Review of Kalayla
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Lorraine De Vos
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Review of Kalayla
[Following is a volunteer review of "Kalayla" by Jeannie Nicholas.]
Kalayla by Jeannie Nicholas is the story of three women in different stages of their lives that come together under trying circumstances.
When Lena notices Kalayla for the first time, strutting along in the streets, something stirs inside of her. She realizes that Kalayla’s self-assured walk reminds her of her twin boys. She initially thinks that Kalayla is possibly homeless and worries for her safety, but eventually discovers that she is the daughter of Maureen that works at the diner across from her apartment building. Lena lives alone and generally keeps to herself, but something about the young girl lures her out of her comfort zone and into a place where she feels the need to get involved…
Maureen feels lost and alone, and she is constantly worrying about her daughter Kalayla, but as a single mother, she needs to work long hours to ensure they keep the roof over their heads. She has little support from her late husband’s family and no contact with her own family, so she jumps at the opportunity of any support offered to her. Luckily, Lena crosses her path…
Kalayla is a typical young lady, but she is headstrong and determined to be independent. Her attitude sometimes lands her in hot water, but it is clear she needs a positive influence in her life, along with structure and discipline, which is what Lena brings to the table for her…
As the story progresses you learn more about each of the three ladies, their thoughts, their fears, their hopes, and their dreams, but most of all you learn about their history. Nicholas did a fantastic job of creating three full-bodied characters with rich emotional depth. Their interactions are realistic and I found it very easy to empathize with each of their unique situations.
I disliked nothing about this book. It was exceptionally well-edited, as I could not find any errors to report. The use of profanity was limited. Sexual content was kept to a minimum and only described in broader terms to give the reader insight into the individual’s mental state.
What I liked the most about this book was the character development. It was very clear that each character experienced immense growth, but they required the support of one another to do so. The book also highlighted that a generational gap means nothing when friendships are forged.
There are a few triggers in the book worth mentioning to prospective readers pertaining to violence, physical abuse, sexual abuse, and racism. Due to the mentioned triggers, I would not recommend this book to children.
I wholeheartedly recommend this book to young adults and adults alike. If you enjoy reading about friendships forming between unlikely people, this feel-good story should not be missed. I am excited to rate this book a perfect 4 out of 4 stars.
******
Kalayla
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Kalayla by Jeannie Nicholas is the story of three women in different stages of their lives that come together under trying circumstances.
When Lena notices Kalayla for the first time, strutting along in the streets, something stirs inside of her. She realizes that Kalayla’s self-assured walk reminds her of her twin boys. She initially thinks that Kalayla is possibly homeless and worries for her safety, but eventually discovers that she is the daughter of Maureen that works at the diner across from her apartment building. Lena lives alone and generally keeps to herself, but something about the young girl lures her out of her comfort zone and into a place where she feels the need to get involved…
Maureen feels lost and alone, and she is constantly worrying about her daughter Kalayla, but as a single mother, she needs to work long hours to ensure they keep the roof over their heads. She has little support from her late husband’s family and no contact with her own family, so she jumps at the opportunity of any support offered to her. Luckily, Lena crosses her path…
Kalayla is a typical young lady, but she is headstrong and determined to be independent. Her attitude sometimes lands her in hot water, but it is clear she needs a positive influence in her life, along with structure and discipline, which is what Lena brings to the table for her…
As the story progresses you learn more about each of the three ladies, their thoughts, their fears, their hopes, and their dreams, but most of all you learn about their history. Nicholas did a fantastic job of creating three full-bodied characters with rich emotional depth. Their interactions are realistic and I found it very easy to empathize with each of their unique situations.
I disliked nothing about this book. It was exceptionally well-edited, as I could not find any errors to report. The use of profanity was limited. Sexual content was kept to a minimum and only described in broader terms to give the reader insight into the individual’s mental state.
What I liked the most about this book was the character development. It was very clear that each character experienced immense growth, but they required the support of one another to do so. The book also highlighted that a generational gap means nothing when friendships are forged.
There are a few triggers in the book worth mentioning to prospective readers pertaining to violence, physical abuse, sexual abuse, and racism. Due to the mentioned triggers, I would not recommend this book to children.
I wholeheartedly recommend this book to young adults and adults alike. If you enjoy reading about friendships forming between unlikely people, this feel-good story should not be missed. I am excited to rate this book a perfect 4 out of 4 stars.
******
Kalayla
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Latest Review: Killing Abel by Michael Tieman
