Reading Order List — Book Series Reading Order Guide

Jesmyn Ward Reading Order

6 series · 18 books · Born 1977

Non-Fiction

Jesmyn Ward is an acclaimed Mississippi-based writer whose emotionally resonant novels explore the lives and struggles of African American communities in the American South. A National Book Award winner and professor at Tulane University, Ward draws on themes of family, resilience, and survival, most notably in her novel Salvage the Bones, which centers on a family navigating the devastation of Hurricane Katrina. Her expansive body of work spans literary fiction, short stories, and essays, establishing her as one of the most important contemporary American writers.

Anthologies Series

Likely Complete

2 books (2013–2021)

Start with Coming Home to Mississippi and read in order.

Start this series with Coming Home to Mississippi

Buy Book 1 🇺🇸🎧 Listen free on Audible
#Title
1
Cover of Coming Home to Mississippi
Coming Home to Mississippi
2013Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2
The Best American Essays 2021
2021Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

Bois Sauvage Series

Complete

3 books (2006–2017)

Start with Where the Line Bleeds and read in order.

Start this series with Where the Line Bleeds

Buy Book 1 🇺🇸🎧 Listen free on Audible
#Title
1
Cover of Where the Line Bleeds
Where the Line Bleeds
2006Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2
Cover of Salvage the Bones
Salvage the Bones
2011Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
3
Cover of Sing, Unburied, Sing
Sing, Unburied, Sing
2017Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

Non-Fiction Series

Ongoing

4 books (2013–2026)

Start with Men We Reaped, the first of 4 books in the Non-Fiction series.

Start this series with Men We Reaped

Buy Book 1 🇺🇸🎧 Listen free on Audible
#Title
1
Men We Reaped
2013Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2
Cover of The Fire This Time
The Fire This Time
2016Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
3
Cover of Navigate Your Stars
Navigate Your Stars
2020Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
4
On Witness and Respair: Essays
2026Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

Point In Time Collection Series

Likely Complete

7 books (2022–2022)

Start with A Wild Rose(By: Fiona Davis), the first of 7 books in the Point In Time Collection series.

Start this series with A Wild Rose(By: Fiona Davis)

Buy Book 1 🇺🇸🎧 Listen free on Audible
#Title
1
A Wild Rose(By: Fiona Davis)
2022Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2
Alison's Conviction(By: Thomas Keneally)
2022Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
3
Ash Wednesday(By: Paula McLain)
2022Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
4
Landing(By: Olivia Hawker)
2022Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
5
Mother Swamp
2022Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
6
Naomi's Gift(By: Martha Hall Kelly)
2022Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
7
We Are Bone and Earth(By: Esi Edugyan)
2022Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

Short Stories/Novellas Series

Complete

1 book (2012–2012)

#Title
1

Standalone Novels Series

Complete

1 book (2023–2023)

#Title
1
Let Us Descend
2023Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

Frequently Asked Questions

How many books has Jesmyn Ward written?
Jesmyn Ward has written 18 books across 6 series. Their published works span from 2006 to 2026.
What is the first book in each Jesmyn Ward series?
Here are the first books in Jesmyn Ward's series: Anthologies: Coming Home to Mississippi; Bois Sauvage: Where the Line Bleeds; Non-Fiction: Men We Reaped; Point In Time Collection: A Wild Rose(By: Fiona Davis).
What order should I read Jesmyn Ward's books?
We recommend reading Jesmyn Ward's series in publication order. Each series can be read independently.
Is Jesmyn Ward still writing new books?
Yes, Jesmyn Ward has 1 ongoing series: Non-Fiction.

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