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caseythereader's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
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? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, Death, Domestic abuse, Child death, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Murder, Physical abuse, Suicide attempt, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Cursing, Excrement, Grief, Addiction, Injury/Injury detail, Racism, Self harm, Sexual violence, Suicide, Vomit, Police brutality, Rape, Trafficking, Violence, Alcohol, Blood, and Child abuse
serendipitysbooks's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
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
My latest read from the Booker Prize longlist is a stunning debut by the youngest ever author to be longlisted. It’s set in Oakland, is inspired by true events. . In a desperate attempt to make ends meet and pay rapidly rising rent, Kiara who is just 17, begins nightcrawling (prostitution) and is subsequently abused, exploited and trafficked by members of the city police.
Kiara is failed on so many fronts - by her family, especially her mother, brother and uncle, by social service agencies and government policies, by the police force, and by the justice system. Her life is far from easy yet she never gives in to bitterness or despair. I admired her love and determination, especially when it came to taking care of Trevor, a young boy abandoned by his drug addicted mother. This was definitely a heavy book with obvious trigger warnings for sexual violence. Yet Kiara managed to find space for moments of love, light and joy in her life - making pancakes with Trevor or jumping into the apartment’s decrepit pool, spray painting murals with her brother, or simply spending time with Alé. By including these moments the author has avoided producing a story that is unrelentingly grim.
The writing was lyrical and lush. Some would say it is overwritten but I would not. Then again prose written by poets often appeals to me. Kiara is a character you can really root for, someone who is trying her best despite circumstances that constantly seem against her. It’s impossible to read without raging against all the forces holding her back from reaching her potential, or from even thinking about what it is she would like to do if she wasn’t so busy simply trying to survive. Yet it is also impossible to read this book and view her solely as a victim. Mottley has succeeded in creating a fully rounded character, one who is more than her circumstances. She has also succeed in writing a very readable novel that casts a spotlight on some key social issues. The harm police do to Black men is well-known and well-publicised. This book unflinchingly shows some of the harm they do to Black and brown women.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual violence and Police brutality
Moderate: Addiction and Child death
myinfinitetbr's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
5.0
Wow. What an absolute gut punch of a book. But while it’s emotionally devastating, it's also got moments of quiet hope and beauty that shines through. To say it's incredibly written is a supreme understatement.
Nightcrawling is a confronting and powerful story of classism and racism; the cycles of systemic oppression; the brutality and exploitation that exists in police forces and the justice system.
Told through Kiara’s day to day life and her determination to keep her family together, to survive in a system set up for failure, her viewpoint was all at once with childlike innocence and way beyond her years.
Heartachingly intense. I started this one on my kindle and had to take a break, knowing I would come back to it soon. It stuck with me for two months until I finally finished it on audio. And still, I struggle to find words to do it justice.
Mottley was 17 when she began writing this book, and 19 when it was published. It's her debut novel and it's been longlisted for the Booker Prize. I will be reading everything she puts out into the world.
Phenomenal. Just read it.
Thanks to Knopf and NetGalley for the e-arc and PRH Audio for the gifted audiobook. All opinions are my own
Nightcrawling is a confronting and powerful story of classism and racism; the cycles of systemic oppression; the brutality and exploitation that exists in police forces and the justice system.
Told through Kiara’s day to day life and her determination to keep her family together, to survive in a system set up for failure, her viewpoint was all at once with childlike innocence and way beyond her years.
Heartachingly intense. I started this one on my kindle and had to take a break, knowing I would come back to it soon. It stuck with me for two months until I finally finished it on audio. And still, I struggle to find words to do it justice.
Mottley was 17 when she began writing this book, and 19 when it was published. It's her debut novel and it's been longlisted for the Booker Prize. I will be reading everything she puts out into the world.
Phenomenal. Just read it.
Thanks to Knopf and NetGalley for the e-arc and PRH Audio for the gifted audiobook. All opinions are my own
Content Warnings
Graphic: Police brutality, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Alcoholism, Adult/minor relationship, and Addiction
Moderate: Child death, Physical abuse, and Drug abuse
chelsie_reads_books's review against another edition
challenging
dark
sad
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? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Sexual assault, Suicide attempt, Abandonment, Death of parent, Police brutality, Rape, and Sexual violence
Minor: Drug use and Addiction
mmikadze's review against another edition
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug abuse, Adult/minor relationship, Pedophilia, Police brutality, Sexual assault, Trafficking, Abandonment, Child abuse, Addiction, and Suicide attempt
deedireads'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? Yes
4.75
All my reviews live at https://deedispeaking.com/reads/.
