Reviews

Leaving Atlanta by Tayari Jones

alisonlaw's review

5.0

Divided into three parts, written from the perspective of three different children living in the shadow of the Atlanta Child Murders (1979-1981). Beautifully written from three different narrative points of view. Part 2 broke my heart.

krweave's review against another edition

3.0

Loved how it made me reminiscent of old Atlanta, and it was nice having actual knowledge of the locations to place myself in the characters' shoes. However, the story was slower than expected, and I struggled to remain engaged during the first two points of view (and the shift between first, second, and third person was weird). Still, I thoroughly enjoyed reading the third character's pov as it reminded me the most of home.

beckimoody29's review against another edition

4.0

I liked this book but I thought that it would have more about the murders themselves. I ended up googling in order to have any information at all. Now to be fair that was my expectations and the book jacket was clear that its "set against the backdrop". However, since this is a part of history that isn't well-known or remembered I think it might have added something. Or maybe not -- maybe MS Jones has no obligation to educate the rest of us and we can all Google if we want to know. again, I very much liked the kids and the portrayals but thought it could have just as easily fit into any current big city with a backdrop of gang violence and drive-by shootings.

valpacheco's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.25

I think this a really wonderful debut novel. The premise of the novel was really interesting to me, and a chance to learn about a moment in history that I wasn't previously aware of through three interesting viewpoints. I liked the experimental nature of each child we were with being written in a different style--I felt like the addressing of "you" was especially smart for Rodney, who was an outsider. I also really loved that last line of the book, which I felt summed up the feeling of all three children well. 

While I loved every section of the book, I felt myself yearning for more time with each character and wanting a slightly stronger connection and throughline. There were so many interesting conversations started about class, colorism, etc. that were just initally started. Yet all in all this was smartly written, beautiful prose, and left me wanting more. I would read more of Tayari Jones.

tnociti's review against another edition

dark emotional funny mysterious sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

cabbage_patch's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

hanadelaney's review against another edition

emotional sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

haf666ia's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

This is a devastating story, incredibly unsettling and so beautifully written. Tayari Jones has a way of writing that makes the movie play in my head. So much imagery and powerful metaphors that just really placed me inside the book. I had never heard of the Atlanta Child Murders before hearing about this book, surprising (but is it really?) given how obsessed people are with true crime and serial killers…The way Jones wrote the children in this story felt so believable, this really feels like how children talk and think. This is a coming of age story that so seamlessly captured the way the three children and their classmates and friends were affected by the murders of their friends and classmates. The way anxiety, paranoia, grief, confusion, anger, fear and injustice showed up for them. Wow. This was an amazing book, really looking forward to reading more by Jones.

kyrie's review against another edition

emotional medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

akdorman's review against another edition

challenging dark informative mysterious reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0