By Caitlyn Freeman
Brief Summary:
Set in the fictional impoverished town of Bois, Mississippi, Sing, Unburied, Sing, by Jesmyn Ward, is a tear-jerking story about the dynamics of a grieving family. Jojo, the 13-year-old protagonist, is trying to comprehend what it means to be a man. His grandparents, Mam and Pop, serve as the primary caregivers for Jojo and his 3-year-old sister, Kayla. His mother, Leone, who struggles with grief-induced drug addiction, and his incarcerated father, Michael, continually neglect the children. One day, Jojo’s father calls and informs Leone about his release from prison. Leone, her friend Misty, and the children embark on a road trip across the state of Mississippi to retrieve Michael. Throughout the trip, Jojo is faced with many obstacles and also encounters a ghost who carries dark secrets of his own.
This story will have you on the edge of your seat one minute and sobbing profusely the next. Ward’s book highlights the race and class struggles Jojo and his family encounter as people of color in modern day, rural Mississippi. Continue reading “Book Review: Sing, Unburied, Sing”
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