Terror at Bottle Creek

Gr 5–8—Residents along the Gulf Coast know that hurricane warnings are nothing to scoff at. Thirteen-year-old Cort Delacroix, who lives in Alabama on a houseboat with his gator-hunting father and dog, Catfish, knows the routine—you pull the boats out of the water, help neighbors board up their windows, stock up on ice, draw extra drinking water, and gas up the generator. When the storm moves closer and Cort's father hasn't returned from town, their widowed neighbor, Mrs. Stovall, goes after him, leaving her daughters in Cort's care. Winds and rain pound the house and topple a tree, causing Catfish to bolt from the house with little Francine unable to free herself from his leash. A harrowing tale of survival ensues, as big sister Liza and Cort search for the pair in treacherous floodwaters and try to avoid the wild pigs, deer, gators, bears, and poisonous snakes all heading for higher ground. Suspense is palpable, as the children become stranded in Bottle Creek, and it is apparent they are competing with dangerous wildlife for any safe space above water. Cort's unstable family life and humble home add layers to his character and will make readers root for his rescue, his budding relationship with Liza, and a resolution to his parents' separation. Details of the Gulf Coast environs, indigenous wildlife, and gritty way of life permeate the action, providing a window into possible experiences of Hurricane Katrina survivors.