Nightcrawling

Content Warning: This section of the guide includes references to sexual abuse, sex trafficking, rape, racism, and police brutality.

The social and economic forces surrounding Kiara are the primary drivers of conflict in the novel. After her father’s death and her mother’s incarceration, she and Marcus are left with few resources. It is suggested that both considered remaining in high school to be futile, as scraping together enough money to pay each month’s rent and other bills took precedence. They are surrounded by people who struggle against the same economic challenges. Some, like Dee, retreat into drug dependency while others, such as Cole, opt to risk dealing drugs to make ends meet. As a minor, Kiara has difficulty securing reliable employment, which leads her to sex work. The illegality of this work, however, places Kiara at risk for legal repercussions, so when police “invite” her to engage in sex work at their parties, Kiara feels she has little choice but to comply. To refuse would mean being arrested, which would be detrimental not only to her but to those, like Marcus and Trevor, who rely on her. Her position highlights the difficulties those in poverty often face—to survive she must put herself in dangerous situations where she has little if any power to protect herself.