St. Bernard Parish, known affectionately by those blessed to live in it as "da Parish," was home to people who thrived, who were perfectly ordinary and who would be marginalized anywhere else. When Hurricane Katrina came and went it was as if da Parish never existed, except for the courage of what remained of its residents. Wisely, Journalist Schaefer allows the voices of da Parish to come through, framing their narratives gently with his own and then only to build links and contexts. Some of the accounts are almost unendurable but many are amazing, as ordinary people again and again do extraordinary things to help their relations, neighbors, and total strangers while the federal government completely ignored them. This will make you sad and angry, and rightfully so. It will also firmly inform you that all is never lost, even in da Parish. Annotation ©2007 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)