The First Day: Birth in a Bare-Bulb Place Summary

"Salvage The Bones" is a woman's coming-of-age story about a girl named Esche, written by Jesmyn Ward. The novel opens with her brother's dog, China, giving birth to a litter of puppies. Esche's brother, Skeetah, is present and very attentive to the dog. Her other brothers Junior and Randall are also there, with their dad. It is revealed to the reader that their mother died after giving birth to Junior. It is presently summer-time, and they are in a rural swamp area near New Orleans. The family expects a hurricane soon, and has spent the day gathering supplies they will need and securing the house against the winds. Earlier that day a friend of the family named Manny visited. Esche has deep feelings for the boy, which do not...