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A review by gylait
Sing, Unburied, Sing by Jesmyn Ward
challenging
dark
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
As I sit here, attempting to write a review for this novel, I am finding it hard to compose my thoughts. I will be honest and say that it took me many breaks to get through this book, not because of any distaste for the writing or the literary elements, but mostly because of the haunting and sad nature of this book. It weighed heavily on me.
The main narrators of this book include Jojo, a young teenage boy, who, because of his mother’s substance use and his father’s incarceration, finds himself having to step up and take care of his younger sister Kayla, as well as help his grandparents. Both of them are grappling with their own trauma, as his grandma is dying of cancer and his grandpa is reflecting on his own experiences in prison.
Another narrator includes Leonie, Jojo’s mom, who did not receive as much “air time” as I had hoped for her. Her substance use brings her closer to her deceased brother (appearing as a ghost when she is high), who was lynched by the cousin of her current partner. The dynamic between her Black identity and her partner’s White identity was not explored as much as I had hoped it would be, especially given the very large plot point with Leonie’s brother. The chapters with Leonie’s narration felt rushed. I had wished she had more depth to her story rather than just someone who is struggling to thrive because of her past traumas and her difficulties navigating mother.
Lastly, we have the narrator of Richie, a ghost. I honestly really loved this element of the story and although I am not usually one for magical realism, I felt that this really added a beautiful throughline for each of the narrators, especially Jojo. I had wished that the ending wrapped this piece up a bit more, but the lasting thoughts it left me with regarding how we honor the victims of murders motivated by racism and hate, was a conversation I’d love to continue to think about.
Jesmyn’s writing overall was such a strong part of this book and I felt she beautifully crafted the character of Jojo. He felt real, he felt whole, and he felt human. This to me was a standout of this novel and I look forward to reading other books by Ward in the future
The main narrators of this book include Jojo, a young teenage boy, who, because of his mother’s substance use and his father’s incarceration, finds himself having to step up and take care of his younger sister Kayla, as well as help his grandparents. Both of them are grappling with their own trauma, as his grandma is dying of cancer and his grandpa is reflecting on his own experiences in prison.
Another narrator includes Leonie, Jojo’s mom, who did not receive as much “air time” as I had hoped for her. Her substance use brings her closer to her deceased brother (appearing as a ghost when she is high), who was lynched by the cousin of her current partner. The dynamic between her Black identity and her partner’s White identity was not explored as much as I had hoped it would be, especially given the very large plot point with Leonie’s brother. The chapters with Leonie’s narration felt rushed. I had wished she had more depth to her story rather than just someone who is struggling to thrive because of her past traumas and her difficulties navigating mother.
Lastly, we have the narrator of Richie, a ghost. I honestly really loved this element of the story and although I am not usually one for magical realism, I felt that this really added a beautiful throughline for each of the narrators, especially Jojo. I had wished that the ending wrapped this piece up a bit more, but the lasting thoughts it left me with regarding how we honor the victims of murders motivated by racism and hate, was a conversation I’d love to continue to think about.
Jesmyn’s writing overall was such a strong part of this book and I felt she beautifully crafted the character of Jojo. He felt real, he felt whole, and he felt human. This to me was a standout of this novel and I look forward to reading other books by Ward in the future