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greenwoodspicers's review
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
evening's review
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
blakeisgreene's review
hopeful
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
squirrel242759's review
3.0
I have mixed feelings about this book, on one hand I was gripped at points and quite enjoyed it but on the other hand I kept getting annoyed at all the double negatives. Like "I haven't met no dinosaur face to face," (on the first page) where the second negative cancels out the first to make a positive. I think the double negatives did help to show the character's voice but as soon as you start to notice them, you can't stop (that's why I'm saying the review has spoilers, just in case someone else is reading it and then they start noticing them after they read this).
Really my disliking for the double negatives is a petty thing and overall for such a short book you really got to know the character.
Really my disliking for the double negatives is a petty thing and overall for such a short book you really got to know the character.
robin_h's review
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
missoliviareadsbooks's review
4.0
Nominated for the YOTO Carnegie Medal 2023
4.5 stars
Oooooofffhhh - this hit me in my emotions too.
Patrice Lawrence is an absolute literary goddess (who I have had the honour to meet more than once) and has such a way with addressing subjects that many will avoid talking about because of how "sensitive" they are.
In "Needle", we meet Charlene who despite all the challenges of losing her mother and growing up in the foster care system split up from her younger sister, just wants to be safe, secure and create something for her sister to cherish - a dinosaur blanket.
But what happens when Charlene refuses to apologise when everyone tells her she is in the wrong?
My heart broke for Charlene in this, especially in that she was only doing the right thing in her eyes to protect what she cherishes most.
This is another superb outing from Queen Patrice Lawrence.
4.5 stars
Oooooofffhhh - this hit me in my emotions too.
Patrice Lawrence is an absolute literary goddess (who I have had the honour to meet more than once) and has such a way with addressing subjects that many will avoid talking about because of how "sensitive" they are.
In "Needle", we meet Charlene who despite all the challenges of losing her mother and growing up in the foster care system split up from her younger sister, just wants to be safe, secure and create something for her sister to cherish - a dinosaur blanket.
But what happens when Charlene refuses to apologise when everyone tells her she is in the wrong?
My heart broke for Charlene in this, especially in that she was only doing the right thing in her eyes to protect what she cherishes most.
This is another superb outing from Queen Patrice Lawrence.
coops456's review
5.0
A short but beautiful read, about love, and choices, and empathy.
I'm 50 years old, but I can still remember the rage I felt as a teenager. Which was actually so many different feelings - from grief to shame to frustration to misery - that I felt unable to express and which leaked out as anger and sullenness.
And if I'd not been able to channel my energies into sport, if I'd not had the consistent loving presence of my mum, if I'd not been white and middle-class and so pigeonholed differently by authority figures, where might that rage have led me?
This made me cry. And think.
I'm 50 years old, but I can still remember the rage I felt as a teenager. Which was actually so many different feelings - from grief to shame to frustration to misery - that I felt unable to express and which leaked out as anger and sullenness.
And if I'd not been able to channel my energies into sport, if I'd not had the consistent loving presence of my mum, if I'd not been white and middle-class and so pigeonholed differently by authority figures, where might that rage have led me?
This made me cry. And think.
ruthmaloney's review
5.0
A book that packs a punch that bellies the format. Lawrence has captured an extremely complex situation and given depth to her characters all within so few pages. She needs to have a word with authors like Donna Tartt.
taulkstoomuch's review
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Its hard to rate short stories, I wish that it was slightly linger so we could truly focus on the impact the youth justice system had on Charlene. Pretty good story otherwise.