The Pre-Loved edit from Shopbop
To share your reaction on this item, open the Amazon app from the App Store or Google Play on your phone.
Kindle Unlimited
Unlimited reading. Over 4 million titles. Learn more
OR

These promotions will be applied to this item:

Some promotions may be combined; others are not eligible to be combined with other offers. For details, please see the Terms & Conditions associated with these promotions.

Audiobook Price: $17.50

Save: $15.51 (89%)

You've subscribed to ! We will preorder your items within 24 hours of when they become available. When new books are released, we'll charge your default payment method for the lowest price available during the pre-order period.
Update your device or payment method, cancel individual pre-orders or your subscription at
Your Memberships & Subscriptions
Kindle app logo image

Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required.

Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.

Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.

QR code to download the Kindle App

Follow the author

Something went wrong. Please try your request again later.

Find Layla: A Novel Kindle Edition

4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 5,754 ratings

A neglected girl’s chaotic coming-of-age becomes a trending new hashtag in a novel about growing up and getting away by an award-winning author.

Underprivileged and keenly self-aware, SoCal fourteen-year-old Layla Bailey isn’t used to being noticed. Except by mean girls who tweet about her ragged appearance. All she wants to do is indulge in her love of science, protect her vulnerable younger brother, and steer clear of her unstable mother.

Then a school competition calls for a biome. Layla chooses her own home, a hostile ecosystem of indoor fungi and secret shame. With a borrowed video camera, she captures it all. The mushrooms growing in her brother’s dresser. The black mold blooming up the apartment walls. The unmentionable things living in the dead fridge. All the inevitable exotic toxins that are Layla’s life. Then the video goes viral.

When Child Protective Services comes to call, Layla loses her family and her home. Defiant, she must face her bullies and friends alike, on her own. Unafraid at last of being seen, Layla accepts the mortifying reality of visibility. Now she has to figure out how to stay whole and stand behind the truth she has shown the world.

Editorial Reviews

Review

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

From the Publisher

Author Meg Elison is a high school dropout. She’s also an award-winning writer. And in her newest novel, Find Layla, Elison explores the very real (and very personal) world of teenage girl Layla, neglected in her home life, but keenly self-aware.

When Layla chooses to make a biome of her toxic home—mushrooms growing in the dresser, black mold on the walls and all—for a school science competition, she opens herself and her younger brother up to the scrutiny of the world.

We root for Layla all along her journey to own her life and to stand up to the truth. And while Meg Elison has become known for her feminist, postapocalyptic science fiction, whether she’s writing about a futuristic dystopian landscape or a typical American high school, her stories are at their core about surviving what life has handed you, growing with it, and ultimately, breaking free.

- Adrienne Procaccini, Editor

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0811XMCWL
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Skyscape (September 1, 2020)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ September 1, 2020
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 2227 KB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 189 pages
  • Page numbers source ISBN ‏ : ‎ 1542019788
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 5,754 ratings

About the author

Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations.
Meg Elison
Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.
Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

Meg Elison is a Philip K. Dick and Locus award winning author, as well as a Hugo, Nebula, Sturgeon, and Otherwise awards finalist. A prolific short story writer and essayist, Elison has been published in Slate, McSweeney’s, Fantasy & Science Fiction, Fangoria, Uncanny, Lightspeed, Nightmare, and many other places. Elison is a high school dropout and a graduate of UC Berkeley.

megelison.com

@megelison

Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars
5,754 global ratings

Review this product

Share your thoughts with other customers

Customers say

Customers find the story engaging and well-written. They describe the book as an eye-opening tale for young readers that helps them understand society better. The story is poignant and heartbreaking, making readers feel emotions they didn't know they had. The pacing is described as compelling and gripping, keeping readers interested from start to finish. The characters are well-developed and authentic, with complex feelings and motivations. Readers praise the intelligent dialogue and determination of the main character. Overall, the book leaves customers feeling more aware, caring, and loving.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

221 customers mention "Story quality"221 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the compelling story with its well-written narrative that covers a wide range of human emotions. They find the narration effective, imbuing the story with depth and emotion. The book is described as an excellent read with no fluff or silly scenes. The ending is described as raw and realistic, portraying the protagonist as strong and wise despite her depressing life.

