How did Kathy's conversion to Islam play a role after Hurricane Katrina?

Kathy's conversion to Islam is driven by an intellectual interest the faith as well as a search for a sense of personal security following a trying time in her life. Once she makes an earnest effort to learn about the faith, she realizes that Islam is theologically very similar to Christianity, and many of her assumptions about the religion were wrong. Kathy's curiosity and open-mindedness are an example of Eggers' broader point that society is better and more tolerant when people "listen carefully" (321).