on I was starting to relies that the book was a tragic that just happen not so long ago and I applied that to the book that Houston played a big part of this and some schools also like mostly the ones we know like KIPP. What I didn’t know about KIPP was that KIPP stands for Knowledge Is Power Program the book helped my have a better understanding of Houston and New Orleans, the book opens my sees to understand the purpose of us the people and the unity and the Hurricane’s affects on us.
My recommendation of this book is a book that helps you relies that the Hurricane was much much much worst then we took gradated for, because the book was a journal for Micheal;s harsh journey with his family. Also the book had a massive affect on Houston and New Orleans and how it changed not only the city but we the people and how we can help and make a positive change. And I learned also that you should not judge the book until you get to the end and relies the book can have an effect on you.

[Victor Mata · Rating 2 out of 5]

Michael Tisserand and his wife fled from New Orleans, to avoid Hurricane Katrina with the thought of coming back. Little did they know, the destruction of the vicious storm left his family along with many other families out of their home. Michael came to a conclusion that they needed to create a stable life for their children out of the serious, harmful destruction of hurricane Katrina . They decided that education was most important for their children, they together started a school with an intelligent teacher, named Paul Reynaud that simply care about the children then the salary he was being offer.
The Sugarcane Academy was quite an interesting book. But the author style of writing of the book was more like a diary telling us what was going through his mind most of the times. For me, the author didn’t use as much tone, it seem that the tone had a deep, boring tone, with no emotions.
Overall the book was interesting, reading about how this author cared more about his children and other children education after knowing they would not be returning back to their home New Orleans, At some point I could feel and see what the author was going through. Like I said before, the author style of writing was more like a diary. In my opinion I would rate this book on my top 15 to read.
I would recommend this book, to people who like to read, real life situation that people go through. Also to the people who like to imagine the sight of what the author describes through his writing. I wouldn’t recommend this book to people who are interested in a action, thrilling books. In other words if you’re the kind of person that desires the more of the entertaining books this book is not for you because is more of that realistic situation in life.

[Ellen · Rating 4 out of 5]

When Hurricane Katrina, and soon after, Hurricane Rita, forced the population of New Orleans from their homes children found themselves with no school to attend. The author, who was a journalist in New Orleans, and his family temporarily relocated to a friend's home in New Iberia, LA. There he contacted a teacher that his children had loved, Paul Reynaud, and proposed that he come to New Iberia and start a one-room schoolhouse for the needy students. He readily agreed and thus began the Sugarcane Academy named for the plentiful crop that grew all around the area. Finding himself without much to work with he and his students took their education where they could find it, be it a visit to the sugarcane fields, a walk to the local donut shop, and many discussions about what they had been through. It is also the story of several other 'schools' that were begun for these displaced children including one in the Cajundome. These dedicated teachers and parents brought a semblance of normalcy to these storm-struck students and helped them immensely by sometimes just listening.
This was a fairly short book but it was a 'feel-good' read.

[Joyce · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sugarcane Academy, an account of the first four months after Katrina, provides a perspective of the aftermath and it's impact on the children. While the rest of the world looked on, Michael and his family and friends lived the reality of Katrina. The stories told throughout the book gave me a different picture of what was and was not happening. As a teacher, I appreciated how everyone tried to help the children deal with the effects of the storm, especially through the arts! Although confusing at times (going back and forth between events), the book showed how tenacious these parents and teachers were to help the children after the storm.

[Alonzo · Rating 5 out of 5]

1. I like how the author came to show the uprising events like the starting of sugarcane academy, and how they went back to new orleans a couple months later, and finding a teacher that admires teaching.
2. i dont have any dislikes about the book i really loved it, it showed me coming from where you're from its a possibility to make it.

favorite quote:Ray is not like any other teacher he had a passion for teaching younger kids, in college people laughed at him for wanting to teach first grade.

3.How do disasters affects people daily life?

[Becca Stroebel · Rating 4 out of 5]

An uplifting story about the reality of Hurricane Katrina as seen through the eyes of children. Much of what I've seen about Katrina overwhelms me and just makes me want to cry, but after this story I felt like there was hope and it made me identify with some of the reasons people might want to stay in New Orleans.

[Brittaney · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a touching story about students and teachers from New Orleans that were displaced after Hurricane Katrina. They created a school outside of Lafayette, LA, called Sugarcane Academy, and eventually returning to NOLA (and ran the school out of Loyola Univ.) a few months after Katrina. The spirit of New Orleanians is remarkable.

[Melissa Gonzalez · Rating 3 out of 5]

Personal story of a writer and his family who evacuated New Orleans ahead of Hurricane Katrina. With the help of some other parents, Tisserand created a temporary school in New Iberia, LA, for storm evacuees. Not the best book I've read on Katrina and the aftermath, but I enjoyed reading about the places of my childhood.

[Sophie G. Perks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful recollection of tragedy through the words, drawings, and experiences of students. A touching story of every teacher’s goal: to be there for their students, to teach them wherever they are in life, to drop the plans when needed, and provide them with comfort and love. This book gives an ever deeper meaning to Whole Child Teaching.

[Jamie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very uplifting story. A good example of positive things that can happen when people come together. My one complaint is that the title is a bit misleading; the story was told more from the parent's pov. I wish there would have been a little bit more of the kid's voices coming through.

[Raquelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

The aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, and how many adults came together to make the most out of nothing, to do what was necessary for students, for their education, and to support children, families, and each other in the most trying of times.
Heartfelt and provides a sense of hope.

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

While I found the book a little choppy with the writing style, I just love anything about New Orleans. This book even covered St Bernard parish, where I helped to rebuild homes in 2009 & 2010, so I have a special attachment to the area and stories from there.

[Carey · Rating 4 out of 5]

A moving, and ultimately hopeful, personal account of life after Hurricane Katrina.

[Timothy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very moving book, without being maudlin or sappy. The author writes really well and engages with the people he interviews very effectively. A great little book!

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book. Such an interesting perspective from post-hurricane Katrina

[Nick Woodall · Rating 1 out of 5]

I bought the book to read about the Sugar Cane Academy, but he talked so little about it that I felt cheated. Trite and incomplete.

[WildBookBosomed · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good for any educator to read.