Nightcrawling by Leila Mottley is a powerful debut novel that follows Kiara, a Black teenager navigating poverty and systemic injustice in Oakland, California. After a tragic family crisis and with no reliable support, Kiara turns to sex work to survive, eventually becoming entangled in a police scandal involving abuse and corruption. Mottley, who wrote the novel at just 17, brings poetic intensity and raw vulnerability to Kiara’s voice. The novel explores themes of exploitation, resilience, and the desperate search for dignity in a world that routinely devalues Black lives. Nightcrawling is unflinching, heartbreaking, and deeply human.
About Leila Mottley
Leila Mottley is a young, emerging American author who garnered significant attention for her powerful debut novel, "Nightcrawling." Her writing is marked by its visceral voice and unflinching exploration of social issues and the experiences of marginalized communities.
Similar Books
Lessons in Chemistry
In the 1960s, brilliant chemist Elizabeth Zott challenges sexist norms in academia and television when she becomes the host of a cooking show that teaches women about science and independence. Blending humor, feminism, and heart, Lessons in Chemistry celebrates intellect, defiance, and the transformative power of belief—in yourself and in change.
Transcendent Kingdom
by Yaa Gyasi
Yaa Gyasi’s Transcendent Kingdom follows Gifty, a Ghanaian-American neuroscientist grappling with her family's suffering and her own search for meaning. As she researches addiction and depression, she reflects on her brother’s opioid overdose, her mother’s depression, and her evangelical Christian upbringing. The novel explores the intersection of science, faith, grief, and the immigrant experience. With intimate prose and intellectual depth, Gyasi reveals how trauma and cultural identity shape one’s understanding of the world and the self.
Half of a Yellow Sun
Set before and during the Nigerian Civil War, this novel follows three interconnected lives—a professor’s mistress, a houseboy, and a British writer—amid national upheaval. Through love, betrayal, and survival, Adichie weaves a deeply human portrait of identity, loyalty, and the cost of independence. Half of a Yellow Sun is a powerful historical narrative that illuminates both personal and political conflict with grace and urgency.
The Emperor of Gladness
by Ocean Vuong
Ocean Vuong's The Emperor of Gladness is a poignant novel that follows Hai, a 19-year-old Vietnamese American grappling with trauma and addiction. After a chance encounter with Grazina, an elderly woman with dementia, Hai finds unexpected companionship and purpose. Set in East Gladness, Connecticut, the story explores themes of identity, resilience, and the healing power of human connection. Vuong's lyrical prose delves into the complexities of marginalized lives, offering a heartfelt narrative about finding hope and meaning amidst adversity.