Behind the Waterline

by Kionna Walker Lemalle

Winner of the Lee Smith Novel Prize

Behind the Waterline takes readers to the home of a teenager and his grandmother in a New Orleans neighborhood on the eve of Katrina, where there are few resources and little warning of what is about to happen, in this novel that mixes magical realism with reality.

When Hurricane Katrina approaches New Orleans, teenaged Eric and his grandmother and many of their neighbors decide to ride out the storm. Kionna Walker LeMalle’s masterful debut novel brings her readers, like the rising water, onto Eric’s street in the Third Ward, where stranded dogs bark for a time, where neighbors are floating on doors, and where Eric and his grandmother must take refuge in his second floor bedroom. After days of heat, dwindling supplies, and relentless rising water, neighbors begin to disappear and Eric’s grandmother, already known as an eccentric, begins to falter. It is then that Eric—in a dream, a hallucination, or something else—discovers a room beyond his closet wall, a place he has never seen. What he discovers inside will send him on a path to discover secrets to survival, bitter progress, and, ultimately, the history of his own people—those he sorely misses and those he never even knew.

Genres: Fiction, Historical Fiction, Magical Realism, Literary Fiction

246 pages, Hardcover

Published March 25, 2025

Reviews

[Erricka Hager · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 Stars
I enjoyed this one and will continue to reflect on it over the next couple of days.

However, in this story, we follow Eric and his eccentric grandmother before, during, and after Hurricane Katrina. Eric is challenged to write a story about someone in his family who could be considered a hero, but because of Eric's complicated family makeup, he feels as though he has no one to write about.
From there, Katrina arrives, and we follow Eric and his grandma Ruth from New Orleans to Houston. Lemalle offers a unique insight into the experiences of these Black families who were displaced. I vividly remember Katrina and watching the vilification of Black folks who were trying to survive, and Lemalle does an excellent job of conveying this. Alongside the Katrina storyline, Eric is transported back in time to moments unique to his family's history. We, along with Eric, discover that he has a hero in his family tree, and that person is closer than he thinks.

This story offers an excellent look into the horrors of Katrina, as well as discussions on racism, found family, and the challenges of integrating the South in the 50s and 60s. This would have been a five-star read for me if we had spent more time in the past, which is a personal gripe of mine because I am a historical fiction girlie. I can't wait to read more from Lemalle.

Do yourself a favor and pick this one up if:
-You're a fan of family histories
-Curious about the Black experience during Hurricane Katrina
-You enjoy magical realism in your stories

[Amber Cook · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a Texan and a fellow hurricane survivor, this book was incredible!!!
Eric is a middle school boy that lives with his eccentric grandmother since he was a baby. When Hurricane Katrina heads straight for New Orleans and grandma makes the decision to stay, Eric is hit with huge problems that no kid should have to face.

Kionna Walker LeMalle perfectly sums up the culture of New Orleans, the fear before and after the hurricane and the trauma of the aftermath of the storm.

I would recommend this book for anyone.
#hurricane
#hurricanekatrina
#neworleans
#segregation

[Grace Schroeder · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars rounded up. This story is going to stick with me for a while, and I’m still trying to process it. I think the writing style is fantastic and a lovely debut novel! I’m sad to see only 22 ratings on this book so far. I hope more people pick it up soon! This story has a little bit of everything: from history to social justice and discussions of racism to magical realism. I think the story could have been a little longer but really, it was great. The author captured deep, heart-wrenching emotions so well. Definitely recommend!

[Elise · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book, even though I always hesitate to embark on a hurricane Katrina story because I have been through it—lost our home, car, and jobs, but luckily not our lives. This is the story of Eric Calhoun and his grandmother Ruth who stay to hunker down for the storm, and horrible, catastrophic, and strange things happen to them as a result. This story is many things: a coming of age story, a mystery, and a magic realist tale of time travel. I will leave it at that. I read it all in one day. The only reason I am giving it 4 stars instead of 5 is twofold. First, the unraveling of the mystery was at times confusing and also at times the story vibed a bit too young adult for me. I wanted more magic realism because turning a traumatic story into a beautiful magical tale is winning. Lemalle does do this to some degree, and I enjoyed these high points in the novel, so I look forward to more books by this author.

[Daja · Rating 3 out of 5]

Story that follows a young boy and his grandmother durning and after hurricane Katrina. The story of during and after Katrina held my attention and kept me wanting to know what happens next. I do feel like the parts of the book about going through the portal to the past could have been written in more detail or elaborated more on to connect more to the story. The time traveling storyline could be a book itself.

[Shanquelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

As I was born and raised in New Orleans and after finding out the author was born there too I was very interested in reading this one. We are following a young Eric and his grandmother as they prepare for hurricane Katrina in New Orleans. They decided to ride it out and soon realize this was a mistake. The story was told so vividly and with such care I throughly enjoyed it. I also enjoyed the dialogue which I found so real and personal. I felt so close to the characters. However the closet and hidden room made no sense to me. I was waiting for the part that would explain why we needed this in the book and I personally never understood why. Also, the ending with the big real of the “family” just confused the hell out of time and I just didn’t get it.

[Miri · Rating 3 out of 5]

Behind the Waterline has a lyrical style and a strong emotional core. Some passages are truly moving, but the narrative meanders in places, which made it harder to stay fully invested. Still, it leaves a quiet impact and lingers after the last page.
Maybe 3.5 stars though.

[Jess · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

A raw, emotional and poignant debut novel from LeMalle. So excited to read more from her.

