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17 year old Kiara's father, always in and out of jail is dead, her mother in a half way house, and her older brother chasing unrealistic dreams of becoming the next big name in the music industry. She's in charge of their home, and de-facto of her friend and neighbour's 9 year old child, whom she loves unconditionally. Under-educated and with no training, she has no means of paying the rent and eviction looms. Sex-working provides an answer, but soon she falls into the clutches of a ring of sex-seeking cops from whose grip she has little chance of escape. This is her story, that of a feisty young woman making the best of the rotten hand that life has dealt her. Told in her own words, Kiara paints a picture of a world where racism and poverty and lack of choice are normal and where the choices she must make are impossible. It's inspired by a true story of corruption in the police department. Kiara is bold, witty and tough, and Mottley gives her a rhythmic, new and exciting langage. An energising read. ( )

Quan el propietari del pis on viu la Kiara Johnson, una adolescent d'Oakland, li notifica l'augment del lloguer, el món se li capgira de manera precipitada. Mentre suplica al seu germà, Marcus, que trobi una feina per ajudar-la i s'encarrega d'en Trevor, un veí de nou anys abandonat per la seva mare, la Ki busca com sortir-se'n. Però quan les decisions que pren la duguin a ser el testimoni clau en una trama de corrupció policíaca, es veurà immersa en una tempesta mediàtica que assolarà la seva intimitat i la de la seva família. Criatures nocturnes és un llibre que es fixa en la llum que emergeix de la foscor més absoluta, alhora que denuncia l'opressió i clama contra els abusos institucionals. Leila Mottley ens regala una novel·la d'alt voltatge poètic que ens fa vibrar pàgina rere pàgina.

A tour de force of a story that will grab you and shake you and not let you go. Heartbreaking in its subject matter, beautiful in its execution. Ms. Mottley is a gifted storyteller - Kiara and Trevor and Alé will stay with me for a long time. ( )

Wow. This was a heavy book. It takes you places you don't want to go, but really should. Stilettos aren't easy to walk in, and this isn't easy to read. But you should try both at least once. This is going to be required reading in upper level lit courses. ( )