Thursday New Canon

Another book with a theme of survival ...

Hello readers! Welcome back to Thursday New Canon. Going into 2025 I have found myself unintentionally gravitating towards books that have themes of survival and resilience. The New Canon book this week is no exception.

This week I add one of Jesmyn Ward’s books, a guest you readers should all make yourselves familiar with.

WHO: Salvage the Bones by Jesmyn Ward

WHERE: The Book Maven Podcast New Canon

WHAT: Salvage the Bones is a fictional story about a Black family fighting to prepare for a natural disaster- hurricane Katrina. They become separated from their family dog and her litter of puppies, and the main protagonist’s father decides to stay put until they return. The story is hopeful, real, and highlights the dignity and suffering that families of color can experience during natural disasters.

WHY: After the horrific fires in L.A. this past week, and feeling like natural disasters are happening with increasing repetitiveness, I thought we could use another book highlighting human resilience and the unbreakableness of the human spirit. The book showing a minority family dealing with a natural disaster can also educate and call empathy to people dealing with natural disasters who might not have an easy route out of danger.

My heart goes out to all of those affected by the wildfires in L.A. I hope you can all feel some resiliency in knowing that the rest of the country sees you, and wants to support you.

I am canoning Salvage the Bones!