Review by Booklist Review
Layla has a secret that she has kept from everyone, including her best friend, Morgan: she and her mother live in a homeless shelter. Her mother struggles to hang on to her fragile sobriety, but one day, her despair takes over and she overdoses on heroin. Thankfully, her mother doesn't die, and while Mom is in the hospital prior to entering rehab, Layla goes to stay with her aunt Tanya, her uncle Scott, and cousin Celeste. Tanya is well off and Scott is running for mayor, which consumes them completely. With new clothes and a cell phone, Layla is drawn into her cousin's crowd of popular classmates. She has the attention of both Gabriel, another teen from the shelter, and Celeste's boyfriend's brother. Then her mother disappears from rehab, triggering a chain of events that unleashes a torrent of secrets. Layla's first-person narrative is engaging, and the emotions generated are vivid. While Maysonet doesn't tie things up neatly with a bow and leaves some threads still to be resolved, the result is nonetheless a convincing and satisfying conclusion.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by School Library Journal Review
Gr 7--10--Layla, 15, keeps many secrets from her classmates and even from her best friends--secrets like the fact that her mother is an addict and that they live at the homeless shelter. She has no idea that an even bigger secret will soon turn her life upside down. It seems that things are taking a turn for the better when her mother gets her 30-day sobriety chip and a job interview; but for Layla, good things never last. When her mother overdoses, and Layla winds up in her estranged aunt and uncle's mansion with a cousin who obviously dislikes her, she learns that even those who seem to have it all are hiding dangerous secrets. Layla meets and is instantly attracted to a classmate, a recovering addict who also lives at the shelter. Layla is a strong and resilient teen, but she has typical teen problems, and the burden of caring for an addicted mother, while keeping so much of her life hidden, causes her to suffer anxiety, guilt, and low self-esteem. She is surrounded by well-defined characters, each of whom carries his or her own problems and secrets. Sensitive topics, e.g., suicide, physical abuse, and drug and alcohol abuse by adults and teens, are discussed frankly, and in a way that illustrates the widespread effect of these problems on families and friends. There is no fairy-tale ending but a hopeful one for Layla and her family. VERDICT This story of a teen's life with a single mom fighting addiction is often harsh and tense, but it remains honest, believable, and quite engaging.--MaryAnn Karre
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Review by Kirkus Book Review
At 15, Layla Freeman is already adept at hiding secrets. Even Layla's best friend, Morgan, has no idea that Layla's mother Shauna's alcoholism has led them to seek refuge at a homeless shelter. There, Layla meets Gabriel, a recovering heroin addict and new student at her school. After Shauna suffers a near-fatal overdose, Layla's wealthy aunt and uncle offer her a place to live; they pay for rehab on the condition that their past will remain hidden to protect her uncle's mayoral campaign. This secrecy strains Layla's friendship with Morgan and complicates her feelings for Gabriel. Caught up in the comforts of her new lifestyle--complete with a smartphone, expensive clothes, and a comfortable bed--Layla tolerates her uncle's temper until Shauna's relapse triggers a violent clash. This incident unleashes an explosive family secret, forcing Layla to seek help from those she's pushed away. Maysonet depicts the stark impact of addiction with compassion, emphasizing the toll it takes on sufferers and their loved ones alike. Layla's internal struggles with guilt and self-loathing offer a realistic glimpse into the emotional turmoil of those affected by substance abuse and poverty. Although Layla's uncle's villainy at times feels overdone, the book's strengths lie in its rich character development and poignant narrative. Layla and Gabriel read white; Morgan is Black. Simultaneously tragic and hopeful and consistently authentic. (author's note) (Fiction. 14-18) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
