This was a really, really quick read for me. I sat down with it one afternoon and knocked it out. To be honest, I didn't know about the 100 word chapters, and in retrospect, I have mad respect for McGhee pulling it off. It's super easy to get lost in the words and describe everything, but this book was all about being concise. I appreciate how she did it and I applaud her for it.

That being said, I do wish it was a little longer! I feel that I couldn't get a huge feel for Will throughout the book. I wanted to get to know him more beyond what was given. I also wanted to know the other characters more.

One thing I liked about the book was the constant action. Because the chapters were only 100 words long every word counted. There wasn't much time spent on descriptions of things or people, it was almost always action. I liked the pacing of the book as a whole, and I liked how Will took you backward in time to explain some things.

I wish I had gotten to know Playa more! She seemed like a really fun character, and a lot of what Will does is because of something that happened to her. I understand that this is Will's story in the end, but maybe there can be a book about her in the future?!?!?!

All in all, this was a good book, but it didn't wow me. I wanted more from it, and while I appreciate how hard it must have been to write it, this didn't quite get there for me. I encourage you to read it yourself though! It may be the book for you!!

Happy reading,

Sophie :)

This was such a fast read, and a very compelling one. I'v recommended this to quite a few people already.

I did really enjoy this little novelette. It has a unique structure-- 100 chapters at only 100 words per chapter. Sometimes the wording choice was odd, as I am sure the author was trying to make sure she kept with the '100 word' format, which limited her word choice at times.

The characters were done very well--I loved them and I honestly wish the author would have written this as a full length novel and fleshed out the events, characters, and themes at a deeper level. Will was a neat little guy who had unique personality. And there were so many 'neighborhood folk' who had a presence in the novel and also had really enjoyable personalities. I think her ideas really deserved a larger platform, even though the structure/length is very unique, because the ending-message was powerful.



Trigger Warning(s): Discussion of Suicide, Loss of Parent, Mentioning of Rape



Thank you to Alison McGhee & Antheneum for providing me with a DRC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

I was given a review copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

"Let your feet find the way. You'll know it when they do. Then let the day drain out of you."

16-year-old Will copes with his father's suicide the only way he can: by walking out the days and spending his nights trying to recreate his father's famous cornbread. It almost feels like enough, until his best friend, Playa, is raped at a party, and Will decides to stop being complacent with his sadness. He starts by leaving anonymous gifts for those in his life, like Playa, and the Little Butterfly Dude, his boss Major Tom, or even the dog of insanity, kept tied up on a chain all day barking. When Will stops walking past everyone in his life and starts finding ways to bring them happiness, he discovers a way to reconcile his own trauma and finally move on.

What an incredible read! As the Goodreads description says, this book is comprised of one hundred chapters, each only one hundred words long. It makes for a short read, but the book still manages an intense emotional experience that lingers long after the last page. Perfect for reluctant readers, What I Leave Behind gives us a tiny peep-hole (the one-hundred word format) with which to view Will's world. It ensures each word is significant and makes the details of Will's life seem more poignant, since we're only offered a handful of them. This book deals with a lot of trauma, from Will's father's suicide to his best friend being raped at a party he was at, and looks boldly into those feelings, yet doesn't exaggerate or dramatize them. Will doesn't have a big breakdown or blow-up scene-- not to say those emotions aren't real, but they are rarer than media would let us believe. Instead, the book looks at the quieter sides of grief and sadness, through observations and showing the effect the emotions have on day-to-day life. In that way, the book creeps under the radar and quietly leaves a bundle of complex emotional truths at your feet, without the fanfare of a huge climax or staggering stakes.

From start to finish, the book is incredibly heartfelt. Will is a quiet, sensitive boy who feels powerless against the trauma in his life. His father's suicide was completely out of control-- even if he feels responsible for how their last interaction went-- and Playa's rape is something he can't control as well-- he can't be a vigilante and go after the rapists, and he doesn't know how to be the unconditionally supportive best friend. It leaves him in a pretty powerless situation, which I found to be incredibly true to life, especially for a lot of teenagers. Trauma, in whatever form it takes, is a beast that can't be solved quickly or cleanly, even in situations where you do have power to change things. So when we can't change anything, we have to figure out what to do to address the emotions left behind. Will does this by doing anonymous good deeds for those in his life, which gives him mastery over his situation as well as connects him to those most important to him.

