Briony Tallis, only thirteen years old, misunderstands a series of events between her older sister Cecilia and Robbie Turner, the son of the Tallis household's caretaker. Combined with Briony's extensive imagination and skill of filling in unknown elements, these factors bring about a crime that will haunt Cecilia, Robbie, and Briony for the rest of their lives.
Atonement is a captivating read. The novel shifts between time periods in a chronological manner, allowing for easy understanding of complex situations. The story is well-paced and maintains a consistent theme. The characters are strong and each undergoes profound development over the course of the novel. The most compelling aspect of the novel is the atmosphere is creates while one is reading. I especially appreciated that the style is straightforward without being plain and draws the reader in, allowing for the reader to feel for the characters.