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ghostlydreamer's review
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This is a harrowing story about a girl named Layla, growing up in an abusive house full of mold, rodents, and insects. With no lights, no clean clothes, hardly any food, and a mother who doesn't seem to care. I expected this book to be emotional, but I think I misjudged the depth with which this book would cut. Layla's story is difficult to read, and if you're sensitive to themes of abuse, I would read with some caution.
So I want to get this out of the way first. I downloaded this book with a decent idea that I would like it. Then I opened it up and noticed the other books the author had written. The Book of the Unnamed Midwife is, without a doubt, one of my most despised books, and it's also written by this author. When I saw that, my heart dropped. I immediately thought, "Well, shit. I won't like this as much then." But I didn't let that stop me. And I am so grateful for that, because I ended up loving this book from the very first page. I guess this is a second chance author that ended up being having a rather wonderful turn around with me, because the way she handled this book... I'm sure we all know that subjects concerning child abuse and bullying are extremely delicate and difficult to handle appropriately in a book. But Meg Elison wrote it so incredibly well. And I don't say that lightly. This book will be going down as one my favorites of the year, I'm sure.
Find Layla is heavy. It's dark. It's depressing. It's a realistic, in-depth look at the mind of a teenage girl living in an abusive and neglectful household. It shows all the bitterness, the defensiveness, the survival skills, the growing up too fast, the indifference. And you don't get the fairytale ending, because that's not realistic. I can't praise the author enough for that. There are still threads of hope. Not everything is bleak. Lessons are learned. Things change. But if you're looking for a happy story, this is not your book, and I suggest you put it right back down. This is the part that many authors get wrong. When we talk about mental health, childhood abuse, and neglect, we HAVE to talk about the ugly parts. Without the ugly bits, we can't get to the healthier, happier bits. We can't pretend it all away and act like this world is one great big amazing place full of individual happy endings for all. This world, unfortunately, works against children like Layla. And it's wrong that it does. But it's important to acknowledge how hard something like this is for a child, and how not sacrifices are made, heartache occurs, and not everything gets better immediately. Healing and growth take time. And this is a realistic portrayal of that. And I thank the author for it.
I don't even know what else to say about this book, except that it's so important. I couldn't tell you a single flaw I have about it at the moment. But what I can tell you is something else I loved: Layla's individuality. Layla is not some empty husk of a human. She has a personality. She loves her brother. She would do anything for him. She's incredible with science, better than most kids. She cares about school. She wants to excel. She wants to be a scientist. And this theme of science and experimentation occurs throughout the entire novel, until the very end. And I loved that about it. Layla was someone I rooted for from the start. And I think we are naturally inclined to feel that way with characters like her anyway. But this went beyond that usual instinct. Layla felt real to me. Her struggles felt real. Her intelligence felt real. And I wanted nothing but for her success as she lived day after day in a biohazard; as she fumbled her way through things "normal" kids did that she'd never have to do because survival meant something different to her; as she put so much energy into her schoolwork, in the hopes that she might one day be the scientist and not the subject. This book was deeply moving, and I'd recommend it to anyone.
So I want to get this out of the way first. I downloaded this book with a decent idea that I would like it. Then I opened it up and noticed the other books the author had written. The Book of the Unnamed Midwife is, without a doubt, one of my most despised books, and it's also written by this author. When I saw that, my heart dropped. I immediately thought, "Well, shit. I won't like this as much then." But I didn't let that stop me. And I am so grateful for that, because I ended up loving this book from the very first page. I guess this is a second chance author that ended up being having a rather wonderful turn around with me, because the way she handled this book... I'm sure we all know that subjects concerning child abuse and bullying are extremely delicate and difficult to handle appropriately in a book. But Meg Elison wrote it so incredibly well. And I don't say that lightly. This book will be going down as one my favorites of the year, I'm sure.
Find Layla is heavy. It's dark. It's depressing. It's a realistic, in-depth look at the mind of a teenage girl living in an abusive and neglectful household. It shows all the bitterness, the defensiveness, the survival skills, the growing up too fast, the indifference. And you don't get the fairytale ending, because that's not realistic. I can't praise the author enough for that. There are still threads of hope. Not everything is bleak. Lessons are learned. Things change. But if you're looking for a happy story, this is not your book, and I suggest you put it right back down. This is the part that many authors get wrong. When we talk about mental health, childhood abuse, and neglect, we HAVE to talk about the ugly parts. Without the ugly bits, we can't get to the healthier, happier bits. We can't pretend it all away and act like this world is one great big amazing place full of individual happy endings for all. This world, unfortunately, works against children like Layla. And it's wrong that it does. But it's important to acknowledge how hard something like this is for a child, and how not sacrifices are made, heartache occurs, and not everything gets better immediately. Healing and growth take time. And this is a realistic portrayal of that. And I thank the author for it.
I don't even know what else to say about this book, except that it's so important. I couldn't tell you a single flaw I have about it at the moment. But what I can tell you is something else I loved: Layla's individuality. Layla is not some empty husk of a human. She has a personality. She loves her brother. She would do anything for him. She's incredible with science, better than most kids. She cares about school. She wants to excel. She wants to be a scientist. And this theme of science and experimentation occurs throughout the entire novel, until the very end. And I loved that about it. Layla was someone I rooted for from the start. And I think we are naturally inclined to feel that way with characters like her anyway. But this went beyond that usual instinct. Layla felt real to me. Her struggles felt real. Her intelligence felt real. And I wanted nothing but for her success as she lived day after day in a biohazard; as she fumbled her way through things "normal" kids did that she'd never have to do because survival meant something different to her; as she put so much energy into her schoolwork, in the hopes that she might one day be the scientist and not the subject. This book was deeply moving, and I'd recommend it to anyone.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Mental illness, Child abuse, Physical abuse, Emotional abuse, Death of parent, and Gaslighting
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