Its a story of Ward's life as well as the lives of five young Black men in her community who died too early including younger brother Joshua. One by One the young men died.  A car accident, suicide. a drug overdose and a murder it is a   painfully tragic  story but also one of community and familial strength. In the end "men we reaped" tells the story of Ward's own salvation thanks to her mother's grit and sacrifice, her love for the people around her and the power of literature to liberate the soul.