FAMU 2012 Freshman Summer Reading Writing Assignment
Dijona Brishae’ Clemons
August 20, 2012 dijona1.clemons@famu.edu 2. Compare the portrayal of Katrina in Salvage the Bones to what you saw of the hurricane in the news. Which aspect of the storm’s devastation does this novel bring to life? What does Esch’s perspective add to your understanding of Katrina’s impact?

When analyzing the horror of Katrina within Ward’s novel Salvage the Bones and the actual catastrophe that was broadcasted throughout the media, readers are able understand its true impact. It seems as though Ward brought to light the realness and severity of Katrina rather than just restate the obvious. Ward’s writing is a perfect storytelling of the event— filled
How do his children and neighbors react to his early preparations? Why do his precautions fail him?

Mr. Batiste has been listening to the radio more than ever and he already has his eyes and ears out for a hurricane that had been expected before hurricane Katrina. His children and neighbors have been used to so many light storms that the forecasters warn them about and they feel as though there is no need to take precaution. However, Mr. Batiste can feel in his bones that the storm will soon strike. It seems as though Mr. Batiste is mourning and is so constantly drunk that he can never be persistent with his work. He is always angry and asking his children to fulfill tasks that he knows he can perform more sufficiently and precisely than they can, but he continues to use them as his crutch. For example, on the fourth day Mr. Batiste storms into mother Lizabeth’s and Papa John’s house in need a few pieces of plywood from the attic. Without even attempting to pry the wood from the attic wall himself, he hurriedly instructs Skeetah and Esch to perform the task for him. “Esch let your brother climb up on you.” (Ward 62) “Daddy could be a ladder for Skeetah if he wanted to...with his hands tough as a rope, but he won’t. We all know it.” (Ward 62) Simultaneously, the death of Mrs. Batiste seems to be another reason as to why Mr. Batiste’s precautions miscarry. In many scenes Esch describes how her mother would do certain things to help