Fifteen Lanes

“Laidlaw brings Kamathipura, a poor neighborhood in Mumbai, to life with her detailed prose. The author handles the delicate subject matter with care, balancing the desperate living conditions with glimpses of Noor’s joys and aspirations.” – Kirkus Reviews

 
“Readers will love the complexity and authenticity of this story, even if they know very little about the lives of sex workers in India. The protagonists’ voices make the story believable and unputdownable. Laidlaw’s secondary characters—the teens’ friends, relatives, and enemies—are just as fleshed out as Noor and Grace themselves. There is no easy happy ending for the girls, but their story shows the strength and beauty of the human spirit in a way that young adults will appreciate.” - School Library Journal

 
“…. A poignant story of two girls who share a city but lead vastly different lives …. chilling in its authenticity …. This is not an easy novel to read, but it’s an important one …. Kudos to Laidlaw for capturing the essence of Mumbai’s underbelly with such empathy and accuracy …. Fifteen Lanes showcases the strength of the human spirit in the most adverse of circumstances.” - Quill & Quire


“Laidlaw doesn’t flinch from the horrifying details of the desperate and dangerous lives of Mumbai’s poorest women. Noor’s strength and determination are inspiring …. [Grace’s] voice and suffering ring with authenticity. This heartbreaking and hopeful novel will appeal to readers of gripping contemporary stories such as Patricia McCormick’s Sold (2006) and E.R. Frank’s Dime (2015).” - Starred Review, Booklist