62 pages • 2 hours read
Jesmyn WardSalvage the Bones
Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2011A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more. For select classroom titles, we also provide Teaching Guides with discussion and quiz questions to prompt student engagement.
Before You Read
Super Short Summary
Salvage the Bones by Jesmyn Ward tells the story of the Batiste family in Bois Sauvage, Mississippi, over twelve days leading up to Hurricane Katrina, focusing on their struggles and efforts to prepare for the impending storm, interwoven with personal challenges, such as Skeetah's care for his prize pit bull and Esch’s secret pregnancy.
Reviews & Readership
Review Roundup
Jesmyn Ward's Salvage the Bones is celebrated for its lyrical prose and powerful portrayal of a family's struggle in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. The novel's vivid, emotional depth and strong character development are widely praised. However, some reviewers note its pacing challenges and intense subject matter, which may not appeal to all readers.
Who Should Read Salvage the Bones?
A reader who would enjoy Jesmyn Ward's Salvage the Bones is someone who appreciates emotionally intense, character-driven narratives that explore themes of family, poverty, and resilience. Fans of Toni Morrison's Beloved or Zora Neale Hurston's Their Eyes Were Watching God will find similar depths of lyrical prose and rich, evocative settings.
RecommendedReading Age
18+yearsLexile Level
890LBook Details
Gender / Feminism
Natural Disaster
Climate Change
Identity: Gender
Life/Time: Birth
Relationships: Mothers
African American Literature
Southern Literature
Modern Classic Fiction