Excellent narrative voice. I felt like I was really in Layla’s head. Slightly unrealistic (not the abuse or parental neglect, but some of the other story elements. But I didn’t regret reading this. 

at the end,

  I think the author was hinting that Layla was maybe biracial or at least had kinky or overly curly hair. If she’s so resourceful, surely, she’d know how to find YouTube videos a social worker wouldn’t have to tell her. She was evading CPS like a champ. Come on, she’s smart.