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I love Lena. She's someone who, I think, is patient enough to understand Kalayla as a kid that wasn't really gritty, but because she's fatherless and mostly lonely. She took out time to ensure Kalayla became a normal kid.

I really enjoyed reading this book, I laughed and learned so much. As a mother I could relate to Maureen and Lena, I loved Kalayla.

I adored this book! I truly believe it did a wonderful job in tackling the issues that are still prevalent today, such as racism, abusive relationships, and homophobia. Since it was a character-driven book, I was glad to see that the characters were wonderfully developed and endearing. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone looking for a family-based contemporary fiction story.

AnnOgochukwu wrote: ↑01 Sep 2020, 10:04 I think it's a really good book that cuts across race, sentiments, child upbringing, family and finding happiness.
The best thing about this book is that it is realistic and relatable. It features life's daily challenges and circumstances. One is also able to flow and sympathize with the characters. This, is one of the characteristics of a good book.
Obviously it's not a fast-paced or action-filled book. It's more of an interesting book that might cause you to reflect on the things (and people) around you.

I definitely agree , the book somehow makes you want to thrift through your relationships and life and battle through the challenges that you face and come out a winner, your happiness is the most important thing in your life you have to fight to keep it.

When I rated Kalayla 4 out of 4 stars, earlier this year, It was not because I was driven by the positive flow of most reviews of the book, it was because I sensed and judged that it deserves nothing less. It is uncommon to find a book that takes on such important topics as systemic racism and other shadowed but equally important ones like cultural misogyny without leaving readers emotionally saturated by overbearing negativity. Jeannie's Kalayla is a book where focus is given to both story and theme as should be. Not alone does it cater for every kind of reader in such a way that average readers get an interesting story to consume and advanced readers find easy routes to uncover educative themes, but its story and the development of its characters have also been crafted with an unmistakable literary flourish.

Kalayla — the kid — is one of the seven wonders of the book, and to anyone who has yet to read through this book, she is the Ultimate Must-Meet Fictional Character Of The Year.

I found the book very realistic and inspired from the real world tragedies. The themes that were discussed and the topics that were brought through the book were really conversation engaging and important to our real world.

This book is a beautiful read and I would recommend adults to read it. It talks very beautifully about parenting, the struggles of dark colored people, and the importance of owning our mistakes and forgiving our loved ones. It changes our perspectives about certain things.

I enjoyed reading kalayla's book I think it deserves a rating of 4 out of 4 as it succeeded in raising many important issues: how to raise children and the challenges faced by parents, racism against a particular group due to difference, family relationships and their impact. Also, the development of the characters in the novel was wonderful, especially kalayla, how she turned from a stubborn and reckless girl without a goal to a mature girl who depends on her and works hard to achieve her goals

I have read the first few chapters and I am impressed with the character development. I really empathize with Lana - her guilt and sadness is so tangible!

I rated this book four stars. Why? because it is a thoroughly entertaining family drama book. On too of this, it has very many life changing lessons that can help us grow good relationships in our lives.

Tabuya Dube wrote: ↑25 Oct 2021, 13:02 I have read the first few chapters and I am impressed with the character development. I really empathize with Lana - her guilt and sadness is so tangible!

Great! But I think you mean to say, “Lena,” yes?

I have recently read this book, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I think the author has done a great job in tackling so many relevant issues. Along with that, I loved the character development of the three female leads. There was nothing that I disliked in the book. I would highly recommend this book to readers who love touching family drama. Lastly, I would rate this book 4 out of 4 stars.

After reading the corrected version (I'll assume it was seeing there were no grammatical or major mistakes) I can see how Kalayla was awarded BOTM. I still stand by a 4/4 star rating, although I can see some people thought the middle dragged on a little. I'd tend to agree here and I did wish the ending was developed slightly e.g. with descriptions of Kalayla after spending more time with her maternal grandparents; I'm sure the author would've done a brilliant job with these descriptions, seeing their track record with the rest of the book- a vivid and detailed narrative.

G D H wrote: ↑26 Oct 2021, 17:21

Tabuya Dube wrote: ↑25 Oct 2021, 13:02 I have read the first few chapters and I am impressed with the character development. I really empathize with Lana - her guilt and sadness is so tangible!

Great! But I think you mean to say, “Lena,” yes?

lol yes yes

I really enjoyed reading Kalayla, although I wish the author went into depth in bringing out the issues of gender violence, racial struggles, and the repercussions thereafter. What repercussion did Uncle Clarence get? Is forgiveness enough?