I stayed up late reading this one. It was an Amazon First Reads that seemed ok. As much as I hate the word "unputdownable," it applies here.
Layla is a neglected 14 year old who loves science. She cares for her little brother, even though he annoys her sometimes, and gets good grades in school. She, like most neglected children, has developed a solid set of protective measures- forging her mother's signature, covering up her home life. She's aware that her life is bad but doesn't have any tools to change it, only those to mask it. She's bullied and teased and copes with science.
After going viral with a video of her biome, a dark apartment with significant water damage, infestation, and filth, Layla runs away. Her world is collapsing around her. She's a child who is more afraid of the unknown than of the known squalor. She's also a resourceful young woman.
Now, this is a YA novel, so it's not necessarily going to be believable (although some of y'all don't know just how badly neglected and abused children are treated every day), and it might not wrap up in a tidy package. But here's the thing. It gives a kid credit. And it also shows adults failing kids. And it shows an incredible resilience in children. And the weight some children bear and adapt to. Layla compares herself to both Dr. Jane Goodall and the gorillas Dian Fossey studied.
Despite the heavy subject matter, this is a very quick read. There's no fluff. I think it's good for adults to read to kind of check our assumptions about neglected and abused children, and also for middle graders to read to see the struggles their peers may have that are hidden.
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