Leila Mottley books in order

Q: "How many books has Leila Mottley written?"

"Leila Mottley has written three books across two series."

Q: "What was Leila Mottley's first book?"

"Leila Mottley's first book is Nightcrawling, published in 2022."

Q: "How old was Leila Mottley when she published her first novel?"

"Leila Mottley was 20 years old when Nightcrawling was published in 2022. She had already been named the Youth Poet Laureate of Oakland in 2018, when she was just 16."

Collections

Title	Published	Buy on Amazon
Woke Up No Light	2024	Buy

Standalone Novels

Title	Published	Buy on Amazon
Nightcrawling	2022	Buy
The Girls Who Grew Big	2025	Buy

Leila Mottley grew up in Oakland, California, and was named the city’s Youth Poet Laureate at age 16. Her debut novel Nightcrawling (2022) drew national attention when it was selected for the Oprah Book Club and longlisted for the Booker Prize. The story is based on a real Oakland police scandal and follows a young Black woman trying to survive in a city that keeps failing her.

Mottley has also published a poetry collection, Woke Up No Light (2024). Her second novel, The Girls Who Grew Big, is scheduled for 2025. She writes about race, poverty, and community in Oakland with a directness that comes from growing up there.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many books has Leila Mottley written?

Leila Mottley has written three books across two series.

What was Leila Mottley's first book?

Leila Mottley’s first book is Nightcrawling, published in 2022.

How old was Leila Mottley when she published her first novel?

Leila Mottley was 20 years old when Nightcrawling was published in 2022. She had already been named the Youth Poet Laureate of Oakland in 2018, when she was just 16.

Collections#

Standalone Novels#

Frequently Asked Questions

Collections

Standalone Novels