There's a geeky pleasure in discovering connections between authors so when Ruth Ozeki described in her speech after winning this year's Women's Prize for Fiction that her student Leila Mottley's “Nightcrawling” was just published, it made me even more eager to read this debut novel. It was a delight to find that it's a book worthy of all the buzz it's been getting as it is so moving, impactful and skilfully written – especially for an author who has only just turned twenty years old. It follows the story of Kiara who is seventeen at the start of the novel and lives with her brother Marcus in a run-down apartment complex in Oakland, California. They're in danger of being evicted because of rent increases and it entirely falls to Kiara to gather the money since her father is dead, her mother is absent and Marcus is more focused on trying to launch a music career rather than finding paid work. Since she didn't finish high school and doesn't have a resume, her options are extremely limited and she becomes a prostitute. However, when she's cornered by the police she's ensnared in a situation where she is frequently taken advantage of and abused. The narrative steeps us in Kiara's perspective and journey through this harrowing situation in a way which is so vivid and striking, but also artfully illuminates wider issues concerning the danger and violence experienced by many Black girls and Black women in America.
Part of what makes this such an arresting tale is that it is based on a real case from recent years and it's one that Mottley read about when she was Kiara's age. Being a character so close to her age and one who is from the same city gives a real authenticity to the voice of the character. She's entirely fictional but the way the author portrays her complex psychology and development makes her multi-dimensional. More than this it's written in a way which highlights the many issues at stake which could lead a young American girl to being the victim of such an atrocious crime. We are entirely locked in Kiara's point of view yet can see from what she witnesses how the police systematically abuse their power and the difficulty of making the perpetrators accountable. Through her struggle we're made aware why so many cases of abuse go unreported and aren't brought to justice and how there isn't enough support for the most vulnerable citizens in this country. Additionally, the story shows how the innate intelligence and artistic talent of many young people isn't developed because of the circumstances they struggle under and the concept that if something isn't profitable it isn't worth pursuing.
It's also a gripping story for many reasons beyond the shocking way in which its protagonist is a victim of sex trafficking. Kiara naturally feels resentment and anger towards her mother for making enormous mistakes. There is a confrontation later on in the book which is so heartbreaking and powerful in terms of how this daughter and mother gradually understand one another and connect over the awful decisions people have to make under desperate circumstances. There is also drama in the way Kiara must reckon with her brother, uncle and a trans woman named Camila who is also a prostitute. The novel dynamically conveys how their conflict with each other primarily stems from larger issues and pressure beyond their control, but they are also individuals with their own idiosyncrasies and flaws. Of course, it's also utterly compelling how the central drama of the story and the build up to a grand jury hearing plays out.
Mottley is also a poet and I think the way she portrays Kiara's psychological journey is enhanced by using a form of language which becomes somewhat abstract and ethereal at times. As her situation worsens, Kiara naturally begins to disassociate from her surroundings and retreat into herself. The narrative reflects this and there are some powerful passages where we feel both this girl's distress and her sense of mentally leaving her body in order to survive. However, it's important to note there is a specificity of detail and description so I never felt lost or confused as to what was happening from scene to scene. There is also a wonderful sense of humour and comradeship or rivalry amongst the characters so they feel fully rounded and real. Sections which could come across as overwhelming and crushingly serious are lightened by banter between friends, a neighbouring boy Kiara looks after and her lawyer. The love which Kiara continues to maintain for the world around her and the people she cares about makes this an uplifting story as well as one which has an urgent message.
