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Needlework
In rural Kentucky, a sixteen-year-old boy with a love of quilting, cooking and Dolly Parton helps his grandma care for his opioid-addicted mother, until the discovery of a family secret upends everything he has ever believed.
While other sixteen-year-old boys in Morgan, Kentucky, love hunting and football, Kody prefers to spend his time quilting with his grandmother (“Nanny”), watching Golden Girls reruns, and listening to old Dolly Parton albums. Nanny is Kody’s main caregiver, but it takes both Nanny and Kody to take care of Kody’s mother, whose drug problem is spinning out of control. Between looking after Mommy and trying to survive in a place that doesn’t look kindly on feminine boys, Kody already has a hard time making sense of his life. But then he uncovers a family secret that will change everything in his life.
While other sixteen-year-old boys in Morgan, Kentucky, love hunting and football, Kody prefers to spend his time quilting with his grandmother (“Nanny”), watching Golden Girls reruns, and listening to old Dolly Parton albums. Nanny is Kody’s main caregiver, but it takes both Nanny and Kody to take care of Kody’s mother, whose drug problem is spinning out of control. Between looking after Mommy and trying to survive in a place that doesn’t look kindly on feminine boys, Kody already has a hard time making sense of his life. But then he uncovers a family secret that will change everything in his life.
288 pages, Paperback
First published October 5, 2021
6 people are currently reading
2500 people want to read
About the author
Julia Watts
31 books119 followersJulia Watts is the author of over a dozen novels, including the Lambda Literary Award-winning Finding H.F.., the Lambda Literary and Golden Crown Literary Society Award finalist The Kind of Girl I Am, and the Lambda Literary Award finalist and Golden Crown Literary Award-winning Secret City. She holds a B.A. in English from The University of Tennessee, an M.A. in English from the University of Louisville, an MFA in Writing from Spalding University, and a PhD in Literacy Studies from The University of Tennessee. She lives in Knoxville and is a member of the East Tennessee Writers Hall of Fame. Her young adult novel, Quiver, was a SIBA Okra Pick and a finalist for the Foreword Indies Award, and her young adult novel Needlework won an Honorable Mention in the Foreword Indie Awards and was selected by the Library of Congress for its "Great Reads from Great Places" program. Her new novel for adults, Lovesick Blossoms, is available from Three Rooms Press.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 59 reviews
October 5, 2021
Imagine: being sixteen and gay. Loving Dolly Parton and The Golden Girls. Living in rural white Kentucky. Loving quilting and cooking. And the church is the center of existence.
Imagine: seeing your mom at the Walmart begging for money. Caring for her when she’s high. Worrying when she’s gone for days. And your dad is in jail.
Imagine: finding out a family secret, and meeting a girl. A Black girl who accepts Kody for who he is. A sweet feminine gay boy.
This queer YA story is different from many others. It’s not about finding your identity or sexuality and accepting yourself. It’s not about falling in love for the first time.
This story is about Kody, who has a harsh life and still manages so well. Who lives with his grandma because his mom is an addict. Who brings his mom to NA and compares it to walking your scared kid for the first day to kindergarten. Who’s clearly gay. But the conservative and religious people in rural white Kentucky don’t acknowledge it. Because everyone is straight, right?
The dialogues are in Southern American English (I didn’t even know there was an official name), primarily spoken in rural areas by white Southerners. Although I’m not an American, it made me understand the environment where Kody lives a little better.Closed excavated mines. A lot of unemployed people. Lots of addicts. Kids living with their old-fashioned and devout grandparents. The sticker ‘Make America great again’ visible on many cars. Mmm ...
Even though Kody’s life is harsh and complicated, the story is quite easy to read. I loved Kody and Macey, they were both so sweet and kind, and Kody was so strong. Sometimes maybe a little too strong for his age. Reacting so calmly on certain events; sometimes he seemed more like an adult instead of a teen. But maybe that’s how you react when you’ve been through so much. I received an ARC from Three Rooms Press and Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.
Even though Kody’s life is harsh and complicated, the story is quite easy to read. I loved Kody and Macey, they were both so sweet and kind, and Kody was so strong. Sometimes maybe a little too strong for his age. Reacting so calmly on certain events; sometimes he seemed more like an adult instead of a teen. But maybe that’s how you react when you’ve been through so much. I received an ARC from Three Rooms Press and Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.
June 17, 2021
Like comfort food. If comfort food came with emotional ninja kicks to the chest and made you think about the years you were NOT a sixteen year old boy who loved knitting and Dolly Parton, stray animals and feeling pretty during a lipsync battle.
Fking bawled because Kody is so precious and this story is equal parts uplifting and sad AF. Ugh I just want Kody's inner Dolly to be a banner of self-love in the sky that says to all the frightened, secret, hurting hearts out there: Channel your inner yellow canary and set that ruby-lipped girl/boy free while proudly (most likely butchering) "singing" through your Parton playlist!
This is YA but it's immersive and heart wrenching and shows how resilient some kids are (read have to be) when their parents are toilets.
I could not put this book down! It reads easy and maybe it's not the most poetic, but it hits home because of its simplicity and I loved every sentence because Kody is truly one of the most remarkable characters I have ever had the pleasure of learning from about how to be a stand-up human. His emotional fortitude is something most adults don't have in their "toolbox" but he's got it in spades and I'm just so happy Watts went in the opposite direction of forlorn cello!
