Review of Kalayla

[Ruth Pulagis]

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

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5 out of 5 stars

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Jeannie Nicholas’s Kalayla is a moving story about family, friendship, and personal growth set in 1999. The novel follows the lives of an eleven-year-old girl, her mother, and their seventy-two-year-old landlady who, despite their differences, find solace and strength in an unlikely friendship. The story is brilliantly written, featuring deeply developed characters and an emotionally charged narrative that takes us through their struggles and triumphs.

Maureen, Kalayla’s mother, has kept an important truth from Kalayla her whole life. While dealing with the grief of losing her father and her concern for her mother, Kalayla initially distances herself from everyone around her. This changes when she finally learns the truth her parents have been hiding from her.

Each character offers a distinct perspective on the unfolding events. Maureen Leeroyce is the daughter of an Irish family who disowned her rather than accept her Black husband. Kalayla Leeroyce is a biracial child shunned by her maternal family. Lena Barzetti, their seventy-two-year-old Italian neighbor, fights to keep Kalayla's family intact after witnessing the breakdown of her own.

The book includes scenes that portray racism, domestic violence, and mental health struggles. I was particularly shocked and heartbroken by a scene involving racism, which then led to mental illness.

That said, I genuinely enjoyed this book. Initially, I found Kalayla’s character somewhat abrasive, but as the story progressed, I began to understand why she was the way she was—and I grew to appreciate her for it. Given what that eleven-year-old girl had to handle, it’s no wonder she developed the attitude she did. I admired her strength and her ability to persevere in the face of emotional turmoil. Her confidence and sense of self-worth, despite external challenges, were truly admirable.

I have nothing negative to say about this book. It is a captivating story with well-developed characters. The author did a wonderful job bringing this story to life, and based on how much I enjoyed this one, I would gladly read another book by this author. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys novels that blend different cultures and explore themes of love, friendship, dishonesty, and forgiveness. I rate this book 5 out of 5 stars—there’s nothing I dislike about it, and it was very well edited.

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Kalayla
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