A Vanity Fair Best Book of 2020
“With Elison’s trademark wit and turn of phrase, we are plunged into the life of Layla Bailey, a middle schooler living her life under extreme parental neglect. Despite its adult themes, the story reads like an adventure pitched precisely for children too young to be going through it—and an unsweetened peek into the inner moral battles of a neglected preteen.” —Vanity Fair
“Sharply observed and well-written, Layla’s story is both accessible and resonant, deftly tackling issues of poverty, neglect, and resilience. To get to know Layla is to understand the myriad challenges that many young people face behind closed doors and the fortitude required of them to survive against odds that are stacked against them. A powerful voice that is bound to make an indelible impact on readers.” —Kirkus Reviews
“With grace and respect, Elison depicts an intense and, sadly, accurate view on how a child survives in spite of neglect, embarrassment, and humiliation. The characters are as real as the people readers see in their own schools and communities. Overall, this necessary book allows for teachable moments for adults and children alike, who may know a person like Layla.” —School Library Journal
“Elison’s young-adult debut is packed with emotion…Harsh elements such as the condition of Layla’s home, her mother’s behavior, and the lengths Layla goes to for survival make this a tough read, but a heartfelt message of survival and resilience wins out.” —Booklist
“Elison is an extraordinary writer at all times, but especially when she reveals the tender and hidden corners of her capacious heart. Find Layla is a masterwork in vulnerability and courage. Layla will break your heart and breathe life into black mold all at the same time.” —Maggie Tokuda-Hall, author of The Mermaid, the Witch, and the Sea
2020-06-15
A teen suffering from neglect at home films a viral video to shine a spotlight on her bitter truth.
At 14, Layla Bailey is an aspiring scientist and caretaker of her younger brother, Andy. She acts as both subject and observer of her own life, living in an unsafe, moldering apartment that suffers from the same neglect that she and Andy do. Their mother, who checks out more often than not, leaves them to their own devices. Layla is bullied at school for her unkempt appearance and poor personal hygiene, and things come to a head when Andy is taken away by Child Protective Services, prompting her to post a video she filmed of her home for a school biome project. When the video goes viral, Layla tries to do what it takes to survive on her own terms and to control as much of the experiment of her life as she is able. Sharply observed and well-written, Layla’s story is both accessible and resonant, deftly tackling issues of poverty, neglect, and resilience. To get to know Layla is to understand the myriad challenges that many young people face behind closed doors and the fortitude required of them to survive against odds that are stacked against them. Layla’s mother and brother seem to be white; mention of Layla’s hair texture and hair-care needs may cue her as biracial.
A powerful voice that is bound to make an indelible impact on readers. (Fiction. 14-18)
05/01/2020
Gr 7–10—In a story that begins like a typical coming-of-age tale, Layla, 14, lives in Southern California with her unstable, chaotic mother and her younger brother Andy. She is academically gifted, but teased by the popular kids at school. Layla's life takes a drastic turn when her video submission for a school science project goes viral. The video reveals her home as a hostile ecosystem of fungi and black mold hiding in dresser drawers and bedrooms, and creatures living in the broken fridge. When Child Protective Services is called, Layla's world is turned upside down, but she is fearless in the face of change. Layla is thrust into a world where adults make every decision for her, but how can she trust any of them when she's been left to fend for herself for her entire life? With grace and respect, Elison depicts an intense and, sadly, accurate view on how a child survives in spite of neglect, embarrassment, and humiliation. The characters are as real as the people readers see in their own schools and communities. Layla's growth is realistic, and her voice is determined and consistent as she faces this new kind of turmoil. Detailed and vivid without emphasizing the distress, Elison's plot unfolds slowly, with the pace intensifying as more people enter Layla's life. VERDICT Overall, this necessary book allows for teachable moments for adults and children alike, who may know a person like Layla.—Rachel Lipkin, Brooklyn Public Libraries, NY