Kalayla

The book Kalayla, written by Jeannie Nicolas, revolves around three lonely women of three different generations whose lives are entwined when a young widower, Maureen, and her daughter, Kalayla, moves in Lena's apartment building. Lena is a rich widow, who lost her twin sons in the War in Vietnam, and is separated from the other two. Kalayla was a bold, bi-racial teen as an individual, with a time-consuming, error-mouth. Her world is shattered when she learns that her parents lied to her about her mother's family. Kalayla's mother, Maureen, was disowned by her family when she got married to Jamal. She was an art student but after her husband's sudden departure now she works two jobs to support herself and her daughter, which provides Kalayla tons of free time to steer the streets and wreak havoc. Lena takes interest in Kalayla because she reminds her of her dead' twins. Lena wants to help Maureen, could also be due to guilt conscious because she couldn’t save her own sons. It's really exciting to ascertain how within the process of helping Maureen and Kalayla how her own life takes an excellent turn. These three women will give each other the love, support and strength, which proves that, sometimes, the family has nothing to do with the blood in it.

Even though it deals with issues of race, gender, sexual orientation, marital violence, and it is the setting for the legacy of the past, rather than the focus of the story. It's going to be violence and racial tension, and how future generations can overcome the prejudices of the time, but it wasn't just about young people who are striving for change, but it was also that we have to be brave enough to get it to change, even in old age, even if they are in the wrong, and to be aware for several years.

It furnished me with the possibility to look how sub-culture can impact life, each positively and negatively. This book left me with new-observed empathy for people who discover themselves facing struggles similar to those of Maureen, Kalayla and Lena.

This book is suitable for both adults and young people. We all undergo different phases of life and each one of us might have experienced some similar emotions experienced by our three protagonists. I feel everyone should try reading it at least once.