Walking into the stuffy, warm, and slightly crowded room that Hiram College provided for the author Bonnie Jo Campbell's book discussion for American Salvage; I was worried the setting would affect the feeling of the room. As the students of Aurora, college freshmen, and kids from other high schools piled in, we all awaited the big moment where the event would start. In stark contrast to the rooms’ setting, Bonnie Jo Campbell provided great insight into her books, and writing, and provided fantastic life advice to everyone attending that day. 

American Salvage is “arrestingly insightful” as perfectly described by Liesl Schillinger from the New York Times. Bonnie Jo Campbell captured the most raw descriptions of post-industrial America and the real issues often seen that are rarely portrayed in the media. Through her amazingly descriptive writing and her infectious personality, she was able to make the discussion of her dark topics shine in a new light. 

When speaking to Mrs. Lindley, teacher of the AP Literature class, I asked about what she wanted her students to take away from this experience. “A big part of literature is studying humanity, so I think the idea of seeing another human element versus what they’ve (Lit students) been shown throughout time is definitely beneficial to them. We talk a lot about how literature is the vehicle to understanding humanity, here were some stories that will hopefully help you understand certain aspects of our humanity greater than you came into it.”