"...This is a brief story that looks into so many different topics: mental illness, child neglect, social media, poverty, science and coming of age...." Read more

"...This is a compelling read which covers the gamut of human emotions. Pity, empathy, sympathy and so much more...." Read more

"...Yet, what I am most drawn to with this somewhat short yet substantial story is just how much empathy Elison offers to Layla and how much she manages..." Read more

"...She did such a wonderful job with the narration, imbuing so much feeling into the story that I felt like I was inside the story...." Read more

184 customers mention "Readability"166 positive18 negative

Customers find the book easy to read and engaging. They appreciate the author's writing style and narration that brings the story to life. The book offers an insightful look into adolescence, with clear details about neglect and abuse. Readers praise the author's respect for her intended audience and find it a quick, easy read.

"...My Summary (5/5): Overall this is the best Amazon First Reads book I have ever read and is a very good book just in general...." Read more

"...The descriptions of her environment are detailed and evoked so much empathy from me while reading...." Read more

"...She did such a wonderful job with the narration, imbuing so much feeling into the story that I felt like I was inside the story...." Read more

"...This book, promoted to teens, had this almost sexagenarian woman engaged and distracted for over 5 hours of continual reading. I know this girl...." Read more

148 customers mention "Heartbreaking story"117 positive31 negative

Customers find the story compelling and heartfelt. They describe it as poignant, heart-wrenching, and gripping. The book makes them feel emotions they didn't know they had about the topic. Readers praise the strong young woman who inspires compassion without eliciting pity.

"...Layla’s apartment was fascinating in a really sad way, I truly hope there aren’t a ton of kids out there living in those types of conditions...." Read more

"...This is a compelling read which covers the gamut of human emotions. Pity, empathy, sympathy and so much more...." Read more

"...characters, a realistic story, just the right amounts of hope, empathy without pity, and a resolute determination that Layla deserves the dignity..." Read more

"...Layla is such a strong young woman who inspires so much compassion...." Read more

119 customers mention "Pacing"116 positive3 negative

Customers find the book's pacing compelling and engaging. They say it grabs their attention from the beginning and keeps them hooked until the end. Readers describe it as an interesting, riveting story that is worth reading and worth discussing.

"...lot to pack into this story but it works really well and makes for an engaging and entertaining story that has a lot of emotional impact." Read more

"...Intriguing read which will grab your attention and hold it to the last page. Highly recommended." Read more

"...this never happens in what is, I'll confess with some surprise, a most rewarding and incredibly moving literary experience wrapped around the coming-..." Read more

"...Despite the tough issues, though, I think it is absolutely worth reading. Layla is such a strong young woman who inspires so much compassion...." Read more

57 customers mention "Character development"53 positive4 negative

Customers appreciate the well-developed characters and their complex feelings. They find the main character relatable and authentic, with a mix of youthful emotion and maturity. The writing allows readers to get inside the characters' heads and imagine them as realistic, tough, and resourceful young women facing challenges.

"...Layla is such a tough character, she does her best and takes her challenges in stride...." Read more

"...Layla" never goes wrong, because Elison infuses the story with honest characters, a realistic story, just the right amounts of hope, empathy without..." Read more

"...Layla is a very well constructed character. She felt real. She is a strong, yet very sympathetic character...." Read more

"...Layla was a wonderfully written character and I really liked how the author showed her survival mechanisms and protective nature...." Read more

56 customers mention "Realistic"50 positive6 negative

Customers find the book realistic with vivid descriptions. They find it honest and eye-opening, with a fascinating perspective and character development. The book is thought-provoking and insightful, with a worldly protagonist despite her youthful age.

"...The dialogue in "Find Layla" feels honest and truthful, Layla's occasional advanced language an obvious result of her strong academics and fiercely..." Read more

"...There’s a lot of truth in this book and the topics she deals with...." Read more

"...Although this story didn’t have the happiest of endings, it was realistic and satisfying which I can appreciate...." Read more

"...The whole story is so interesting and also eye-opening as to the plight of foster kids...." Read more

55 customers mention "Intelligence"55 positive0 negative

Customers find the dialogue intelligent and clever. They find Layla's determination inspiring and the book gripping. The story touches upon hardships like poverty, mental illness, and bullying while highlighting her grit.

