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We Carry Their Bones by Erin Kimmerle

We Carry Their Bones recounts the archeological search for the graves of young boys who died at the Dozier School for Boys in Florida. The author, Erin Kimmerle, led the search.

I started this book a few days ago while riding the train into work. And I immediately cried. I am so pissed. How could this happen to hundreds of young boys (and disproportionately young Black boys)? How did I not know about this until a few days ago?

I applaud the strength of survivors and family members of the deceased boys who fought for historic justice and to know what happened. And I applaud the hard work of the team who made the excavation possible.

I appreciated how the science was explained in understandable and accessible ways. And it’s also important that Kimmerle framed events that happened at the school with context and emphasized how systemic racism, Jim Crow laws, and child labor led to children as young as SIX being taken from their parents and imprisoned for “crimes” like smoking, truancy, and running away from home.

The Dozier School for Boys was the inspiration for The Nickel Boys, which I will now be reading soon.

This book has every content warning you can think of. But, if you’re able to, definitely read it.

Thank you @netgalley and @williammorrowbooks for the #gifted copy!