Nightcrawling Apr 2026

Leila Mottley’s debut novel, Nightcrawling , is an unflinching exploration of systemic failure, survival, and the erasure of Black girlhood in Oakland, California. Written when Mottley was only 17, the novel gained international acclaim, earning a spot on and a longlist nomination for the Booker Prize in 2022. 📖 Plot Overview

: Her father is dead, and her mother is in a halfway house following the tragic death of Kiara’s younger sister. Nightcrawling

: Despite her own struggle, Kiara cares for Trevor , a nine-year-old neighbor whose mother is often absent due to addiction. 'Nightcrawling' by Leila Mottley - East Bay Magazine Leila Mottley’s debut novel, Nightcrawling , is an