Tom Franklin’s 2010 novel, titled after a kids’s rhyme concerning the difficult-to-write letters “S” and “Z,” explores themes of childhood trauma, racial rigidity, and the complexities of male friendship in rural Mississippi. The narrative follows two protagonists one white, one Black whose lives intersect in sudden methods, many years after a shared, pivotal childhood expertise.
This work has garnered important vital popularity of its nuanced portrayal of Southern tradition, its exploration of lasting penalties from previous actions, and its masterful use of suspense. It has been lauded for its real looking dialogue, richly drawn characters, and unflinching depiction of the social and racial dynamics of a small city. The narrative successfully weaves collectively previous and current, revealing the deep-seated secrets and techniques and lingering results of unresolved conflicts.
