The Parish Review

The Parish, an AmeriCorps Story

The Parish is a wonderfully illustrated look at what happened after Hurricane Katrina hit and the damage left, even years after the storm had moved on. The subtle descriptions and dialogue and the very shadowy artwork gives the reader of a hopeless environment, without it becoming a cliché horror look. It reminds you that this place was once lived in. I think it’s a great book for anyone from pre-teens learning about the event. To older adults who remember the event and just curious about what happened after the new vans left.

The Parish follows the story of Leo, and his team working to help rebuild the parts of Louisiana after hurricane Katrina. The story itself takes place almost two years after the storm hit. Leo works as an editor for the AmeriCorps camp paper, The Heat. Part of his job is to listen to other tell stories about their jobs and put it on paper. With that and the fact that several of his friends like to get into trouble, they get themselves into some interesting situations.

I enjoyed this book. It's somewhat a short read, but I think that really helps it. Perfect for killing an afternoon. I think the best part of this is the characters. They're beyond interesting. Each one has some fascinating ideas behind them. Just about all of them belong to this gang of misfits. Even small roles, like the cook, feel like they grabbed the oddest bunch they could find, and sent them to work.

I like that this story is more about a bunch of broken people, trying to help fix a broken community. It’s a very internal conflict story. This makes it feel very personal, which really helps highlight the subject matter. It’s not about the 800,000 homes destroyed. It’s about Miss Leola, who lost her house. And with her prosthetic leg, she needed more than just a standard house build. It reminds you that it isn't just numbers, but real people.

I think the stories biggest weakness is that there isn't a central antagonist. The closest thing to one is, Wayne. He's somewhat their boss, he’s a stickler for the rules. With a bunch of rule breakers, he isn't the most popular. I feel like if he was introduced in the story sooner, he could have played a more important role. However, because he shows up later, he doesn't feel like a 'final boss' or someone who needs to be beaten with a sword. Just a conversation.

Overall, I really enjoyed this graphic novel. It was a good read and a great look at the aftermath of a storm.

A Solid 7 out of 10