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Content snapshot
Flag an inaccuracy →What's in this book, at a glance — five things readers want to know before they start.
Violence
Some
Violence from Hurricane Katrina and its devastation; not gratuitous but honest
Language
A lot
Strong language throughout reflecting authentic Mississippi rural vernacular
Sexual Content
Some
Teen pregnancy is a central element; brief sexual references
Substance Use
Barely any
Brief references to alcohol
Emotional Intensity
Some
Heavy themes of poverty, family, survival, and the particular devastation of environmental catastrophe on already vulnerable communities
What this book is about
Jesmyn Ward's devastating and beautiful novel about a poor Black family in rural Mississippi facing Hurricane Katrina. Violence includes the hurricane and its aftermath. Language is strong and authentic. The pregnancy of a teenage girl is a central element. Adult literary fiction.
Notes for sensitive readers
Reader-flagged moments and themes that may affect your experience.
Hurricane Katrina violence
Teen pregnancy
Strong language
Poverty themes
Reader Verification
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