Grow
Luke Palmer
Firefly Press, July 2021
Paperback, £7.99
ISBN 9781913102395
It is impressive to read how well Luke Palmer has introduced the grieving process in Grow. The protagonist really tackles the process of grief, and the idea that there is no such thing as as a set length of time when it comes to mourning the loss of someone. This book isn’t happy-go-lucky sweet. It’s dark and gripping until the final pages and it is so worth it.
Grow looks at the bereavement of a teenage boy who lost his father during a bomb attack on a train. It has been two years and Josh certainly has not dealt with the loss in a healthy way. Things get unhealthier when he finds himself in a group of violent white supremacists, who stir hatred towards asylum seekers and blame the so-called “them” for everything they perceive as wrong with society.
The most enjoyable part of the reading process might be the fact that you constantly want to close your eyes and stop reading. Palmer is great at visualising everything with very few words which makes it even more delicious reading.
While it is a sad and dark story, there is still a love story hidden within. You could consider it a love story between mother and son, and a love story between two best friends who need to reunite. It is a story about moving on, and the last few steps one needs to take before moving on from the death of their father. Grow is perfect for anyone who enjoys thrillers and doesn’t get squeamish when reading about a bit of blood.
Anet Rumberg
Kim Johnson has chosen themes that every reader, no matter what age, will be hooked on when they open the book. Tracy is a loveable, but at times irritating, character. There is sadness, mystery, excitement, and first love. But more importantly, Johnson highlights people with underrepresented voices. Within the novel, Johnson is reminding the reader that white supremacy still exists in many communities in America. Anyone who has ever enjoyed To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee will love this book because it is a step closer to highlighting the wrong that Black communities often face in their everyday life. This is an important book that discusses the criminal justice system in America and police brutality. It is hard to put down.
