Jesmyn Ward's memoir 'Men We Reaped' explores the lives of five men close to her who died prematurely, and her dissatisfaction with her first novel in capturing the realities of young Black people in the South.
Ward's novels, including 'Salvage the Bones' and 'Sing, Unburied, Sing', tackle difficult subjects such as Hurricane Katrina and the challenges faced by impoverished families, while also highlighting the characters' individuality, autonomy, and love despite overwhelming odds.