"...Story (5/5): This is the story of Layla. She’s super smart and wants to be a scientist one day...." Read more

"...the story with honest characters, a realistic story, just the right amounts of hope, empathy without pity, and a resolute determination that Layla..." Read more

"...the story, you capture the essence of Layla - a brilliant scientist with razor sharp instincts just trying to make it through...." Read more

"...It is raw and heartbreaking, incredibly impactful, and gripping. The writing blew me away. It's SO well done...." Read more

34 customers mention "Strength"34 positive0 negative

Customers find the book gripping and heartfelt. They appreciate the main character's tenacity, resilience, and protective nature. The story is described as gritty and emotional, with pages turning almost without interruption.

"...are raised in, "Find Layla" finds strength and resilience in vulnerability and courage and creates one of the year's most memorable YA characters..." Read more

"...Layla is such a strong young woman who inspires so much compassion...." Read more

"...I know this girl. I could have been her. The author portrayed her as strong and saavy, telling her depressing life story in a way that did not..." Read more

"...definitely grabs you, and keeps the pages turning, almost with no break in between...." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Reviewed in the United States on October 14, 2020
    Series Info/Source: This is a stand alone book that I got through Amazon First Reads for my Kindle.

    Story (5/5): This is the story of Layla. She’s super smart and wants to be a scientist one day. But, for now she is struggling to make it day by day in her moldering apartment that has no power or heat, with her absent mother, and her five year old brother. She is struggling with bullying at school but more concerned about trying to get her clothes clean and find food for her and her brother on a day to day basis. Then a recording of her apartment goes viral and Child Protective Services comes calling. It was an engaging, darkly funny, and heartbreaking story that I really enjoyed.

    Characters (5/5): I absolutely loved Layla and her little brother; the conditions they were living in broke my heart. Layla is such a tough character, she does her best and takes her challenges in stride. She cares about her brother the best she can, but realizes when things are getting beyond her ability to fix (or least keep up with) them. Her brother is also an interesting case, he is young and knows when he is unhappy but he doesn’t realize how bad the situation he is in actually is. It was so sad to see Layla be so smart about science and school but struggle with things like how to make a bed or deal with personal hygiene just because she hadn’t had any exposure to basic normal life things.

    Setting (5/5): A lot of this story takes place in either Layla’s apartment or her school. Layla’s apartment was fascinating in a really sad way, I truly hope there aren’t a ton of kids out there living in those types of conditions. The scary part is that her and her brother have learned to get used to that way of living; it’s kind of a lesson of how adaptable humans are and how much they can endure.

    Writing Style (5/5): This was a short read but packed in a lot of story and was really engaging. I liked the scientific slant Layla puts on a lot of things; it was an intriguing way to make the story a bit different and show how Layla was using science to distance herself a bit from her circumstances. There’s a lot of heart here and a lot of heartbreak. The story ends in a very realistic way and I enjoyed how social media added to both good and bad aspects of Layla’s life.

    My Summary (5/5): Overall this is the best Amazon First Reads book I have ever read and is a very good book just in general. I loved the look into this strange (and sad from my viewpoint as a parent) life that Layla is living. This is a brief story that looks into so many different topics: mental illness, child neglect, social media, poverty, science and coming of age. It’s a lot to pack into this story but it works really well and makes for an engaging and entertaining story that has a lot of emotional impact.
    One person found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on August 1, 2020
    The author wrote this novel for ages 12 to 18 and grades 7 to 12 and feel that these are appropriate for this story. I will admit that I had to go back over six decades to get into this age group!

    This is a compelling read which covers the gamut of human emotions. Pity, empathy, sympathy and so much more. Layla Bailey is also the victim of bullying in school and the reader will witness those actions through the power of the author's writing.

    An assignment in school for a biome project enables Layla to borrow a video camera and film the squalid conditions of the small apartment she occupies with her brother, Andy (6 years old) and her mother. It should be mentioned that Layla is wise beyond her age of 14.

