THE TALE OF HOUSTON AFTER KATRINA.....DOMINATION and REVENGE. Sandra "Jewel" Landau, a Ninth Ward New Orleans woman is forced out of her home by the devastating attack of Hurricane Katrina. She makes the transition to Houston to be with her mother, Francine Landau. Francine fled to Houston 15 years prior to escape the death, destruction and dark family secrets that she was convinced would destroy her Family, specifically, her 2 grandsons, Dwayne aka Fatso, and Purnell aka Prince. Francine is determined to give them a chance at a better future, but when Hurricane Katrina forces their Aunt Jewel back into their lives, hideous secrets are discovered and their perceptions are forever altered...The very secrets that Francine tried to escape will reveal themselves in the most horrific way imaginable and Boys will become Men....Welcome to HARDBALL CITY Vol. 1: KATRINA'S BABY.

カトリーナという災厄を機に、隠蔽された血の宿命が牙を剥く。本作の真髄は、新天地を舞台に描かれる支配と復讐の生々しい連鎖にあります。著者のジョイナーは、過去から逃れようとする祖母の葛藤と家族の崩壊を、暴力的なまでのリアリズムで描き出しました。逃げ場のない極限状態で暴かれる秘密が、読者の魂を激しく揺さぶります。 特筆すべきは、過酷な街の掟の中で少年たちが男へと脱皮していく過程の重厚さです。憎悪と愛が複雑に絡み合うなか、絶望の淵から這い上がろうとする彼らの剥き出しの生命力は、読む者の胸を熱く焦がします。これは暗闇の中で己のアイデンティティを奪還しようとする者たちの、痛切で荒々しい魂の叙事詩なのです。