The introduction and how the story started was really interesting and got you hooked straight away, however also right off the bat the writing and incorrect grammar really bothered me, I know this will have been an intentional choice to write like that however I found it off putting and felt like it kept pushing me out of the story because it was so noticable.

By the halfway point the writing style wasn't as jarring and I was so ingrained in the story and what was going on. It was really interesting being in Charlene's head and knowing what she was thinking not just what was happening on the outside.

The second half of the book was great and flowed so well, I loved where the story took us and how everything ended up. The ending was great, not everything was concluded but it was hopeful and realistic at the same time.

I will say at the start it didn't seem very believable to me that she was 15 as the book moved on it read more as immaturity rather than being the incorrect age, I'm just unsure if a character who had gone through everything Charlene had would be as immature when it comes to what they were actually thinking about in their head. I understand the outward immaturity and acting out and I'm aware that this point is very nit picky it's just not something I could get my head around especially saying sorry.

I do think this is a really important book especially for younger people to read and the storyline and characters are really compelling you want to keep reading about them and find out what happens.

Overall 4 stars 🌟🌟🌟🌟

Thanks to @netgalley , the publishers @barringtonstoke and the author @lawrencepatrice for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review

Thank you to NetGalley for a digital ARC of this book.

This was a short novel about a young black girl, Charlene who is in the foster care system in the UK after her Mom dies. She is also separated from her younger sister who she is close with. Charlene is a new knitter who has learned to use the hobby to not only make things for others, but as a way to self soothe through some trying times in her life. We find Charlene having to navigate the consequences of her poor choices (including stabbing someone in the hand with a knitting needle!) in the foster care system as well as the criminal justice system.

I think this is an important book that many students/teenagers could actually empathize with the protagonist. She has made poor choices and doesn't have the best support system in place to help her get through the emotional upheaval of losing her Mom and feeling like she's lost her sister too.

I love Barington Stoke titles because they pack so much into a concise quick read of a book.

Needle is about a young teen, Roo, who is in the foster care system. I love this kind of writing because the characters feelings are so real and raw. You can really 'feel' how Roo feels in this book.

Roo has every reason to be happy, at the start of the book she is in a good home with someone who actually really cares for her. She wants to be happy, but there's a lot of history and anger, just under the surface, and she doesn't always deal with it in the right way...

I won't give away the story, but know that Roo finds herself having to leave that safe place because of her actions, and with nothing else to lose, she breaks more rules to try and see the one person she actually loves.

It's an insight into the justice system, and its easy to see why, for some, it's a hard cycle to break out of.

A really thoughtful read which packs an emotional punch in such a short read. I thought it was really well done and enjoyed it thoroughly

As a high school teacher-librarian, I am always on the lookout for slimmer volumes for students who are looking for quick reads. I look for a variety of stories in a variety of page counts for our students.

Needles clocks in at 96 pages, and I was riveted the whole way through. The main character is Charlene, a 15-year-old girl in the foster system in the UK. Her mom has died; her pride and joy of a little sister went to live with her little sister's dad and he doesn't want Charlene to have contact.

Charlene lives with a caring foster mom named Annie who helps nurture her love of knitting (hence the title). Unfortunately, life isn't perfect. A terrible experience in a make-up shop in which Charlene stuck up for herself seems to have put Charlene on edge. Charlene is knitting a dinosaur blanket for her little sister whom she just wants to see so badly. And then the unthinkable happens and Charlene finds herself dealing with the police and the system.

I think teens will emphasize with Charlene and her emotions no matter what their background, but I hope that students who are foster students themselves will perhaps relate to Charlene. A quick read, but a powerful one with characters well-developed for such a short book.

When you are needled, you tend to react. When you are a foster kid, with no dad, a dead mom, and are separated from your sister, you are on your last nerve.

Charlene only finds solace in her knitting, but when that too is taken from her, she lashes out and ends up in the criminal justice system.

The book deals with redemption and forgiveness of oneself while also going inside Charlene's emotions. It takes her a long time to find her zen outside of knitting. With the hand she's dealt, I don't blame her.

Amazingly empathetic without pity. Will recommend for high school and middle school library acquisitions.

Wow! Andy Gellenberg, the illustrator, has truly encapsulated the essence of Patrice Lawrence's book on the cover. It's a powerful book that is riddled with dichotomy. Charlene is a 15 year old back girl who has been taken into the care system following the death of her mother. Her younger sister Kandi goes to live with her Dad. We learn that Charlene has taken care of her little sister since she was born and there is a real maternal bond on the part of Charlene towards her sister, yet the two are not allowed to see each other.

Charlene is a voracious knitter and she both displays her emotions through her knitting but at times self soothes with the rhythmic action of the needles. Her foster brother is cruel and damages something very important to Charlene and her retaliation is serious, shocking and could change the course of her future forever. There is kindness shown from some whom Charlene interacts with yet others in contrast are hard and distrusting.

Saying sorry is a trigger for Charlene and she's certainly not about to say sorry just to make life easier for anyone including herself. There's only one person she wants to say sorry to and she fears she may not get the opportunity.

This book has you absolutely rooting for Charlene. You want to yell at the people who don't see what is happening to notice, you want to right the wrongs of her past, you want to be able to tell her it will be ok. You feel helpless and angry throughout the book and at times completely overwhelmed. There's glimmers of hope that keep you going. It's raw and gritty and brilliant. I highly recommend.

Thank you #NetGalley and #BarringtonStoke for this incredible eARC of #Needle.

This wonderful book talks about racism and sheds light on other social care issues such as education and foster care. This book also reminds us that there are good people out there that want to help us when we need it the most. This is the second book I’ve read that also provides a free advice lines so people who read this can ring someone for help. Lastly this book provides a voice for those that don't have one.

This book was well written with an engaging and emotive storyline and well developed characters, some that I loved and others that I didn't. The book discusses some hardhitting issues that are so important in society today and that are important for teenagers to be able to access via literature as well as other outlets, and it is done really well.
I really enjoyed reading this book.

This book is important, especially due to the time we are in now. It addresses racism and brings to light what's wrong with our foster, education, police, and criminal justice systems. This book follows Charlene, a 15 year old black girl. She was separated from her sister and just desperately wants to see her again. When her knitting gift for her sister is ruined by Blake, her foster mom's son, she hits him with one of her knitting needles. She's told she needs to apologize. It's unfair, but apologizing might be the only way to see her sister again. I like that this book also included characters like Shelley and Annie. There are good people out there that want to help. I also like that this book provides a free advice line. This book is a voice for those that don't have one.