As for writing, the book is simple, straightforward, and well-constructed. The writing was all very purposeful-- has to be, because of the format-- and uses a lot of showing to bring the reader to the emotional points. Instead of showing strong emotions-- having a scene be dominated by the character's emotion-- the author carefully draws up an image that focuses on the reader's emotions about that scene. The author does this by carefully avoiding telling us the characters' feelings, and then by having the narrator be vague about how these scenes make him feel, purposely adding in phrases like, "You know?" to make the reader feel that, no matter their interpretation, the narrator feels the same. It's truly the greatest example of how showing can allow your reader to connect more with your book. As mentioned before, the book doesn't have much for a climax, or stakes, or a lot of tension. What we get instead are these powerful emotional highs and lows that connect with the reader and keeps them reading. If you're easily put off by a lack of tension, stakes, or plot devices, you may not connect with this book as easily.

All in all, this book is perfect for reluctant readers, or younger readers coping with trauma. I also strongly recommend everyone picking up this book, because it is such a beautiful look at trauma, what to do when you feel powerless in the world, and how to do more than just move forward.

TL;DR: 5/5 stars. A teen boy learning to move on from his trauma through random acts of kindness.

Actually rating: 2.75
This book deals with important issues, especially for younger readers. While I appreciate the story and even the writing, it didn't feel like the story went deep enough. Unfortunately, for me, it has not left a lasting impression and I may not remember it. I wish it had been more because I enjoyed the view point.

I wasn't sure what to make of it at first. I mean, honestly, it had its own rhythm...neither story nor poem, and yet with SO MUCH to share. Once I was on the same page with Will, his story became a sum of many parts and things started to get heart-stoppingly real.

I think everyone will read a little something different into the story. The way it's told, how their lives are revealed, seems to lend a certain angular perspective to everything, allowing readers to catch whichever side reveals itself most clearly. To me, it was an ode to life and the misfortunes and smiles it brings. It was a glimpse at the small things we do, the interactions we have, that may seem meaningless in the moment, but have the power to transform another heart. It was about how the simple act of walking, of losing yourself in the right, left, right pattern we pound out on the pavement every day, can bring us peace, a time to reflect on what's happening in our lives and the lives of those we love, and answers...but it can also help us strip away all the funk that tries to drag us down.

For me, it felt like a reminder that everyone goes through things in life...some much harder/harsher than others...but we're never truly alone in the struggle nor the recovery. The simple way it was illustrated allowed the unique format to deliver a story that was deceptively deep, and anything but forgettable. Recommended for teen readers and beyond both to further the enjoyment of the story structure as well as the subject matters broached.

((Apologies -- I initially clicked on this book and posted the review for a different title. I am fixing the error now.))

What I Leave Behind is a sweet, heart-wrenching book about a young man named Will who has lost his father to suicide. Going through daily life working at the Dollar Only store, he copes with his pain by being compassionate to those around him, including his kooky boss Major Tom, Superman (the homeless man on the street corner), Playa (his best friend), and the little boy down the street who loves butterflies.

The book is formatted uniquely in that there are 100 chapters, each with 100 words. As a result, I found it to be an extremely quick and simple read....almost too much so. The book felt a bit choppy to me because it was constricted to the 100 word limits. But still, Will is one of the greatest guys on the planet. If everyone treated the people around them with this much thought and care, the world would be a better place. Honestly however, the book was repetitious and, as I said, choppy, but the overall concept was worthwhile.

I desperately wanted to love this book, and thought that I would, but I ended up feeling pretty lukewarm about it overall. Don’t get me wrong, what is contained in these pages is absolutely beautiful—there are so many touching moments between the very endearing characters. Every page made me fall more and more in love with every single aspect of the narrative—but then it just stopped. I was simply left wanting so much more out of it, and an expansion of the captivating plot and characters.

In this novel, we follow a sixteen-year-old boy named Will, who is attempting to deal with and process his emotions that resulted from his father’s suicide. His days have become repetitive, going from working at the Dollar Only store, walking all over the streets of his neighborhood in Los Angeles, and desperately trying—to no avail—to replicate his father’s famous cornbread recipe.

However, there are certain ties to his father that he cannot seem to face, particularly the blessings store that contains the chest of one-hundred Chinese blessings, his old best friend Playa’s house, and the Fourth Street bridge. After learning the Playa was raped at a party he had attended but left early, he shakes himself out of the sadness that has been controlling his every move.

Wanting to spread some happiness and make a positive impact in the world, he starts to leave small presents for many of the important people in his life: The Little Butterfly Dude, a child he passes on his way home every day; Superman, the homeless man who lives on a street he travels on as he walks to work; and Playa. Through these anonymous acts of kindness and selflessness, he finds that he is able to cope with his own suffering, and continue on with his life in a way that would make his father incredibly proud.

The format that this story is written in is wonderfully unique and adds to the poignancy of the narrative itself. Told in small sections and few words—one-hundred pages, each containing one-hundred words—the style felt so meaningful. On top of this, the writing is lovely and flows incredibly well. McGhee shows a huge amount of talent for creating a well-written and vividly emotional narrative. It is clear that every part of it is meticulously crafted.

