Book Review of Nightcrawling
Nightcrawling: A Dive into the Heart of Resilience
When I first picked up Leila Mottley’s Nightcrawling, I was simultaneously curious and skeptical. Here’s a young author—only 17 at the time of writing—whose debut novel is already making waves, longlisted for both the 2022 Booker Prize and the Center for Fiction First Novel Prize. The premise, steeped in a deeply troubling real-life case of police exploitation, promised to be harrowing yet necessary reading. Little did I know, I was about to embark on a journey filled with both despair and hope.
At the heart of Nightcrawling is Kiara Johnson, a 17-year-old African-American girl navigating the treacherous waters of life in Oakland. With her parents absent—one lost to prison and illness, the other struggling with addiction—Kiara becomes a reluctant caretaker not just for herself but also for her absent-minded brother and a vulnerable young neighbor, Trevor. Her harsh reality paints a poignant picture of survival in a city grappling with gentrification and systemic failures.
Mottley’s writing is raw yet lyrical, demonstrating a profound understanding of adolescence. As I turned the pages, I couldn’t help but be reminded of Kiara’s internal battles as she transitions from innocence to a painful adulthood. The dialogue is sharp, realistic, and drenched in emotion, allowing readers to feel every pang of Kiara’s reality. Mottley excels in blending moments of joy amid suffering—akin to the fleeting laughter Kiara shares with Trevor—creating a balance that might have easily tipped toward mere sensationalism.
What struck me most about Nightcrawling was its authenticity. Mottley’s insights into the teenage experience are refreshing and heart-wrenching. There’s a beautiful resilience embedded in Kiara’s journey, reflecting Mottley’s acute observations of youth and survival. While some critics might argue the book doesn’t hold up against past Booker-winning works like Shuggie Bain, I found this debut to be an impressive feat, especially considering Mottley’s age.
While reading, I couldn’t help but reflect on what inspired Mottley’s narrative. The real-life case of Celeste Guap, a young girl caught in similar circumstances, looms large in the background. Mottley’s choice to explore such a complex and sensitive issue speaks to her courage as a storyteller. The intertwining of real-life horror with fictional elements elevates the narrative from simple storytelling to an important cultural critique.
If you’re searching for a book that delves deep into themes of survival, exploitation, and resilience while beautifully articulating the teenage experience, then Nightcrawling is for you. Mottley’s voice is one that demands to be heard, and I can’t wait to see what she crafts next.
In a world where stories like Kiara’s are often sidelined, Nightcrawling not only brings them to the forefront but also invites readers to reconsider the complexities surrounding them. This novel is a call to empathy and awareness, making it a significant contribution to contemporary literature. For me, it was not just a read; it was an experience that stirred my thoughts long after I closed the final page.
