Reviews tagging 'Child abuse'

Nightcrawling: A Novel by Leila Mottley

120 reviews

travelseatsreads's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

Nightcrawling takes us into the life of 17 year old Kiara (Ki) whose world is crumbling down around her. Her father has died, her mother is in a halfway house, she's jobless, she lives in a high rent hovel, her brother has zero notions of pitching in and she's caring for her addict neighbour's little boy, Trevor. Despite all her attempts at keeping her head above water she becomes involved in a world of sordid abuse and manipulation by a group of police officers who coercively control her as an underage 'nightcrawler'.

The novel is absolutely devastatingly gripping from the very first page. Immediately, it's obvious Kiara is in an awful situation and the urge is to wrap up her up and take her from this devastation. Mottley writes so well that there's an immediate emotional connection and investment with Kiara and you can't help but want to run in and rescue her.

Leila doesn't shy away from the nasty, gritty and graphic reality of this case. And honestly that's one of the most frightening parts, that this story is based on true events which occured in the Oakland area. Leila allows us to see into a world overflowing with poverty, abuse, police brutality and incredible injustice. Not only does she allows us to catch a glimpse of this world, she is so authentic and faithful in her writing that it is hard not to feel the fear and desperation seep from the pages. 

It's hard to imagine that such a well written, gripping and important book is a debut novel but even harder to imagine that Leila began writing Nightcrawling just before her 17th birthday. I was completely consumed by every page and am very excited to see what's to come next from the wonder that is Leila Mottley.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Transphobia, Violence, Police brutality, Trafficking, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Abandonment, and Alcohol

nialiversuch's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Child death, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Police brutality, Trafficking, Grief, Death of parent, Abandonment, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, and Classism

Moderate: Racism, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Excrement, Vomit, and Injury/Injury detail

mrscorytee's review against another edition

challenging dark sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Rape, and Police brutality

lilacsandliterature's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Child death, Drug abuse, Racism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Trafficking, and Death of parent

Moderate: Suicide, Trafficking, Suicide attempt, and Classism

emziesreads's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Death, Drug abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, Suicide attempt, and Death of parent

apieceofjaaay's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

Extremely poetic. Traumatic story. 

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Content Warnings

Minor: Child abuse, Child death, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicide attempt, and Sexual harassment

laurxndxx's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

Thank you to NetGalley, Leila Mottley and the publisher for giving me the opportunity to read this book, in exchange for an honest review!

I was absolutely engrossed in this book from the very beginning. It is heartbreakingly beautiful, and the fact that it's Leila Mottley's debut novel at only 17 makes it even more amazing! I'm excited to see what else she releases in the future!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Child abuse, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicide, Police brutality, Trafficking, Grief, Death of parent, and Abandonment

stephblair's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Misogyny, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Police brutality, Trafficking, and Gaslighting

Moderate: Addiction, Child abuse, and Drug abuse

ayearinbookswithzoe's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Child death, Drug use, Rape, Sexual violence, and Violence

rosienotjen's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful sad slow-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Police brutality, and Trafficking

Moderate: Addiction, Child abuse, Child death, Cursing, Drug abuse, Physical abuse, Self harm, Violence, Blood, Grief, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, and Abandonment

Minor: Transphobia