New Orleans, LA — March 29 - April 1, 2026

Sigma Tau Delta 2026 Convention

Rebirth and Rebuilding: Jesmyn Ward’s Salvage The Bones and its Impact on Community

The National Book Award-winning novel from the author of Let Us Descend and Men We Reaped—a gritty but tender story of family and poverty in the days leading up to Hurricane Katrina.

Jesmyn Ward’s Salvage the Bones discusses both storms (metaphorical and literal) and survival but, at its core, it is, essentially, a story about new beginnings. As Sigma Tau Delta’s 2026 Common Reader, the book challenges us to confront the aftermath of destruction—not only through the physical devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina along the Gulf Coast that Ward describes, but also through the emotional and personal challenges faced by the novel’s main character, Esch.

Set in rural Mississippi, Salvage the Bones follows Esch, a pregnant teenager, as her dysfunctional family struggles to prepare for the biggest storm to hit the Gulf Coast since Hurricane Betsy in 1965. Surrounded by her many brothers, their many dogs, and grinding poverty, Esch retreats into Greek mythology to help her make sense of the world she inhabits. Ward’s prose, described by the New York Times as “taut . . . [and] wily,” provides us with a depiction of resilience in the face of unimaginable hardship, and asks us to reflect on the ways we have bounced back after we got knocked down.

A key facet of being a Sigma Tau Delta member is understanding the important role literature can play in helping us (individuals, our local communities, and society at large) navigate adversity and imagine new, positive, futures. The Common Reader brings chapters together around a shared, common, text, encouraging them to participate not only in thoughtful discussions but also by engaging with the wider community. In Salvage the Bones, Ward challenges us to reflect upon what we understand about caring for others, how we grow after setbacks, and how literature can be a source of hope: In the same way that Ward describes Esch questioning her place in the world, Sigma Tau Delta asks its student members and Chapter Advisors to explore complex problems through their own reading, writing, and deeds.

The themes of rebirth, resilience, and voice resound within Salvage the Bones and among many of the communities that Sigma Tau Delta chapters serve. The novel provides a helpful starting point for discussion, reflection, and (possibly most importantly) action that supports the people around us. It reminds us that even among emotional and physical ruins, there is always room to grow: every storm can provide a potential new beginning.

Learn more about the Regents’ Common Reader Award, Service Award, Chapter Service Project Grant, and the Isabel Spark’s President’s Award for writing on the 2026 Common Reader.

Chris Lockwood
NEHS & ELA Director

 

 

 

Regents’ Common Reader Awards

The Regents’ Common Reader Awards provide an opportunity for individual chapters to organize and host a local event or activity based on the common reader. Chapter members do not need to attend the convention to apply. Contact your Regent and you may receive $100 for your event or activity.

Refer to region listings for your Regent’s contact information.

Application Guidelines

Organize and host a local event or activity based on this text and apply for award money after your event. Submit to your Regent via email the Regents Fund Request form as well as the following materials in a single PDF:

  • A cover letter, signed by the Chapter Advisor (or sent from the Advisor’s email address), confirming that the activity or event took place
  • A narrative, not to exceed 500 words, describing the activity or event
  • A list of all participating persons or groups
  • Pertinent supplemental materials (event program, flyers, website, social media posts, campus news story, etc.)

The Regents’ Common Reader Award is open to all chapters of Sigma Tau Delta. It is completely separate from the international convention submissions. The Regents hope that this award will be a way for chapters in each region to share a convention-related experience even if they are not able to travel to the convention. We hope it will encourage relative, text-based activities and events. And, lastly, we hope it will give space to reflect on the power of language both in our own lives and in the lives of others.

Important Dates

Submissions Open: September 22, 2025
Submissions Close: October 27, 2025
Decision Date: November 18, 2025
Early Registration Opens: November 18, 2025