Was life so different in 1964, 1985, 2013? This life-changing, time-traveling book within a book that explores the struggle of being a Black 14 year old in Mississippi. Laymon highlights the themes that matter most (family, love, the written word) and the racism that permeates the South - it never really goes away as the years go on, it just takes on different forms in its various cycles. This book is beautiful, thought-provoking, and absolutely necessary.
— Christy
Kiese Laymon's novel Long Division debuted in 2013 and has been revised and re-released. This novel contains two interconnected stories about one Mississippi town during three different years (2013, 1985, 1964) that reveal the intricately connected story of four Mississippi teenagers. Laymon uses time travel as a plot device as much as he uses the discussion and breakdown of language and words. Long Division is an adventure story about racism and family that contains more than one mystery with plenty of fun stirred in for flavor. This book has attitude and swagger and I'm down for it.
— Rachel Watkins