Set in the lowlands of Mississippi in the days leading up to Hurricane Katrina, Salvage the Bones is narrated by Esch, the high-school age, mythology-minded, only daughter (and only female since her mother's passing several years earlier) of the Batiste family. Esch is observant and literary, providing nuanced and lyrical descriptions of lives and places that are often either poverty window dressing in other works or ignored entirely. The language is thick. Esch is a reader and she guides us through her family's home and lives with rich and surprising descriptions. The plot functions on two countdowns--the approach of Katrina and the eventual revelation of the secret Esch is keeping from everyone except her brother Skeetah. Both storms hit together in the end.

Any downside? Things I should be aware of? If you hate pit bulls be forewarned there's a lot of pit bull love on display in this book. If you love pit bulls be forewarned there's a lot of violent dog fighting of pit bulls on display in this book. Basically just a heads up for both sides of the pit bull culture. If you love or hate Pitbull the singer, there's nothing here for you, he does not feature in the novel.

Worth my time? 100%. This is our favorite of Ward's many excellent novels.