WinneroftheNationalBookAwardAnAtlanticGreatAmericanNoveloftheLast100Years“Ataut,wilynovel,smartlyplottedandvoluptuouslywritten...JesmynWardmakesbeautifulmusic,playsdeftlywithherreader’sexpectations.“--ParulSehgal,NewYorkTimesTheNationalBookAward-winningnovelfromtheauthorofLetUsDescendandMenWeReaped--agrittybuttenderstoryoffamilyandpovertyinthedaysleadinguptoHurricaneKatrina.AhurricaneisbuildingovertheGulfofMexico,threateningthecoastaltownofBoisSauvage,Mississippi,andEsch’sfatherisgrowingconcerned.Aharddrinker,largelyabsent,hedoesn’tshowconcernformuchelse.Eschandherthreebrothersarestockingfood,butthereisn’tmuchtosave.Lately,Eschcan’tkeepdownwhatfoodshegets;she’sfourteenandpregnant.HerbrotherSkeetahissneakingscrapsforhisprizedpitbull’snewlitter,dyingonebyoneinthedirt.Meanwhile,brothersRandallandJuniortrytostaketheirclaiminafamilylongonchild’splayandshortonparenting.Asthetwelvedaysthatmakeupthenovel’sframeworkyieldtotheirdramaticconclusion,thisunforgettablefamily--motherlesschildrensacrificingforoneanotherastheycan,protectingandnurturingwhereloveisscarce--pullsitselfuptofaceanotherday.Abig-heartednovelaboutfamilialloveandcommunityagainstallodds,andawrenchinglookatthelonesome,brutal,andrestrictiverealitiesofruralpoverty,SalvagetheBonesismuscledwithpoetry,revelatory,andreal.
