Review of Kalayla
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Tez Alvey
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- Latest Review: Kalayla by Jeannie Nicholas
Review of Kalayla
[Following is a volunteer review of "Kalayla" by Jeannie Nicholas.]
Kalayla by Jeannie Nicholas is a joyful and exciting novel about a young girl (the eponymous Kalayla), her mother Maureen (recently widowed), building owner and resident Lena (not-so-recently widowed), and a whole cast of delightfully developed characters. Kalayla is a bit of a wild child, freely roaming the part of town Lena oversees, so the older woman takes it on herself to find a way to protect this young child before things get ugly. What the older woman does not realize is that much of this girl's past, like her own, is ugly and threatens to destabilize Kalayla’s already tenuous family and, potentially, anyone else involved.
Despite this grim-sounding synopsis, this novel is bright and cheery when appropriate, and more reflective as it deals with heavy topics such as racism, abuse, and sexual assault. As such, I feel obligated to say that if you find topics such as violence and abuse uncomfortable, tread carefully, as this book does not shy away from painful truths, including an attempted rape scene and depictions of interpersonal violence.
This is not to say that it bludgeons the readers into despair by any means. The story approaches these topics tactfully and skillfully, with each getting the time and attention it deserves. It was one of the few novels I have read recently that had nothing I thought the author could improve upon, from pacing, plot, and suspense to character development, tone, and topic. These elements weave together to present the reader with a perfect book.
Each character is a fully realized human being, not a caricature of a stereotype. Even the people who commit horrible deeds contain depth and complexity. There is real, raw human emotion in this novel, and it implores the reader to feel and understand what each of the characters is going through.
Speaking of perfection, this book was remarkably well edited, with no visible typos or grammatical issues besides the ones used to convey the characters' voices. Few books can boast of this on top of a perfect development. For that reason, and the fact that this book compelled me to finish it in a single sitting, I give it four out of four stars.
I can wholeheartedly recommend this to anyone who enjoys seeing the world through a very enthusiastic child’s eyes, those who enjoy seeing abusive partners get justice, and those who believe no one’s worldview is so fixed that they can never change. If you dislike novels that rotate narrators, this may not be the one for you. As for an age range, high school age and above, or a very discerning young teen.
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Kalayla
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Kalayla by Jeannie Nicholas is a joyful and exciting novel about a young girl (the eponymous Kalayla), her mother Maureen (recently widowed), building owner and resident Lena (not-so-recently widowed), and a whole cast of delightfully developed characters. Kalayla is a bit of a wild child, freely roaming the part of town Lena oversees, so the older woman takes it on herself to find a way to protect this young child before things get ugly. What the older woman does not realize is that much of this girl's past, like her own, is ugly and threatens to destabilize Kalayla’s already tenuous family and, potentially, anyone else involved.
Despite this grim-sounding synopsis, this novel is bright and cheery when appropriate, and more reflective as it deals with heavy topics such as racism, abuse, and sexual assault. As such, I feel obligated to say that if you find topics such as violence and abuse uncomfortable, tread carefully, as this book does not shy away from painful truths, including an attempted rape scene and depictions of interpersonal violence.
This is not to say that it bludgeons the readers into despair by any means. The story approaches these topics tactfully and skillfully, with each getting the time and attention it deserves. It was one of the few novels I have read recently that had nothing I thought the author could improve upon, from pacing, plot, and suspense to character development, tone, and topic. These elements weave together to present the reader with a perfect book.
Each character is a fully realized human being, not a caricature of a stereotype. Even the people who commit horrible deeds contain depth and complexity. There is real, raw human emotion in this novel, and it implores the reader to feel and understand what each of the characters is going through.
Speaking of perfection, this book was remarkably well edited, with no visible typos or grammatical issues besides the ones used to convey the characters' voices. Few books can boast of this on top of a perfect development. For that reason, and the fact that this book compelled me to finish it in a single sitting, I give it four out of four stars.
I can wholeheartedly recommend this to anyone who enjoys seeing the world through a very enthusiastic child’s eyes, those who enjoy seeing abusive partners get justice, and those who believe no one’s worldview is so fixed that they can never change. If you dislike novels that rotate narrators, this may not be the one for you. As for an age range, high school age and above, or a very discerning young teen.
******
Kalayla
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Latest Review: Kalayla by Jeannie Nicholas