    The descriptions of her environment are detailed and evoked so much empathy from me while reading. Layla and Andy are both disheveled in appearance and hungry most of the time. Her mother is what I would call an absent parent although she has a job as an apartment manager.

    This novel covers the time before the video goes viral in Layla's life and also the time thereafter. Despite her living conditions, Layla excels in school and loves science.

    Intriguing read which will grab your attention and hold it to the last page.

    Highly recommended.
    102 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on August 6, 2020
    There were a million ways that Meg Elison's upcoming YA novel "Find Layla" could have gone horribly wrong, yet somehow this never happens in what is, I'll confess with some surprise, a most rewarding and incredibly moving literary experience wrapped around the coming-of-age story of fourteen-year-old Layla.

    Layla isn't the kind of young girl who usually gets her own YA novel. Yet, within a few pages of "Find Layla" you'll find yourself drawn to this remarkable young girl who's never really been given the chance to be remarkable growing up with a mostly absent mother in a chaotic, unpredictable environment while trying to provide for some normalcy with her younger brother, Andy.

    There are many things that are admirable about "Find Layla." There are many things that are stunning about "Find Layla." Yet, what I am most drawn to with this somewhat short yet substantial story is just how much empathy Elison offers to Layla and how much she manages to ensure the young girl's dignity even in those difficult to read moments that are traumatic, humiliating, and far too often the stuff of very real childhoods.

    Fourteen-year-old Layla is a SoCal teen living a life that is hidden but actually isn't. She's incredibly self-aware, yet underprivileged and the subject of nearly constant bullying at the junior high school where it seems like everyone else is privileged. The only real attention she gets is from the school's "mean girls" who tweet about her ragged appearance, greasy hair, dirty clothes and, well, smell.

    Somehow, amidst it all, she carries a deep love for science and a 4.0 GPA.

    When a school competition calls for a biome, an increasingly vulnerable Layla decides to peel off the layers of masks she's been wearing over every aspect of her life.

    Boy, does she get attention.

    When Child Protective Services inevitably responds, Layla loses the only world she's known. I mean, sure that world sucked. But, she knew it.

    Visible for the first time in her life, Layla has to learn how to face her truths and maintain her wholeness in a world that is suddenly watching her every move.

    "Find Layla" could have gone wrong. It probably should have gone wrong. "Find Layla" never goes wrong, because Elison infuses the story with honest characters, a realistic story, just the right amounts of hope, empathy without pity, and a resolute determination that Layla deserves the dignity that life hasn't given her.

    This is an immersive, difficult to put down book and yet an emotionally resonant book that will move some to tears and perhaps be a tad too difficult for some others. An Amazon First Reads offering during the month of August, "Find Layla" is due for release by Skyscape on September 1st and it's a definitely winning novel for the award-winning Elison.

    At its literary core, "Find Layla" paints a realistic world for Layla that is undeniably tragic in that truth. Yet, Elison is also writing about growing from the lives we're given and breaking free from the cycles that continue to bind us. Refusing to offer Layla anything resembling an articial, paint-by-numbers resolution, Elison instead offers her something even greater - empowerment and a sliver of light with which to grow.

    The dialogue in "Find Layla" feels honest and truthful, Layla's occasional advanced language an obvious result of her strong academics and fiercely disciplined studying even against amazing obstacles. There could have been so many cliche's that came out of "Find Layla," but Elison for the most part avoids them in favor of multi-shaded social workers, foster parents, well-meaning do-gooders, and those godawful bullies who sometimes truly never change.

    Refreshingly, even the supporting characters are drawn with complexity. Layla's brother Andy is so clearly developed that you can easily visualize him, while her mother waxes such a tragic figure that you practically expect her to spew forth Shakespeare. Layla's friend Kristi feels just like the kind of friend that Layla would have, while other characters like Bette, Dr. Jones, Erica, and others come alive in really special ways.

    To offer too much in the way of narrative would spoil the emotional rollercoaster that is "Find Layla," a book that I can't quite call entertaining yet a book that is so substantial that it feels as if it shifted around my reader's DNA. As my first title from Elison, "Find Layla" is a book that will inevitably lead me to explore more of her previous works.

