Summary
Sing, Unburied, Sing is a critically acclaimed novel by American author Jesmyn Ward, capturing the toll of family secrets, poverty, addiction, and racial injustice. Set in rural Mississippi in the 2010s, the story follows a Black family’s journey to pick up a white relative from a notorious prison. The novel incorporates elements of magical realism, with ghosts serving as narrators alongside the living characters. This supernatural aspect allows Ward to explore how the past continues to haunt the present, particularly in terms of the lingering impact of slavery in the American South.
Ward's lyrical prose and deft storytelling earned Sing, Unburied, Sing widespread praise from critics. Released in 2017, the novel won the National Book Award for Fiction and was named one of the 10 Best Books of 2017 by The New York Times.
Plot
Sing, Unburied, Sing follows 13-year-old Jojo and his family in rural Mississippi. As the novel opens, Jojo is trying to help his grandfather, Pop, slaughter a goat for his birthday. Meanwhile, Jojo's mother, Leonie, learns that her white boyfriend, Michael, is being released from prison. Despite Pop’s objections, she decides to take Jojo and his toddler sister Kayla on a road trip to pick up Michael from the notorious Mississippi State Penitentiary, commonly known as Parchman Farm.
During the journey, Kayla becomes ill and, wary of Leonie's attempts to help, Jojo cares for her. At Parchman, Jojo encounters the ghost of Richie, a young inmate Pop knew when he was imprisoned there decades ago. On the drive home, the family faces a tense encounter with a racist police officer. They also visit Michael's parents, leading to a violent confrontation between Michael and his bigoted father.
Back at home, Jojo's grandmother, Mam, is dying of cancer. Pop finally reveals to Jojo the full story of what happened at Parchman—Pop killed Richie to spare him from being tortured by a white mob. Meanwhile, Leonie attempts a spiritual ritual to ease Mam's passing but is ultimately unsuccessful. After Mam dies, Leonie leaves with Michael, consumed by their drug addiction.
In the final chapter, Jojo describes how he now cares for Kayla while living with Pop. He continues to see Richie's ghost, along with other spirits of those who died violently. The novel ends with Kayla singing to these restless ghosts, offering them a chance at peace.
