Salvage the Bones

1. 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 Hurricane Katrina occurred, I was an eleven year-old child with little to no concern about the current events happening around me. Nevertheless, I was still saddened by the hurricane that killed almost 2,000 people and left thousands homeless. The news reported daily about the damages done, and showed all of the people that were in need of help. But through the novel, you really get vivid details of what it was like for people who actually had to sit and wait for the storm to be over. You get to imagine and see the struggle that people had to go through to survive. The Batiste family struggling to get out of their flooded house, getting hurt in the process of getting to safety , and Skeetah losing China to save Esch are displays of the sacrifice and strength it took to overcome this brutal natural disaster. Although this novel is fictional, real people had to endure these things when Hurricane Katrina hit.
Esch’s perspective of the storm brought me to the realization of how powerful Katrina was. By going into detail of houses being completely taken off their foundations, and trees being uprooted and blown away, you can imagine how devastating it was for the people. Esch’s perspective also made me realize how the impact of Katrina caused the people to unite and help each other get resources and food. Through the novel, I was able to get a better understanding of the severity of Katrina and imagine the way it affected people by seeing it through someone else’s