    Filled with insightful exploration about poverty, neglect, and the worlds in which many of our children are raised in, "Find Layla" finds strength and resilience in vulnerability and courage and creates one of the year's most memorable YA characters whom you'll find yourself wanting to hug and you'll find yourself wanting to check in with every once in a while.

    Primarily known as a science fiction author, Elison has masterfully woven science into life's human tapestry and created an honest and true masterwork of survival of the teenage spirit.
    11 people found this helpful
    Report

Top reviews from other countries

  • Lisa
    5.0 out of 5 stars Hard to read but hard to stop
    Reviewed in Germany on June 2, 2022
    Meg's writing is superb, as always. Layla is such a special character and knowing that there are children out there going through the same stuff is hard to swallow. I loved how the story was told.

    Also,me and Layla share a birthday so I feel like even more I'll never forget her.
  • JJ
    5.0 out of 5 stars I will not forget this book or forget Layla
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 29, 2022
    5☆ is not a rating I give often but this book deserves it.

    Firstly, it is written in a very engaging way and I usually dislike books written in the first person. Layla's voice grabs you from the get go, from the opening lines right to the last. I would be surprised to hear anyone say that they weren't interested to know more after those few opening paragraphs.

    It is a difficult book to read because of the subject matter. No-one likes to think of children being neglected and even worse, for that neglect not to be noticed enough for action. However, we also get to see that children can do their best not to be noticed, even though deep down they know they need to be. Even a bad Mum is still your Mum. We can still love someone while hating them for their actions.

    Layla is a great character. Strong, clever (especially her love of science and how that helps her through her days), resourceful and caring but she is still a child who needs what every child should have; love, support and the basic needs of life. The author, Meg Elison, really brings her to life. With every word, you are with her, urging Layla on and hoping for better circumstances for her.

    I think this book should be required reading for say 11 years and up. Maybe even the bullies would recognise themselves and realise how harmful their tweets and barbs can be. Hopefully, youngsters would also realise that not everyone is as blessed as perhaps they are or if their lives are more like Layla's, that help can be forthcoming.

    What I also admire about this book is that it captures many of our children's current obsession with social media and the problems it can cause. I have witnessed it with my own 12 year old Granddaughter who is never off her phone and who suffered herself recently, when she was attacked by and filmed by other girls; the footage then posted on a popular app. So sad. I'm so glad it wasn't about in my day. School life was still difficult but at least it wasn't filmed or you weren't verbally abused in such a way that even strangers could join in and add to your mortification. The book did also highlight that social media could be used for good too but I think the more negative use outweighs that. Something for parents to think about anyway.

    Finally, I also like the fact the story doesn't end like a fairytale. It is realistic to the end.

    Definitely recommend this book. 👍
  • Catherine Maitland
    5.0 out of 5 stars Couldn't put it down
    Reviewed in Australia on August 10, 2020
    I was hooked from page 1. The storyline just flowed. The diary style kept you reading. You just had to find out what happened to the main characters. Layla was a legend . The horrific detail about the living conditions and what the kids endured was heartrenching. The bullying she endured is very real amongst teenagers and how she dealt with it was inspiring. I couldn't put it down till I saw it through. What a great read.
  • Simon Hembra
    4.0 out of 5 stars Characters are perfect and heart wrenching.
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 27, 2020
    This book does the work every great author aims for: It makes you feel and feel hard. Layla is a true, deep character, with a backstory that feels personal. Andy, her brother, is adorable, especially the last few times we see him. Their neglective mother is something of a mystery, as she no doubt would be to the two children just trying to survive in that world.

    The story itself feels too short: There are things I didn't see that I wanted too and a few plot holes. And Layla doesn't quite get the ending she deserves. But, as Layla would say, that's life.

    So not quite 5 Stars but still a book that you should read, even if it hurts while you do. Layla wants to show you her biome. All you have to do is be willing to share it with her.
  • Amazon Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars Very moving read.
    Reviewed in Australia on October 9, 2021
    I really enjoyed this book despite how much it made me cry. Very moving and confronting. The writing was impeccable. Very glad I found this book.

Report an issue


Does this item contain inappropriate content?
Do you believe that this item violates a copyright?
Does this item contain quality or formatting issues?