49 pages • 1 hour read
Kiese LaymonLong Division
Fiction | Novel | YA | Published in 2021A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Before You Read
Super Short Summary
In Kiese Laymon's Long Division, 14-year-old Citoyen "City" Coldson is sent to Melahatchie, Mississippi, after a controversial speech during a national televised word contest. There, he discovers a peculiar book also called Long Division, whose characters share names with people in his life. With his rival LaVander Peeler, City ventures into a time-traveling hole in the woods to solve family mysteries and find missing girl Baize Shephard while grappling with themes of race, media influence, and intergenerational trauma. The story is set across 1964, 1985, and 2013 in Jackson and Melahatchie, Mississippi. The book addresses racism, anti-gay bias, antisemitism, the loss of a child, and domestic abuse.
Reviews & Readership
Review Roundup
Long Division by Kiese Laymon is praised for its inventive narrative and unique structure, blending elements of time travel and social commentary. Reviews commend Laymon's exploration of race and identity, though some find the complex plot challenging. Overall, it is celebrated for its bold storytelling and thought-provoking themes, despite occasional confusion.
Who Should Read Long Division?
Readers who would enjoy Kiese Laymon’s Long Division are likely fans of works that explore complex racial issues, coming-of-age narratives, and time travel. They might also appreciate books like Colson Whitehead's The Underground Railroad and Jesmyn Ward's Sing, Unburied, Sing for their blend of historical context and rich storytelling.