TL;DR REVIEW:
Nightcrawling is a brutal, heartbreaking, beautifully written book that just as often feels like poetry from an astounding young talent. I, like everyone else, can’t believe Leila Mottley published this at 19.
For you if: You like poetic prose and are OK with very heavy subject matter.
FULL REVIEW:
TL;DR REVIEW:
Nightcrawling is a brutal, heartbreaking, beautifully written book that just as often feels like poetry from an astounding young talent. I, like everyone else, can’t believe Leila Mottley published this at 19.
For you if: You like poetic prose and are OK with very heavy subject matter.
FULL REVIEW:
“Mama used to tell me that blood is everything, but I think we're all out here unlearning that sentiment, scraping our knees and asking strangers to patch us back up.”
Wow. Wowowow. Leila Mottley, a former Oakland Youth Poet Laureat, was just 17 when she started writing Nightcrawling, and 19 when it was published. Then it was chosen as an Oprah’s Book Club pick. THEN it was longlisted for the Booker Prize, making her the youngest-ever nominee. It’s hard not to want to pick this one up out of sheer curiosity.
I’m happy to report that it absolutely lives up to the hype — raw, heartbreaking, her poetic skills on full display — but be warned: this book is extremely heavy and can be hard to read in certain parts. (Biggest TWs: sexual violence, police violence).
Inspired by a real case that happened in Oakland in 2016, Nightcrawling is about a 17-year-old girl named Kiara who’s desperately trying to keep a roof over her and her brother’s heads, not to mention the 9-year-old boy who lives next door, mostly alone. After months of trying to find a steady job, she turns to the only option she feels is left: nightcrawling. Soon she finds herself at the center of a scandal in the Oakland Police Department — and of media attention.
The first thing that stands out with this book is the prose. If you don’t like writing stuffed with poetic phrases and metaphors, this won’t be for you, but personally I love that kind of thing. Then there’s the characters. It’s impossible not to have your heart broken for them again and again, not to love them all (except Marcus, her brother, who I honestly just wanted to punch — but that’s also a sign of effective writing, lol). The end is also very emotional.
Mottley has succeeded in making this Oakland case feel real and personal, and in forcing us to look closer at the kind of cyclical entrapments and impossible choices that too many poor Black women are forced into.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Police brutality, and Sexual violence
Moderate: Child death, Racism, Suicide attempt, and Addiction
carmenvillaman's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Addiction, Gaslighting, Adult/minor relationship, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual harassment, and Toxic relationship
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.
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.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Transphobia, Suicide attempt, Rape, Police brutality, Misogyny, Abandonment, Alcoholism, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Violence, Physical abuse, Addiction, Alcohol, Child abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual violence, Gun violence, Confinement, Trafficking, Sexual content, Sexism, Gaslighting, Sexual assault, and Self harm
vaniavela's review against another edition
dark
emotional
- 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
4.0
Kiara Johnson, a 17-year-old East Oakland resident, struggles to make ends meet and keep it together for herself and her older brother, Marcus, who is unable to hold down a job.
This is a story of survival. The writing style is extraordinary, feeling Kia's emotions and hearing her voice throughout the book. The dehumanization of people by the police department and the justice system is horrifying. Nightcrawling deals with deep issues such as poverty, sex work, police brutality, sexual abuse, and racial and gender inequality.
Leila Mottley is a terrific young author and I admire the way she has written this book.
TW: sex-work, prostitution, sexual assault, addiction, police brutality, child negligence, suicide attempt, drug use, alcohol use, abuse of power, intimidation, death of a child, human trafficking.
This is a story of survival. The writing style is extraordinary, feeling Kia's emotions and hearing her voice throughout the book. The dehumanization of people by the police department and the justice system is horrifying. Nightcrawling deals with deep issues such as poverty, sex work, police brutality, sexual abuse, and racial and gender inequality.
Leila Mottley is a terrific young author and I admire the way she has written this book.
TW: sex-work, prostitution, sexual assault, addiction, police brutality, child negligence, suicide attempt, drug use, alcohol use, abuse of power, intimidation, death of a child, human trafficking.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Police brutality, Suicide attempt, Addiction, and Trafficking
Moderate: Alcohol, Child death, and Drug use
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol, Death of parent, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Abandonment, Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Classism, Grief, Sexual violence, Child death, Cursing, Death, Police brutality, Rape, Sexual harassment, Toxic relationship, Trafficking, Sexual assault, Sexual content, and Addiction
Moderate: Vomit, Racism, Injury/Injury detail, Forced institutionalization, Blood, and Excrement