Rocketflower

by Matthew Thomas Meade

Rocketflower is a collection of stories about the burgeoning relationship between a parent and a child. Full of messy tenderness and complicated hurts, the mosaic shaped by these stories reveals a broader overstory that wonders what it means to be human. Narrated by an often perplexed, sometimes agitated, and always curious new father, each of these tales is a message pressed into wet cement, a sigil knifed into the trunk of a tree, initials tagged in spray paint on the side of an old delicatessen; language misused to get to the untidy truth of things. The result is a work that is earnest, raw, whimsical, and furiously honest.

Genres: Short Stories

46 pages, Paperback

Published April 27, 2023

About the author

Matt Meade has previously delivered newspapers, worked in a library, planted trees, and served coffee for a living. His fiction has appeared in The Sun Magazine, Storyscape, Bourbon Penn and elsewhere. Things he has written about music are currently available at OldSchoolRecordReview.com and at TheRS500.com. Sometimes he has a mustache.

Reviews

[Debbie Urbanski · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rocketflower is a beautifully crafted collection of 5 stories centered around the experience of being a father to a young child. It conjures up that time of connection, wonder, humor, surprise, sadness, disappointment, courage, and sometimes terror that is everywhere once you become a parent. How your child is always moving on and changing which is wonderful but that often means they're constantly leaving you behind (see in particular "The Fishbox: A Catalog of Funny Faces" -- I felt that story like a kick to my chest). I found myself wanting to read and reread the opener, "A Child of the Fox King" which, in a single lyrical page, somehow captures all the conflicting emotions of a child's imminent birth. I loved the form of "How to Take a Picture of a Toddler with a Canon Powershot SX60 HS," written as a series of instructions that twists into a reckoning with the anxieties of parenthood: how, once you're parent, every single action, even the simple ones, can lose their ease, turning heavy with meaning and consequence. Another favorite moment of the collection is when, in "Stones from the Stone Fruit Tree," the story morphs itself into an actual poem. (Is he really doing this, I wondered. He's really doing this!) It's such a gutsy and confident move on the part of the writer. There are many, many moments like these.

Rocketflower made me realize I don't read nearly enough chapbooks. It really is the perfect amount of stories to absorb over a day.

[Jen Knox · Rating 5 out of 5]

Meade's chapbook is full of insight, humor, and truly remarkable writing. This book was able to examine the role and expectations that are attached to fatherhood, breaking them into bits, only to expose the very real, messy, beautiful reality beneath it. I am not a parent, but I could relate to the depth and beauty of relay that occurs within our closest relationships. This book has a unique take on what it means to be a parent and a witness to another's existence and, upon closer examination, how we witness ourselves through the heartache, expectation, laughter, and constant forgiveness that love demands.

[Lou Holly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Entertaining as a Five-Ring Circus

Matt Meade’s uniquely written book is a fresh delight. Rocketflower is a collection of five short stories following the theme of parent/son bonding and learning from one another. Original as a seahorse with a saddle, Rocketflower has a way of transporting you back to a time in your own life as parent or child.

The main thing that comes across between the humorous lines is the love. Read it or die wondering what you missed. My wife loves it too.

[Tina Hall · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gorgeous collection of stories that effortlessly balance wit with the everyday heartbreak of parenting. These stories are little gems that delight with their quick turns and the depth of voice.

[Gabbi · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a beautiful short story collection about all the best and worst parts of parenthood. My favorite story was "The Fishbox: A Catalog of Funny Faces." I think this story in particular really captures how whimsical childhood can be and how sad it can be as you grow up. I feel that way about my own childhood (miserably nostalgic at times) but I've never considered what parents must feel when they see their kids grow up.

"Rocketflower" was beautiful, insightful, and an absolute must read. I normally include the titles of each story in a collection and a quick summary, but because this one is so brief I decided against it. Just trust me that it's worth it.

Note: I did receive a free copy from the author to review, but all opinions are my own.

Date Read: 08/10/25