Book Review: Leaving Atlanta
by Tayari Jones
Publication Date: Aug 01, 2003
List Price: $14.99
Format: Paperback, 272 pages
Classification: Fiction
ISBN13: 9780446690898
Imprint: Grand Central Publishing
Publisher: Hachette Book Group
Parent Company: Lagardère Group
Read a Description of Leaving Atlanta
Book Reviewed by Thumper
Tayari Jones enters the literary scene with Leaving Atlanta, a
novel that takes place in 1979 Atlanta, Georgia during what came to be known as
the Atlanta Child Murders. What a fiery debut! Tayari Jones’ first novel is as
bright, luminous and brilliant as the fire General Sherman left to Atlanta as a
going away present. It is magnificent!
Leaving Atlanta focuses on three children in the same fifth grade class at the
Oglethorpe Elementary School. The novel is divided into three sections, with the
first, "Magic Words", presenting the tale of LaTasha Baxter. LaTasha tries to
fit in with the popular group of girls. Her parents are having martial problems
and LaTasha is having her first crush on boy, Jashante — who later becomes
missing. The second section, "The Direction Opposite of Home", features Ronald
Green, a boy who is picked on and ridiculed in class. Ronald seeks his father’s
love and approval, but failing that he soon discovers the solution to all of his
problems. The third section is "Sweet Pea" with Octavia Fuller as the narrator.
Octavia is the other class misfit due to her poverty and her dark complexion.
She is beginning to see her family, her neighborhood, her mother and her absent
father through maturing eyes. Using the death knell of the missing children to
connect these three students, Jones creates a remarkable and haunting novel.
I loved Leaving Atlanta! But when I started the book, love was the farthest
thing from my mind. The novel began with LaTasha’s section, "Magic Words", and
immediately I was on edge. I wasn’t in the mood to suffer through another middle
class young black girl reminiscing about a time when her hormones were out of
whack — been there, done that, still paying for it on the Visa bill. However,
by the middle of "Magic Words", I was won over. LaTasha soon had my complete
attention as her world became increasingly complex and interesting. I then sat
back, relaxed and allowed Jones to do the driving through her story.
Jones’s talent and skill rise to an even greater height in Ronald’s section,
"The Opposite Direction of Home". The winds of the novel took on an unexpected
chill, escorting in rolling gray storm clouds, as Ronald’s emotional pain and
the child murders take turns eclipsing one another. Ronald’s story was
poignantly beautiful, shadowed in the sadness of the young boy’s heartbreak. The
novel could have ended with The Direction Opposite of Home and I would have been
as happy as a fat cat sleeping in the sunshine on a full stomach. But
fortunately, Jones wasn’t done — she was saving her best for last.
Jones hits a home run with the force of a train wreck with "Sweet Pea". This is
Octavia’s story, a bittersweet dream that is edged with tears. Octavia’s young,
captivating voice is trimmed with hard earned wisdom and questions of the future
and she rendered me speechless. Jones totally captivated me. As I evaluated the
novel as a whole, I must acknowledge Jones expert weaving in combining the
stories into a lyrical musical tome, sung in 3-part harmony.
All three sections had their sole voice; its own recognizable traits and styling
that were appropriate for each of its central characters. LaTasha and Ronald’s
sections were written in third person. For Octavia’s story, Jones used a first
person narration. Jones took a risk mixing the different narrative styles. It’s
not always easy for me to switch gears when authors attempt this method of
storytelling. The result is usually a big ball of confusion. But guided by
Jones’s hand, the cohesiveness and rhythm of the stories were flawless.
Leaving Atlanta is a highly impressive, striking fictional debut, laced with a
graceful elegance and an ear on the hearts of its characters! The novel is
unforgettable!