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A review by frozel
Nightcrawling by Leila Mottley
dark
emotional
medium-paced
4.0
Leila Mottley’s Nightcrawling follows Kiara, who is orphaned and burdened with the responsibility of caring for her older brother Marcus and their neighbor's child, Trevor. With their rent more than doubled, Kiara desperately seeks work while Marcus clings to his rap dreams. Faced with limited options, Kiara begins nightcrawling, a decision that’ll eventually thrusts her into the dangerous world of sex trafficking.
Mottley masterfully explores two crucial themes: the forced maturity of Black women in a neglectful society and the one-sided dynamics often present in relationships between Black women and men. Kiara is robbed of her childhood, becoming a surrogate parent to Marcus. The weight of supporting everyone falls solely on her shoulders, while Marcus remains emotionally and physically unavailable. Nightcrawling isn't a choice for Kiara; it's a desperate act of survival for herself, Marcus, and especially, Trevor. While Marcus shirks his responsibilities, burying his head in the sand, Kiara bravely confronts their problems head-on.
A seemingly simple solution quickly spirals into darkness as Kiara becomes entangled in a sex trafficking ring. What’s even worse is a criminal investigation opens after a connected individual’s suicide and his mention of Kiara’s alias. Her world spirals into turmoil as she struggles to handle the investigation and soon trial, her relationship with loved ones, taking care of Trevor, and most significantly, surviving. As you can imagine from the almighty U.S. justice system, it fails to deliver true justice for Kiara in the end.
While the story reflects a bleak reality, I do wish that Kiara’s story could’ve ended with some sort of resolution. Any hope for a more just future would’ve been welcomed, but again, I understand that this isn’t how it is in reality.
Nightcrawling is a powerful and unwavering portrayal of a Black woman’s fight for survival in a world set against her. It’s a story of resilience in the face of corruption, hardship, disappointment and trauma. This thought-provoking read sheds light on the struggles faced by many, urging us to confront these realities and advocate for change.