A review by theemillennialreader
Salvage the Bones by Jesmyn Ward

adventurous emotional reflective tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

This book was a good read. At the beginning, I was a little put off by how much focus there was on the pitbull and her puppies—it felt like the whole story centered around them. But as I kept reading, I realized there was more beneath the surface. Skeetah’s care for the dog represented something deeper, especially when compared to Esch’s desire for someone to care for her and her unborn child in the same way.

Esch’s journey is a powerful coming-of-age story. As a 15-year-old girl surrounded by boys and men, she’s often overlooked or objectified. Her pregnancy becomes a turning point where she begins to see her own strength and worth, even while dealing with rejection and longing for real love and protection.

The family dynamic also stood out to me. Even though they were struggling—with their father battling alcoholism and their home barely holding together—there was still a sense of loyalty and resilience. Each sibling had their own way of coping, but they stuck together and tried to protect one another in the face of everything.

Sometimes we forget how deeply Hurricane Katrina affected people’s lives and how, even in 2025, many are still recovering. This story captures that—how this family, just trying to get by and prepare for what they thought was a typical storm, ended up facing devastation with very little support. The book shows both the physical and emotional storms they went through, not just after the hurricane, but in the days leading up to it. It’s a heartbreaking and powerful look at survival, family, and growing up when the world feels like it’s falling apart.