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Publisher:
Warner Books |
Release
Date: August, 2002 |
ISBN:
0446528307 |
Awards:
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Format
Reviewed: Hardcover |
Buy
it at Amazon |
Read
an Excerpt |
Genre:
Fiction / Murder Mystery / African-American |
Reviewer:
Sharon Hudson |
Reviewer
Notes: |
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Leaving
Atlanta
By Tayari
Jones
Growing
up in Atlanta during the times of the Missing and Murdered Children
epidemic was quite traumatic for youngsters of the time. The year
was 1979 and the age most affected were fifth graders in and around
the inner city. A sense of security was shattered during this time,
never to return again. This is era the author Tayari Jones explores
in this fictionalized accounting of these tragedies. Leaving
Atlanta is written in three parts, each in a different voice,
based on three characters: Tasha, Rodney and Octavia.
I
became so engrossed in the book, taking on the lives of the three
characters, that I found myself wondering what was going to happen
to them. I found that I couldn't wait to turn the page to make sure
each of them was safe. The situations they found themselves in certainly
leant themselves to being a victim, but as the horrific crimes progressed,
it brought about understanding even to a child's mind. The families,
as they take on the crimes, also changed considerably between the
first and the last incident. I believe this is where fact merged
with fiction and made this book almost seem non-fictional. The mention
of a prominent television anchorwoman further personalizes the story,
not to mention that this anchorwoman is still on local TV and still
has the same persona. I especially like the fact that the author
included herself in each section as another child in the classroom
and therefore, in the situation.
Ms.
Jones was a child living in Atlanta during this time, so she is
well-suited to write Leaving Atlanta. Her first novel, she
has done a masterful job of drawing out the perceptions of each
of the main characters and exploring their lives. As a long-time
resident of Atlanta, the children of this time have matured to adults
and talking with them, many have the same perceptions of the children
portrayed in the book. I think this book is the perfect blend of
how a fictionalized version of an actual series of events should
be written. I must warn readers, though, that the book doesn't have
a happy ending. As fact will bear witness to, 29 children met with
tragedy and many believe that the serial killer who was convicted
of two of the crimes was a copycat, and that the actual perpetrator
of these horrific crimes still is free today. Take this book as
bitter medicine to reality. Watch for more works from Ms. Jones;
she has a future in writing.
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