[Babs Schmerler · Rating 5 out of 5]

This novel is another hidden gem that does not seem to have gotten much press. It utilizes magical realism in such a way that it does not distract from the main story. Eric is a young bi-racial teen, who is being raised by his grandmother, Ruth. Ruth is a bit of an odd duck, who has been traumatized by her participation in the civil rights movement as a teenage college student. She refuses to talk to Eric about his parents or her past, leaving Eric totally at a loss. When hurricane Katrina hits, Eric and his grandmother are trapped inside their home until they are rescued and relocated to Houston. While in the home and in his closet, Eric is transported back to the past during the time that his grandmother and his current pastor were part of the civil rights movement. Eric does not quiet understand what he sees and returns to the present and starts to research what happened during that time period and tp try and learn the connections to what he knows of his family. The past and the present collide in terms of who he and his grandmother meet after relocating to Houston. As the story progresses, the reader learns more of what happened to Eric's grandmother and his parents and how past and present are connected.
This novel is a coming of age story as much as it is a reminder of the Civil Rights Movement and Hurricane Katrina. The characters are well developed, and the story makes it hard not to keep on reading to see what happens next.

[Virginia Brackett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Imminently readable and told through the eyes of an attractive and empathetic character, Behind the Waterline chronicles not only the immediate physical, emotional, and mental wounds left behind by Hurricane Katrina, but the discoveries it leads to in young Eric's life. Using a child's point of view allows Lemalle to explore new territory associated with that tragic occurrence. Through the use of strong character shaping of Eric, Ruth, and Pastor Charles, supported by a host of minor characters, the reader is pulled into the present and the pasts of multiple generations, some known, and some unknown. Using the literary approach of magical realism, the author reveals facts to the reader that the characters won't know until the book's climax. Groups will find much to discuss, from the historic events of Katrina and the forced integration of Ole Miss to family relationships, the enduring harm caused by racism, the trafficking in human infants, and how humans find strength they did not know existed through terrible challenge. For book clubs who want to be adventurous and discuss the literary aspects of the novel, Lemalle's turning of the traditional metaphor of water as baptism into new life on its head will provide rich matter. The novel teaches as it entertains and provides a fine example of the fact that with tragedy can come some positives.

[TPC · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love hearing family stories / lore / legacies / etc. I was very excited to read this story especially now as we reflect back from the 20th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina. I greatly enjoyed this story.

However, I feel there was something incomplete about it. I felt like some things were rushed. Some thing seems like a nice bow to cover up bigger issues. There were a lot of things that were left unmentioned or unresolved. There are many holes in the history that just remain a secret. And while many things in Black History are lost to time due to lack of documentation, I feel like that is not reflected in this story.

I greatly appreciated this book. I would totally read it again and recommend it to others. But, I do wish there was just MORE to the ending.

[Elba · Rating 4 out of 5]

Behind the Waterline by Kionna Walker Lemalle takes place in New Orleans during hurricane Katrina. Eric and his grandmother have to stay put in their home on the 3rd Ward. When the storm hits it ravishes their neighborhood, and it takes weeks before they are rescued. They are taken to Houston where they find temporary housing while they rebuild. Eric's mother died and his father is not around and rumor has it his crazy grandmother ran him off. He has many questions about the past that the adults around him never address. In the aftermath of the storm he begins to discover his roots. A really impactful read about love, family and resilience.

[rohanna brooks-sykes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Behind the Waterline is engaging and powerful! It helped me reflect on the lives and experiences of the children and youth who survived Hurricane Katrina. It is a beautiful reminder of the legacies that are built from previous generations even though they experienced unimaginable trauma. It was a page-turner but I wanted to read it slowly because I didn't want it to end! Thank you for writing this wonderful, thoughtful, and poignant book!

[Tania Killebrew · Rating 5 out of 5]

Behind the Water Line was excellent!. I read it so voraciously on our vacation. She is such a great writer. I loved how she used fictional characters to weave history, facts, and issues of humanity. I also appreciated her non- linear narrative. I particularly appreciated the way she drew the reader into a vivid and immersive experience with Eric’s visions. That was a nice surprise.

I was left wanting more when I completed the book.

Well done!

[Denise Billings · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lemalle is a great writer. The book's opening line draws you right in. Here is the back story of the some of the people who survived and didn't survive Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans. The author serves up the finest of details in her descriptions of the people and the horrifying occurences during the hours, days, weeks, and months before and after the storm. Riveting.

[Keatyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

While there were parts of this one that I loved, it often felt disjointed and the history wasn't incorporated enough until close to the end of the book. Once it got into the history it also at times felt like it was laying out the facts of history a little to obviously instead of using the story to show you them.

[Eileen DiGiacomo · Rating 3 out of 5]

While I thoroughly enjoyed the storytelling, the portal to the past ruined it for me. I would have preferred the grandma or Pastor to tell him the story.

The flood was written so vividly. The characters were very well developed. it just very disconnected between the two narratives.

[Courtney Freer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting promos of reading a fictional book that goes back and forth between two of the biggest events in US history. And interesting to get a fictional take and stories on the African-American history of America as well. A bit different to what I would normally read

[Caroline Sherwin · Rating 5 out of 5]

On the 20th Anniversary of Katrina - ‘Behind the Water Line’ brought back so many memories of that time — and Eric’s Coming of Age in a way - Survival & Learning in a time that tested people’s limits .. Great Read

[Kayleigh Hamilton · Rating 3 out of 5]

this is a niche part of historical fiction but very well written. this genre isn’t high on my interests so three stars but would probably be four stars for others. honored to know the author personally and felt connected to the story and characters! ★★★

[Victoria · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was a senior in high school when Hurricane Katrina hit. Living in Houston, I saw first hand people who came from New Orleans to seek refuge. Kionna did an amazing job bringing this story to life. I felt like I was there with Eric in all that he went through. Excellent story.

[elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

this was beautiful

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Deeply moving.

[Rj Moon · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had a chance of thinking about the hard life after hurricane Katrina swept.