Dive Into Jesmyn Ward's World

I picked up Where the Line Bleeds by Jesmyn Ward because I was intrigued by the setting. The story is set in the small town of Bois Sauvage, which is located on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. I enjoy reading books about places I know, so a story set in a rural Gulf Coast community really appealed to me! The story traces the lives of twin African-American boys, Christophe and Joshua as they graduate from high school and try to make a living in their town. Intertwined with their lives are the lives of many family members, many of whom reside on the same road where Joshua and Christophe live with their grandma, Ma-mee. The twins live with their grandmother and receive infrequent visits from both their mom (who lives in Atlanta) and their dad (who appears every now and then in Bois Sauvage). The novel is a great story about living, and making the right choices, and the consequences of your actions. Jesmyn Ward is a wonderful story-teller- her prose is lyrical and her descriptions of events such as Joshua and Christophe's Fourth of July picnic have so much detail (even down to the food) that it just makes you want to weep. The relationship between the twins is intense and it is amazing that the twins feel as deeply as they do about themselves and each other. Although Where the Line Bleeds is classified as an adult novel, it would also appeal to older teen readers. There is some drug use described in the book, as well as some profanity. This book has also been classified as a "recommended read" by the Essence Book Club. Check out other recommended reads at http://www.essence.com/.