Review of Kalayla

[keerthi vurukuti]

[i][Following is a volunteer review of "Kalayla" by Jeannie Nicholas.][/i]

[rwc=id411917-125]4 out of 4 stars.[/rwc][i]Kalayla[/i] by Jeannie Nicholas is a story in 1999-2000 about three females living in the same apartment building and struggling differently. Written in the first-person narrative through three different voices we get to meet Lena: an Italian seventy-two years old who owns the apartment building. Maureen: an Irish, thirty years old, a single mother living across from Lena. Kalayla, Maureen's daughter: a bi-racial, eleven years old girl who stands out because of her weird clothing choices and attitude, who also lies to her mother about where she's going and what she’s doing. Kalayla isn't the only one lying. Maureen is struggling after her husband's death and Lena saw it which made her try and help both mother and daughter. When Lena sees Kalayla for the first time she’s reminded of her twins who were just as smart, rude, and resourceful. Kalayla had to grow up faster than the kids her age because her parents were busy but her mama was doing her best. One day Kalayla decides to go looking for her mother's family with the help of the internet and the newspaper. Maureen managed to keep her lies and secrets but Kalayla is determined to find the truth and won't let her mother keep lying to her. This story talks about racism, abuse, and how families could turn a blind eye to things they shouldn't; family members turn into strangers, and how you could find a family in people you don't share the same blood with.



Reading about each struggle makes you understand the story and the characters better. I enjoyed getting into each of their minds and seeing how they felt about each other. They watched out for each other as a family would. I love how Jeannie Nicholas gave each female something they lost back, giving them hope that family can be chosen and forgiveness can be given. You get to see three generations throughout the story and how each one had different ways of thinking. And the book was well edited you’ll be able to enjoy every minute of reading it.



I didn't hate much about this book, but I hated how Jamal, Maureen’s husband, was often referred to as "black" as if the author wants us to remember his skin color and kept repeating it guess it was a way to show racism.



This book deserves [b]4 out of 4 stars[/b] simply because of the way it makes you feel when you read it. It gives hope that no matter how dark it can get with the help of the right people you’ll pull through. The character's development is great with Kalayla trying to be polite, Maureen getting her old self back, and Lena wearing something other than black all the time.



Jeannie Nicholas wrote [i]Kalayla[/i] to show how tragedy brought three races together: Irish, Italian and black. It's suitable for adults, young adults, and people who like realistic fiction or domestic fiction and stories about race and forgiveness. There are mentions of death, abuse, and rape that some would find triggering.

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[i]Kalayla [/i]
View: [url=http://forums.onlinebookclub.org/shelves/book.php?id=411917]on Bookshelves[/url] | [amazon=B07SN1T252]on Amazon[/amazon]