What is the setting in the novel, Salvage the Bones?

The novel is set in the American Southeast, in Mississippi, just before the onset of Hurricane Katrina. This is a warm, humid area that is traditionally home to poor and African American citizens. Many of the people in the region do not own vehicles they would require for a successful escape from the region, and most of the boys in Esche's neighborhood are involved in some sort of illegal activity or another in order to make money. The area itself is sparsely populated, and many of the inhabitants seem comfortable hunting for squirrels and other small game in order to supplement their income.