praise and reviews

Set in Atlanta-territory the author has artistically mastered-this novel explores with everyday precision of speech and common sense the dire consequences of 'telling' lies of love and success in an age of cynicism and radical social injustice. A fine second novel."
- Houston Baker, author of Turning South Again: Re-Thinking Modernism/Re-Reading Booker T.

Here is Tayari Jones, that rare writer as good as her promise.The telling of her story is a bittersweet journey that shows clearly Jones's quiet, solid understanding of flesh and family, of what will pass and what will not pass, what promises joy and what finally will not stand."
- Ron Carlson, author of At the Jim Bridger and A Kind of Flying

In THE UNTELLING, Tayari Jones gives us two of the great satisfactions of fiction: generous, complicated, vivid characters and an enthralling plot. The result is an immensely satisfying novel."
- Margot Livesey, author of Eva Moves the Furniture

One of the finest writers of her generation.Her characters are perfectly drawn and richly detailed, her dialogue rings so true, and her beautiful evocations of time and place remind us of what real craft is all about. To read Jones is not only to encounter an intoxicating brew of images and ideas, but to be reminded of the pure pleasure of great writing."
- Pearl Cleage, author of Babylon Sisters

THE UNTELLING is a story you won't know you know till you read it. It is the story of deep hurt and slow realization, injury and recovery, and the way people genuinely change their lives. I love it."
- Dorothy Allison, author of Bastard Out of Carolina

Deep felt...convincing and genuine... Jones handles her material with sensitivity and sympathy."
- Publishers Weekly

Impressive.."
- Black Issues Book Review

Bittersweet....these characters.pull us into the story, keeping us wanting more."
- Library Journal

A novelist to watch... Tayari Jones gains readers the old-fashioned way: with meaningful, well-crafted novels about multi-faceted characters."
- Essence

Darkly comic and vividly heartbreaking... an amazing novel."
- The Believer

Jones is a talent to be reckoned with."
- The Boston Globe

A delicate portrait of a young woman's emotional fragility as she attempts to get over the greatest trauma of her life."
- Booklist

Jones has made Aria a careful witness to her own life and the lives around her; her observations sometimes wry, sometimes poignent, always honest, inflate the novel with hope.... The Untelling has worked a most welcome charm."
- Washington Post Book World

With "The Untelling," Jones .. reveals herself as one of the most important writers of her generation."
- Atlanta Journal-Constitution

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Writing with true authority of voice, depth, and complexity of feeling, Jones gives us the entire community, but lets the children tell the tale. Rarely has the child's point of view been used so effectively. A wrenching, memorable first novel by a gifted new writer."
- Lee Smith, author of Family Linen

Exceptionally talented, Ms. Jones is an insightful new writer, weaving imaginative magic to challenge and uplift the human spirit. Beautiful and spare...a hauntingly evocative debut!"
- Jewell Parker Rhodes, author of Douglass's Women

A vivid and poignant journey into the lives of children caught between the concrete and magnolias of Atlanta's troubled times. Insightful, honest, and heart-wrenching, Jones exquisitely guides us through the haunted memory of the children."
- Deborah Smith, author of The Stone Flower Garden

A wonderful novel. I look forward to reading Jones's work for years to come."
- Leslie Marmon Silko, author of Almanac of the Dead

A remarkable talent, Jones has the kind of natural voice in her first novel that most authors spend their lives trying to find."
- Sarah Gilbert, author of Hairdo and Summer Gloves

Chilling…promising…plenty of passion…. Jones has an eloquent voice."
- People

Ambitious…heartbreaking in its emotional weight…gives us a picture of children unsure they would even see tomorrow."
- Washington Post Book World

[A] wrenching debut novel….Jones weaves her tale with consummate ease. The details of the children's everyday life are convincingly presented. This strongly grounded tale hums with the rhythms of schoolyard life."
- Publishers Weekly

A wonderful debut novel….Jones has a gift for the dialogue of her youthful characters….A pleasure to read a unique perspective on those terrible times that still haunt all of us who could not find a way to protect our children from a danger we will never understand."
- Pearl Cleage, author of I Wish I Had a Red Dress

Luminous….This skillful debut offers a haunting look at children's attempts to make sense of a world that frightens even the adults around them."
- Jim Grimsley, author of Dream Boy and Winter Birds

Engagingly conveys the paranoia and fear that dominated the African-American community in Atlanta….Jones is particularly good at portraying the day-to-day lives of these children…[and] is still able to capture what it feels like to be ten."
- Library Journal

Jones writes with heartbreaking beauty….This brave, chilling, and terribly wise novel is the book I have been waiting for."
- Marita Golden, author of The Edge of Heaven

Sensitive and powerful…a work of great promise….Jones controls the story impressively….[She] cleverly integrates three distinct stories into one seamless world…[and] gently describes, through these children, their frustration and despair, with a measure of humor and love."
- Black Issues

Jones is as skillful at evoking the fear and anxiety of that horrendous summer as she is at recalling coming-of-age concerns."
- Booklist

Simply brilliant…powerful…quietly devastating…a gentle, beautiful book on a horrific subject….[Jones] presents the voices of these children with rare precision."
- BookPage

A glorious, gripping first novel. Jones dazzles with her powers of perception and technical daring. LEAVING ATLANTA is a precious gift; it will last."
- Demetria Martinez, author of Mother Tongue

Excellent."
- QBR: The Black Book Review

Vivid…a page-turner….This author has the magic of hypnotizing the reader with her words…[and] excels in the art of telling a story through the eyes of a child."
- Clarion-Ledger

Chilling…details the day-to-day nature of life in a vibrant African-American community and is rich with childish thoughts and memories."
- Caribbean Life

Insightful, honest, and heart-wrenching, Jones exquisitely guides us through the haunted memory of the children. A vivid and poignant journey into the lives of children caught between the concrete and magnolias of Atlanta's troubled times."
- Deborah Smith, author of The Stone Flower Garden

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