Themes
- Dignity: After Hurricane Katrina, Zeitoun remarks that many of the people he encounters have lost their dignity because of the storm's affects. He, too, loses his dignity when he is unjustly imprisoned, refused his civil rights, strip searched, etc.
- Racism & Post 9/11 Prejudices against Muslims: Zeitoun and his family encounter racism from some people in New Orleans after 9/11. Kathy also perceives the media as distorting predominately African-Americans as committing criminal acts after Hurricane Katrina.
- Corruption: Zeitoun observes looters and people taking advantage of the destruction from Hurricane Katrina as he navigates New Orleans in his canoe. Zeitoun also perceives some of the police officers and National Guardsmen as corrupt because of their racist tendencies and the fact the Nasser and Ronnie, two of his friends who had money on their bodies when they were arrested, were not given their life savings back because it was no longer in evidence, meaning someone in power stole it.
- The importance of Home: Zeitoun resists leaving New Orleans because he feels tied to the city and believes that it is his responsibility to help it recover after the damage from the hurricane. Even after he is released from prison, Zeitoun and his family remain in New Orleans, continuing to operate a construction business that will help rebuild the city they call home.
- Fate: Zeitoun believes that it is his fate--that God wants him--to help those adversely affected by Hurricane Katrina initially by physically saving the elderly and animals trapped in their homes after the levees flooded and eventually by continuing his construction business to help rebuild the city.
- Familial Pressure & Expectations: Kathy feels pressure from her family to reject Islam, even though it was entirely her choice to convert to the religion. Zeitoun believes that as a member of his family, he is expected to be important and fulfill a purpose in some way, which leads him to remain in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina.