Sing, Unburied, Sing-Jesmyn Ward: Book Summary

Author: Jesmyn Ward

Publication Year: 2017

Publisher: Scribner

Jesmyn Ward is an American author known for her powerful portrayals of the African American experience in the American South.

Sing, Unburied, Sing, published in 2017, is Ward's third novel and winner of the National Book Award for Fiction.

Ward's writing is acclaimed for its lyrical prose, vivid characterizations, and unflinching exploration of race, family, and community.

Sing, Unburied, Sing is a haunting and lyrical novel that follows the lives of a mixed-race family in rural Mississippi.

The novel is narrated from multiple perspectives, including Jojo, a biracial boy coming of age in the shadow of his family's troubled history, and Leonie, his drug-addicted mother.

As Jojo and his younger sister, Kayla, accompany their mother on a road trip to pick up their father from prison, they confront the ghosts of their past and the harsh realities of the present.

Through richly drawn characters and evocative imagery, Ward explores themes of race, poverty, addiction, and the legacy of slavery in the American South.

Sing, Unburied, Sing is divided into several parts, each containing multiple chapters.

The chapters alternate between the perspectives of Jojo, Leonie, and Richie, a young boy who died decades earlier but remains a powerful presence in the lives of the living.

The narrative unfolds through a mixture of past and present, as the characters grapple with their own traumas and the weight of history.

Pay attention to Ward's use of magical realism, as she blends elements of the supernatural with the harsh realities of life in the Mississippi Delta.

Consider the ways in which the novel explores the connections between past and present, as characters confront the ghosts of their ancestors and the legacies of slavery and Jim Crow.

Reflect on the significance of place in the novel, as Ward vividly evokes the landscape of rural Mississippi and its impact on the lives of its inhabitants.

Themes of race, family, legacy, and redemption are central to Sing, Unburied, Sing.

The novel interrogates the ways in which the past continues to exert its influence on the present, particularly for African Americans in the South.

Ward also explores the bonds of family and community, and the ways in which love and sacrifice can transcend even the most difficult circumstances.

Jojo: A biracial boy on the cusp of adolescence, grappling with his identity and his family's troubled history.

Leonie: Jojo's drug-addicted mother, haunted by the memory of her brother's death and struggling to be a good parent to her children.

Richie: A young boy who died decades earlier but remains a powerful presence in the lives of Jojo and his family.

Jesmyn Ward's writing in Sing, Unburied, Sing is lyrical, evocative, and deeply moving.

She skillfully weaves together multiple narrative threads, blending realism with elements of the supernatural to create a rich and immersive reading experience.

The novel is marked by its vivid descriptions, richly drawn characters, and powerful emotional resonance.

Jojo and his sister, Kayla, accompany their mother, Leonie, on a road trip to pick up their father from prison.

As they journey through rural Mississippi, they confront the ghosts of their past and the harsh realities of the present.

The novel delves into the troubled history of Jojo and Leonie's family, including the death of Leonie's brother, Given, and the legacy of slavery and racial violence in the South.

Share your thoughts and feelings about the book as you read.

Discuss any moments that resonated with you personally or challenged your understanding of race, family, and identity.

Consider how Ward's writing illuminates the complexities of the African American experience in the American South, and the ways in which history continues to shape contemporary life.

Provide a brief summary of the novel's narrative arc and major themes.

Reflect on the significance of Sing, Unburied, Sing within the context of contemporary literature, particularly its exploration of race, family, and legacy in the American South.

Consider the novel's impact and reception, including its critical acclaim and cultural resonance in discussions of race and identity in America.