Sing, Unburied, Sing (Jesmyn Ward)

Sing, Unburied, Sing by Jesmyn Ward is a powerful and poignant novel set in rural twenty-first-century Mississippi. It follows Jojo and his toddler sister, Kayla, who live with their grandparents, Mam and Pop, alongside their troubled mother, Leonie. Leonie, haunted by visions of her deceased brother, struggles with drug addiction, while Mam battles cancer and Pop strives to hold the family together.

When the children's white father is released from prison, Leonie embarks on a perilous journey with her kids and a friend to Parchman farm, the Mississippi State Penitentiary. The narrative delves into the complexities of family bonds and confronts the harsh realities of American history and society.

Drawing on influences such as Toni Morrison, William Faulkner, The Odyssey, and the Old Testament, Ward weaves a narrative that is both intimate and epic. Sing, Unburied, Sing is praised for its lyrical prose and its exploration of hope, struggle, and the enduring power of family ties.

Overall, Sing, Unburied, Sing is hailed as a monumental work of American literature, showcasing Ward's mastery of storytelling and her ability to confront profound truths about the human experience.