CAJUN KIDS ADVENTURES VOLUME FOUR

STORM CLOUDS

by C.P. Landry ‧ RELEASE DATE: July 31, 2023

In Landry’s middle-grade novel, five siblings in Cajun country prepare for a hurricane and get involved in a search mission.

As the fourth installment of the Cajun Kids Adventures series opens, a hurricane is headed toward Willow Hammock, Louisiana. Five young siblings—Beth (the oldest at 14), Mark, Timmy, Annie, and Sam—and their parents prepare for the storm, securing boats, packing treasured items, and helping neighbors get ready for the hurricane’s impact. Soon, the Coast Guard discovers that a father and his two young children have failed to return from a fishing trip, and the Cajun Kids and their parents volunteer to assist in the search. Dividing into teams across the Atchafalaya Delta, the siblings put their boating skills, map-reading abilities, and local knowledge to the test. They battle the clock as the storm draws nearer, bringing with it rising tides, heavy rain, and increasing winds. Sam spots a distant object through binoculars (“It’s something white moving from side to side. It may be someone waving a flag”); using maps and radio communication, the siblings confirm it’s a rag being used as a distress signal. The Cajun Kids and their parents evacuate inland; after the storm passes, they return to find that, other than having some clean-up to do in Willow Hammock, their preparations have paid off. As in the previous Cajun Kids books, young readers get a dose of education along with a compelling narrative. In this case, readers learn about tides, wind direction, and more about hurricanes; the lessons don’t slow down the story. Each child faces moments of doubt, but the message remains steady: Training, teamwork, and levelheaded decision-making matter most during a crisis. The Louisiana setting is not just a backdrop; it’s another character, particularly during the search-and-rescue operation that involves airboats, marshes, alligators, and rough waters. Like its three predecessors, this volume of the Cajun Kids Adventures is brisk, engaging, and informative, a dramatic story that celebrates resilience, community, and the courage to help others when they need it most.

A diverting and educational adventure story set in the wilds of Louisiana.

Pub Date: July 31, 2023

ISBN: 9798988697909

Page Count: 232

Publisher: N/A

Review Posted Online: March 3, 2026

Review Program: Kirkus Indie

Categories:

CHILDREN'S ACTION & ADVENTURE FICTION | CHILDREN'S SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY | CHILDREN'S GENERAL CHILDREN'S