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A review by daffodildyke
Needle by Patrice Lawrence
challenging
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
I really enjoyed and appreciated this story, providing an important insight into the foster care system, racial discrimination, grief, and the criminal “justice” system.
Throughout everything that happens, the importance of knitting in calming and stabilising Charlene feels calming and stabilising to me as a reader as well. I love that amidst everything, Charlene can focus on the click of her needles and feel a little bit safer. I think it’s really important to understand how the time where Charlene doesn’t have her knitting is when she feels the darkest, and how important it is that Annie is the one who gives this coping mechanism back to her. as someone who has recently taken up knitting, i found it so easy to be right there in that moment with Charlene - to feel calmed amidst the storm of the narrative when she focuses on her knitting, and that felt really powerful.
ultimately, i probably would have rated this more if i wasn’t such a sucker for more. i just wish this book was longer, i wish i got to explore the moments in Charlene’s life in more depth, I wish I got to see more of the rebuilding of the relationship with Annie, I wish I could see the slow rebuilding of a relationship with Kandi. I want to know whether Charlene stays in a PRU or goes back to mainstream school. i want to explore the content of Charlene’s counselling sessions.
In conclusion, I really enjoyed this book and it’s honest and realistic illustration of the world according to Charlene. I just wish there was more, I suppose that’s a good thing - to be left wanting more, but it does mean some things feel under explored.
Throughout everything that happens, the importance of knitting in calming and stabilising Charlene feels calming and stabilising to me as a reader as well. I love that amidst everything, Charlene can focus on the click of her needles and feel a little bit safer. I think it’s really important to understand how the time where Charlene doesn’t have her knitting is when she feels the darkest, and how important it is that Annie is the one who gives this coping mechanism back to her. as someone who has recently taken up knitting, i found it so easy to be right there in that moment with Charlene - to feel calmed amidst the storm of the narrative when she focuses on her knitting, and that felt really powerful.
ultimately, i probably would have rated this more if i wasn’t such a sucker for more. i just wish this book was longer, i wish i got to explore the moments in Charlene’s life in more depth, I wish I got to see more of the rebuilding of the relationship with Annie, I wish I could see the slow rebuilding of a relationship with Kandi. I want to know whether Charlene stays in a PRU or goes back to mainstream school. i want to explore the content of Charlene’s counselling sessions.
In conclusion, I really enjoyed this book and it’s honest and realistic illustration of the world according to Charlene. I just wish there was more, I suppose that’s a good thing - to be left wanting more, but it does mean some things feel under explored.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Death of parent