Salvage the Bones

Is the message of Salvage the Bones ultimately, a feminist one? Why or why not?

Discuss the ways in which China a counterpart to Esch.

Outline and explain the Medea motif used in the novel. How does it reflect the relationship between Manny and Esch and/or Skeetah and Esch?

How does the climax of Hurricane Katrina parallel the growing tension of the characters in the story?

Discuss the impact that their absent mother has on the Batiste family. 

What is the appropriateness of the book’s title and how does it illuminate the story’s major themes?

In what ways is Esch isolated in the novel?

What are the different symbols of rebirth in Salvage the Bones and how do they illuminate the novel’s major themes?