What I Leave Behind

By: Alison McGhee

Narrated by: Michael Crouch

“An artful exercise in melancholy…Every reader will love openhearted Will.” —Booklist (starred review)
“Haunting, introspective.” —Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
“Emotionally raw…[A] piercing narrative.” —Publishers Weekly (starred review)
“McGhee artfully illustrates the tangled web wherein grief intertwines with the mundane.” —BCCB

After his dad dies of suicide, Will tries to overcome his own misery by secretly helping the people around him in this exquisitely crafted story made up of one hundred chapters of one hundred words each, by award-winning and bestselling author Alison McGhee.

Sixteen-year-old Will spends most of his days the same way: Working at the Dollar Only store, trying to replicate his late father’s famous cornbread recipe, and walking the streets of Los Angeles. Will started walking after his father committed suicide, and three years later he hasn’t stopped. But there are some places Will can’t walk by: The blessings store with the chest of 100 Chinese blessings in the back, the bridge on Fourth Street where his father died, and his childhood friend Playa’s house.

When Will learns Playa was raped at a party—a party he was at, where he saw Playa, and where he believes he could have stopped the worst from happening if he hadn’t left early—it spurs Will to stop being complacent in his own sadness and do some good in the world. He begins to leave small gifts for everyone in his life, from Superman the homeless guy he passes on his way to work, to the Little Butterfly Dude he walks by on the way home, to Playa herself. And it is through those acts of kindness that Will is finally able to push past his own trauma and truly begin to live his life again. Oh, and discover the truth about that cornbread.

What I Bring Forward

Will brings love and concern for others out of his own grief. The author uniquely tells a poignant story in 100 short chapters…concise and beautifully to the point. Michael Crouch embodies his characters, and Will is no exception. You can hear the sadness and sweetness of Will in Michael’s voice. And…you care and root for him as he navigates his new world, and hope that his next batch of cornbread is a good one!

Very poignant.

What I Leave Behind was a really touching story, quite charming in its own little way. When it was over I actually felt like bursting into tears, and if I had been any where other than the gym at the time I probably would have!
Will is such a compelling character, made even more so by the always amazing Michael Crouch. He is so incredibly talented and never fails to deliver, always bringing such life to the characters.

I really enjoyed the way this book was written, the structure of it with each chapter being 100 words. I wasn't sure about it at first, since it made the story very concise, but it worked very well in this case and definitely added to the poignancy. This was a happy surprise of a book!