Leaving Atlanta Audiobook By Tayari Jones cover art

Leaving Atlanta

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Leaving Atlanta

By: Tayari Jones
Narrated by: Myra Lucretia Taylor, Kevin R. Free, Robin Miles
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Award-winning novelist Tayari Jones delivers a story based on the 1979-1980 Atlanta child murders. Told from the perspective of three fifth-grade classmates, Leaving Atlanta is a vividly disturbing, but hopeful novel.

Tasha, Rodney, and Octavia each share the same wish: to be accepted. But reality soon crashes into their world, bringing with it fear and confusion. Children in their class are being kidnapped. Suddenly, popularity and recognition don't seem so important. Making it home safely through the menacing streets of Atlanta is an everyday challenge. Even their parents are unnerved by this violent outbreak. Who will protect these children now?

The convincing characters, voiced by a full cast of narrators, make this a haunting and effective work. Leaving Atlanta confronts complicated and sensitive subjects with just the right amount of sorrow and promise.

©2002 Tayari Jones (P)2003 Recorded Books, LLC African American Fiction Genre Fiction Urban Emotionally Gripping Heartfelt Tearjerking

Critic reviews

"This strongly grounded tale hums with the rhythms of schoolyard life and proves Jones to be a powerful storyteller." (Publishers Weekly)
"She conveys powerfully the loneliness of a child...gives us a picture of children unsure they would even see tomorrow." (Booklist)

Featured Article: Must-Hear Contemporary Black Women Authors


It’s a fact that a high percentage of the best books that have come out in this century have been written by Black women authors. (Truth be told, there are so many excellent works that this list could simply centered on the best contemporary authors and still be accurate.) Nevertheless, Black women’s stories deserve to be heard, and when the stories are this compelling, this engaging, and this beautifully written, they’re impossible to ignore.

Featured Article Must Hear Contemporary Black Women Authors
Moving Storytelling • Authentic Characters • Multiple Perspectives • Historical Significance • Poetic Prose
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Overall good book, writing, characters, but the story is pretty sad. It is reality though and based on a true story with characters that are fictional.

Excellent listen, but a bit sad story line

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I usually don't write many reviews , but I really want to express how much I enjoyed this and "Silver Sparrow". I grew up in Atlanta and this book rings so true …. I felt like she snuck into my childhood and captured it perfectly. She writes with a warm ease and I can see and feel each character . Well Done Ms. Jones , Well Done !!!

This Women has a Gift !

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Loved the different perspectives! Nice nostalgic references. Great narration. Very soothing. Easy listening but not boring.

Great story!

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My favorite Tayari Jones book so far. The characters, the scenes, the relationships—all so real. My heart breaks for those children.

Couldn’t stop listening

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Loved the story, subject matter heavy, boy it important that it is told! Thank you

Worth it

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I loved this book, and especially loved it on audio. The book is told in three parts with each part having a different narrator. I loved the way that this was done. The first part was told by Tasha, the second by Rodney, and the third by Octavia. I loved Tasha’s section the best and Rodney’s the least, but even he grew on me until I couldn’t help but really feel for him and care about him and his story. The three lives are intertwined in more ways than they realize at first, and this becomes more clear as the story progresses.

Through the work we learn more about the awful spate of child murders that plagued the black Atlanta community from 1979-1981. Through the murders of the black children Jones is able to explore the racism and injustice that was faced still in the southern states in the 1970′s. Very glad I listened to this one.

Fantastic book and audio production.

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I have listen to two Tayari Jones’ novels now and I cannot wait to download the next! Excellent!

A Gold Star Story Writer

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We all remember.
Tayari Jones gives us more reasons never to forget. Beautifully written! Very moving.
Excellent narration!

Brilliant and Heartbreaking

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Ok first all the narrators we’re amazing but Octavia’s was my favorite. The story was so intriguing through the eyes of the kids! I truly recommend this book!

Wow

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Where does Leaving Atlanta rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Wow. Tayari Jones is perhaps one of the best modern writers. She brilliantly captures the way a child views the world around her. I was blown away.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Leaving Atlanta?

Octavia's part--

What does various bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Audio is my preferred method of

Might be my new favorite author

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