Review of Kalayla

[Pinkpolanco]

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

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4 out of 4 stars

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Aside from my fourth-grade teacher yelling at my friend and I for speaking Spanish as we walked into her classroom, I cannot say I have much experience dealing with racism. Unlike Kalayla, an eleven-year-old girl who knew just how dumb some adults can be, I was a child who thought adults had the answers to everything. To me it wasn’t clear that my teacher yelling, “This is America, and here we speak English!” was bad until I saw the wrathful look on my mother’s face when I told her what happened at school. Kalayla by Jeannie Nicholas is a book about how the hate and intolerance of a family can impact the life of a once very strong-minded person. Maureen must now raise her smart-mouthed daughter, Kalayla, and deal not only with her disapproving family but also a disapproving world. Luckily, with the help of their extremely kind landlady named Lena, who is haunted by ghosts of her past, they will all somehow find the light at the end of the tunnel. This book proves that even though we might feel like we are, no one is ever really on their own.

This book has become one of my favorites! If you have ever wondered how life might be perceived from different people's perspective Jeannie Nicholas writes it clearly and vividly. Her use of imagery is remarkable and it is hard to believe these characters are not real. The fact that this book can actually open your eyes to something as serious as racism or abuse, only makes it better. Not a lot of people have been exposed to that so it is hard to relate with someone that has, but reading this book might change that. Although it does not compare to what some people have gone through, reading what these characters have endured will give those who are suffering hope, and compassion to those who are hard-hearted. I have absolutely nothing negative to say about this book. Usually, I really despise the way some author’s use profanity, but in this book, I didn’t mind it as much, and I felt like it was essential to fully understand the character.

I rate Kalayla 4 out of 4 stars. I found no mistakes, and the author wrote a very wonderful story. Because there is foul language and parts that deal with racial violence and abuse, this book is best suited for adults and high school teenagers. I truly feel that whoever reads this book will come out of reading it a more understanding and tolerant human being. In a world filled with so many differences, tolerance is necessary.

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Kalayla
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[Bradley Shelvie]

The book is also among my favorites! I loved reading through your review too, well done.