Honestly, my main complaint—really my only complaint—is that this story is far too short, and deserved so much more time. The length and format is inventive; however it is nowhere near enough to take this story to the levels it should have gone. Everything about this novel is deeply touching and just plain gorgeous. I adored every second I spent in this world and with these characters.

I not only craved more, I also unfortunately felt like there really should have been more. The brevity of the narrative adds to the depth, but it ended up being a bit too brief, finishing quite abruptly. Though I clearly enjoyed it, I was left feeling unsatisfied. I wanted so badly to spend more time with these characters—to get to know them better. I wish McGhee would have kept that short vignette format, but extended the length of the novel itself, and delved further into the relationships, intense emotions, and Will’s recovery process.

I cannot fully express how beautiful and optimistic this novel is—the world needs more of this positivity and urging to spread kindness. Though it needed more to it, it was such a sweet story, and I do highly recommend giving it a read.

Will spends most of his days at his job at Dollar Only with Major Tom, stocking the isles with all sorts of new goodies. At night, he desperately tries to replicate his dad's cornbread recipe, working through his grief after his father's suicide. When he finds out that Playa was raped at a party where he was at, he begins looking for ways for to help her through her trauma as well. Through small acts of kindness to those around him, Will begins to learn how to cope with his own grief.

Told in series of one hundred words, Will's story is presented in a unique way that keeps you reading throughout the entire book. At first, the format of the book threw me off, but by the end, I was impressed that the author was able to stick to these short bursts of story--and how well they worked together. The writing itself almost feels like a graphic novel, without the images supporting the text. However, it didn't feel like the book was missing anything--in fact, the format felt refreshing to me.

The only critique I have of the text is that I could have used a bit more context at the beginning. Though the format makes it difficult to portray any background information, adding a section or two would help the reader to be better oriented right at the beginning of Will's story.

Despite the disorientation, I enjoyed Will's story, especially his desire to reach out to those that seem lost like him. Will's story shows the affects of little acts of kindness--and how much they mean to those that are hurting.

In this story, we follow a sixteen year old boy named Will. Will lost his father to suicide and he’s still grieving. On top of that, Will learns his friend, Playa, was raped at a party. Will spends his days working at the Dollar Only. He works with a socially awkward manager he calls Major Tom. Since his father’s passing, Will walks every day. Else walks the same route every day avoiding 3 places that are hard to confront. On top of walking every day, Will decides to tackle his grief by doing good things people in his life. The story is told with 100 words per chapter. There are 100 chapters total, which at first, had me thinking “Oh boy.”, but each chapter is only about a page and a half long. Overall I did enjoy this story. I liked the idea of 100 words each chapter per 100 chapters. It was interesting to read with a complete new format like that. At times I felt like I wasn’t fully connected to the characters. I almost felt like I didn’t fill Will’s shoes so to speak, but rather stood on the outside looking in. I would definitely enjoy reading more books like this in the future. I think the author has a good thing going and it will only get better with each new story.

What I Leave Behind by Alison McGhee was an easy book to convince me to read. It’s pitched as emotional and part love letter to Bowie. So, you know, I am completely HERE FOR THIS BOOK. Friends, I read this in a single sitting. It was so compelling and just packs so much in a sparse book. I love that What I Leave Behind shows a book doesn’t need to be too wordy to have impact. Also, there’s a music motif and I love that.

Alison McGhee’s What I Leave Behind is about a sixteen year old boy named Will. He works at the Dollar Only store and lives with his mother. Will’s father committed suicide when he was thirteen years old. Will is still dealing with this. That’s natural, the impacts of trauma are far reaching. Meanwhile, one of Will’s childhood friends, Playa, was raped at a party. So, he’s also struggling with trying to be a good friend. Eventually, Will attempts to perform small, secret acts of kindness.

Will is such a good kid with a crappy lot in life. I mean, it isn’t his fault that his dad ended his life. However, Will feels a sense of blame for what happened. So much so, that it has become a big deal for him to try and recreate his father’s cornbread recipe. Will can’t quite succeed in this, however. The other thing to note about Will is that he is a walker. He does not drive anywhere. Yet, he walks all over. This is how he deals with his emotions. As I read this book, I really ended up empathizing with Will.

So, the writing style of What I Leave Behind has the potential to be kind of a gimmick. There are 100 pages of the book with 100 words on them. Thankfully, it is a style that really works for this book. I felt like not a single word was superfluous. You get such a strong sense of Will as a person too. But we also get a good sense of his dad and the side characters, Major Tom and Playa. I think that this a great book if you’ve got some kind of reluctant reader in your life, if you’re a busy person but still want to feel good about reading a book quickly. I overall loved this book.