Review of Kalayla: Unraveling Tangles

[Alissa Deann Devargas]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Kalayla: Unraveling Tangles" by Jeannie Nicholas.]

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4 out of 5 stars

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Some kids have no choice but to toughen up quite early. While this might produce good traits like resilience and maturity, it has its many disadvantages. In Kalayla: Unraveling Tangles by Jeannie Nicholas, we read about a young girl, Kalayla, whose life challenges made her toughen up. Her father died when she was young, and her mother had a breakdown because of it. On top of that, she's a mixed-race child and had to deal with the racism that came with it.

Lena Barzetti was a 72-year-old woman living on the fourth floor of her building. One day, while walking on the road, she noticed Kalayla. She was shocked to discover that the young girl and her mother lived across from her on the same floor. Of course, she also noticed Kalayla's brashness and feistiness. It was her way of dealing with the world she lived in. Their relationship deepened, and Lena got to learn their story. She discovered that Maureen, Kalayla's mother, had married a Black non-Catholic man, Jamal, against her Irish mother's wishes. They produced Kalayla, and before long, Jamal died in an accident. This broke Maureen down. However, there was one nagging issue with this story that Lena discovered. It was that Maureen did not tell her daughter that she was disowned by her parents.

Three females and three different lives: this story was told from their perspective, and we learn a lot from them. They each showed their strength in different ways, and they still had their flaws. There was one thing I noticed. It was that they did not stop working on themselves. Kalayla was a smart-mouthed kid. Lena was always warning her that her mouth would put her in trouble. As the story progressed, we saw how Lena and the rest of the people around her influenced Kalayla. She became more mature and watched what she said. Children indeed listen when we talk, and they watch when we behave.

I've read this book before. Although I didn't notice much difference, I still enjoyed reading the book again. There was not much to dislike. I didn't like it that some of the characters were vague figures in my imagination. They were not well-defined given that there were sparse details about what they looked like at different locations in the book. Also, young teenagers might not be able to read this book because of the profanity in it. Aside from that, this book was excellent. I enjoyed the stories, the lessons, and the humor.

I rate it 4 out of 5 stars. I removed a star because a crucial audience was limited from reading the book—young teenagers who might learn a good thing or two from Kalayla. I recommend this book to women who've made mistakes with childrearing and are looking for a way to correct them. They might learn something from Lena and Maureen's parents.

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Kalayla: Unraveling Tangles
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[Rose Angela]

Kalayla is about three women—Kalayla, Maureen, and Lena—navigating family, identity, and unlikely friendships to heal and grow.

[Tega Odikpa]

I love how you wove that twist into the second paragraph. I read a sample of the book on Amazon and my interest was piqued. I'm even more interested now, after reading in your review that Kalayla — great-granddaughter of a mischevious Irish man whose mouth gets him killed — is brash and feisty. It's an obvious herring that I can't resist. I look forward to reading this soon. My favorite thing about multi-generational stories is that they're layered and intricate.

[Kibet Hillary]

Indeed children listen and observe, but it is always more likely that they will follow what they observe what they see adults doing rather than what they are told, in case of a disconnect between actions and words. I have also read this book, but I am wondering what could have changed. This is on my to-read shelf.
Many thanks for the review, @Alissa Deann Devargas.

[Ukaegbu Confidence]

Kalayla: Unraveling Tangles by Jeannie Nicholas follows Kalayla's life. It shows how she faced tough situations and how that affected her and her perception of life.

[Love Ukaegbu]

It's a beautiful story, and I'm certainly rooting for Kalayla. This book, Kalayla: Unraveling Tangles by Jeannie Nicholas, has a unique plot, and congratulations on being the book of the day.

[Isaac Ozo-okafor]

What a touching tale of the kalayla girl, having to be faced by a situation which she hadn't chosen for herself, but this situation met her and made her stronger than she was. I would be happy to find a happy ending in her story.

[Queen Banda]

I just love how the Author took time to research and communicate with the characters as they built them . I also love how it is feminine in its approach to racism , family dynamics and religion. Notice how the author alluded to the holy trinity, father , son and spirit, in their presentation of the main characters Maureen,Kalayla and Lena

[tarafarah7]

Today's BOTD follows a teen, her mother, & their landlady, told from each of their perspectives. Through deepening friendships, they navigate themes of race, abuse, adolescence, motherhood, & self-discovery, finding strength & growth in their shared connections. Sounds amazing! Thanks for the great review!

[Amy Luman]

I’ve read lots of reviews of Kalaya and I find everything about this book fascinating. Kalayla, Maureen, and Lena all have many redeeming qualities. Congratulations on BOTD!

[Victory Ositaorah]

This book sounds really interesting because it shows how hard life can be, especially for kids like Kalayla. I want to read it to see how she grows stronger, learns from others, and handles tough situations in smart ways.

[Seamstress]

Unfortunately, at the current moment I am totally not in the mood for such serious and sophisticated book. It concerns real and hard social issues and I certainly have no desire to read it right now. Congrats with BOTD, anyway!

[Moisés Alcántara Ayre]

I would be looking forward to seeing how the relationship between the old woman and the child evolve: What do they learn from each other? How does this relationship benefit them?

[Soma Ezenwanne]

Kalayla: Unraveling Tangles by Jeannie Nicholas seems like an inspiring book. I admire Kalayla’s toughness and her bond with Lena, and I would like to know how their relationship develops.

[Surabhi Rani]

'Official Review: Kalayla: Unraveling Tangles' by Jeanie Nicholas has a thought-provoking introduction. It provides a useful glimpse into the plot of the fiction. This is the story of a young girl, Kalayla, whose challenges made her toughen up. Readers will enjoy the stories, the lessons, and the humor. Kalayla learned from the people and circumstances around her. The book is suitable for women who have made mistakes with childrearing and are looking for a way to correct them.