Summary

Sarah researched the history of her French Quarter apartment. When she tried to find books on the history of New Orleans East, she was told, to her dismay, that the area was too young for history. She also researched the history of the Yellow House and the zoning of its neighborhood. She spent a lot of time trying to learn about zoning regulations and did not receive straight answers from the staff in the city planning office. Finally, she realized: "We lived on an industrial-zoned street where the houses were the exceptions" (335).

Gun violence was rampant in New Orleans at this time, and Sarah's family knew at least one victim. While the mayor spoke about a lack of conflict resolution skills among young people, Sarah questioned the inadequate education system, the terrible job market, the lack of mental health services, and a...