Nightcrawling

Mottley’s stunning debut draws readers in right away with the power and vividness of her prose. This is the story of Kiara, a teenager in Oakland, CA, who has lost her parents to death and incarceration. Kiara’s rent is going to double, and her need to fend off eviction leads her into survival sex work. Her older brother is more interested in pursuing his dreams of being a rap star than helping solve their financial problems, and to make matters worse, she is also responsible for a neighbor’s child, who has been abandoned by his mother. Before long, Kiara falls in with corrupt cops who take advantage of their position to abuse her and other young women. Loosely based on a real-life 2015 case, this haunting book is full of sharply drawn, memorable characters. Narrator Joniece Abbott-Pratt reads the story with energy and enthusiasm, creating different accents and voices to help make the story memorable.