Needle
Patrice Lawrence
Barrington Stoke, May 2022
Paperback, £7.99
ISBN 9781800901018
Comfort is not a word that can be used to describe Needle. It tells an incredible story of a young girl pushed to the periphery after losing her mother and being separated from her sister. Her pain is eminent throughout. The tone of the novella is such that it is suitable for younger readers and yet this does in no way limit its audience. There is something to be taken away by readers of every age.
Lawrence interweaves knitting and a moving tale of a young girl going through the system with an expert hand. The intermittent reminders of click, click, click serve as a therapeutic rhythm that allows the writing to flow. It is interesting that she chooses knitting as a thread throughout because the rhythmic pattern of activities such as knitting and crochet have been known to be helpful in anxious situations.
The police system from such a young voice is not one that is prevalent in literature or media. In fact, the reverse is usually the case as there are numerous stories from the other side. Surely, we should be listening to the voices of the kids that need to be listened to more than anything. Those are the stories that can help change the system. Lawrence opens up a side of the conversation that hasn’t often had its chance to speak up and be heard.
Clíona Hornibrook
The way Garrett writes about family, race and sexuality is so real and heartfelt. Each character has a unique set of circumstances which are handled delicately. There is so much diversity in this book, be it through race or sexuality. Representation of minorities is really important, especially at a YA level. Having someone to relate to in the content that we consume helps us realise that we are not alone. If anything else, it’s educational too. There is a character in this book who is asexual and has a girlfriend, and though the situation isn’t always pretty, it’s handled so honestly and openly that it teaches people what it’s like to struggle with this. The main character’s illness also does a lot to teach about HIV and what the stereotypes are around it and how that perception can be harmful. But instead, people should be looking to educate themselves. The book has some resources at the end about HIV which I found to be incredibly useful.
