Nightcrawling

Written by Leila Mottley at just seventeen, Nightcrawling is a raw and deeply empathetic portrait of survival in Oakland. Kiara, a young Black woman forced into sex work to keep her family afloat, becomes entangled in a police corruption scandal. Mottley’s prose is lyrical yet unflinching, capturing the vulnerability, resilience, and emotional complexity of her protagonist. The novel explores systemic poverty, exploitation, and the failures of social infrastructure with maturity far beyond the author’s years. Kiara’s voice is unforgettable — fierce, wounded, and full of longing. The book is heartbreaking, courageous, and vital.