Books like Leaving Atlanta

For me, this is the first story that I can ever remember reading that shared my voice as a child growing up in a major Southern city. It took place at a time when, first of all, it's tough growing up and being eleven years old and then to deal with a real-live nationally-known bogeyman lurking around the city (the Atlanta Child Murders case). My own memories of that time are vivid; when they found another child, we were in fear several hundred miles away. Leaving Atlanta gave life to the black children of the 1970s that was far beyond the televised segments of What's Happening and Good Times. The vernacular, the lifestyle joys of playing in a neighborhood - outside (gasp... these days), skating rinks - all rang so familiar to me that I simply loved it as I was placed back in that time. Tayari shares it so beautifully anyone would be sent back. This story is not about race, it's about children, period. Trying to figure out their place in this world, trying to make sure they don't do anything to jeopardize their parent's love (they wouldn't but, of course they don't know otherwise), trying to be liked by their peers and just trying to like themselves. A Judy Blume book is a fixture in the hands of many youngsters today just as they were then, Tayari shared that point and I loved that, too. Authentic element. She also added one interesting classmate that won my heart - a fine technique. I'm not one to provide spoilers; I highly recommend this story of a such a vastly different time, free from the influx of technology, giving kids the chance to be kids.