In true Dolly fashion my Love for this book IS like a butterfly. I know I started it one way but after having read it both myself and my playlist has definitely changed!
Worth all the stars!
Thank you to THREE ROOMS PRESS and Edelweiss for providing me with this ARC in exchange for my honest review!
Fking bawled because Kody is so precious and this story is equal parts uplifting and sad AF. Ugh I just want Kody's inner Dolly to be a banner of self-love in the sky that says to all the frightened, secret, hurting hearts out there: Channel your inner yellow canary and set that ruby-lipped girl/boy free while proudly (most likely butchering) "singing" through your Parton playlist!
This is YA but it's immersive and heart wrenching and shows how resilient some kids are (read have to be) when their parents are toilets.
I could not put this book down! It reads easy and maybe it's not the most poetic, but it hits home because of its simplicity and I loved every sentence because Kody is truly one of the most remarkable characters I have ever had the pleasure of learning from about how to be a stand-up human. His emotional fortitude is something most adults don't have in their "toolbox" but he's got it in spades and I'm just so happy Watts went in the opposite direction of forlorn cello!
In true Dolly fashion my Love for this book IS like a butterfly. I know I started it one way but after having read it both myself and my playlist has definitely changed!
Worth all the stars!
Thank you to THREE ROOMS PRESS and Edelweiss for providing me with this ARC in exchange for my honest review!
August 25, 2021
Kody's a lot different than the other boys in his Kentucky high school. While they like sports and hunting Kody prefers Dolly Parton and sewing. Add to that an addict mother and an oppressive church family it's easy to see Kody's life is hard. But every day Kody perseveres and tries his best. When a family secret comes to light Kody learns a lot about himself and life outside his small town.
When I first started this book I didn't think I was going to care for it, but after two chapters I was immediately hooked. The author immersed me into Kody's world. Kody was an amazing character who was so easy to relate to. I laughed with him, cried with him and in the end triumphed with him. His struggles tugged at my heartstrings and it was wonderful to watch him learn and grow. This is a fast read, but an important one. I would definitely recommend this book.
I was given this book in exchange for my honest opinion. Thank you to Three Rooms Press and Edelweiss for this ARC.
When I first started this book I didn't think I was going to care for it, but after two chapters I was immediately hooked. The author immersed me into Kody's world. Kody was an amazing character who was so easy to relate to. I laughed with him, cried with him and in the end triumphed with him. His struggles tugged at my heartstrings and it was wonderful to watch him learn and grow. This is a fast read, but an important one. I would definitely recommend this book.
I was given this book in exchange for my honest opinion. Thank you to Three Rooms Press and Edelweiss for this ARC.
December 21, 2021
Trying to be active on goodreads with my first review in forever haha… this book was awesome but so sad at times
September 16, 2021
I have a heart of stone. Little makes me cry, or even really upsets me in the realm of fiction - I am typically able to keep characters beloved but separate from the chambers of my heart that perceive them as "real". This was EMPHATICALLY NOT THE CASE with "Needlework" by Julia Watts, in which the characters stormed the gates of my heart after a three chapter siege and took up residence, victorious. I felt like I knew this people. I loved these people in all their complexities, failings, and triumphs. I was upset when the book ended because my time with them was over.
"Needlework" tells the story of Kody, a responsible, church-going kid in rural Kentucky, who lives with his grandmother and hides his queerness. His mother is an opioid addict, lost to demons of her own, and Kody frequently takes care of her throughout her substance abuse. The only things bringing Kody much joy are Dolly Parton records and secretly doing his own makeup, hiding his true self from a conservative world that would not understand his interests. And then one day he receives a message online from a Black girl claiming to be a half-sister he's never known of...
"Needlework" is entirely Kody's story; his unorthodox relationship with his mother and his repressed upbringing have all but killed his ambition and dreams, and "Needlework" follows him as he rediscovers his own interests and passions. One thing that surprised (and delighted) me is that despite the fact that Kody is very gay, there is not a love story for him in these pages. No, Kody strengthens his relationships with his family (and new family!) without the prodding of a convenient love interest, which makes me SO HAPPY because so often love interests in YA act as perfect psychotherapists who inspire great behavior just by being present. Kody does the hard work of navigating his difficult relationships with his family, addressing concepts of addiction, racism, homophobia, and religion. One thing I really enjoyed was the depiction of the South - it's clear that the author is FROM the South, and understands that people can be kind and thoughtful to some and still be close-minded, homophobic, and hurtful to others. Kody's realization that a lot of love comes his way to the fact he presents as a straight white cis male hurts the reader as much as it hurts him. Attitude in the South is never anything that isn't complex - these conservatives aren't villains, not entirely, so much as stuck in a mindset. Watts handles this with such a beautiful nuance. I know Kody's family because I'm from Northern Alabama. I've loved them, and I've wanted them to be better, just as Kody does.
Anyway, this book was amazing. It touched me, it broke my heart. I suspect some might want a larger resolution to Kody's mother's story, but I thought keeping it open was perfect: that's life. Things don't get perfectly tied up in a bow.
HIGHLY recommended to YA readers and adults alike.
"Needlework" tells the story of Kody, a responsible, church-going kid in rural Kentucky, who lives with his grandmother and hides his queerness. His mother is an opioid addict, lost to demons of her own, and Kody frequently takes care of her throughout her substance abuse. The only things bringing Kody much joy are Dolly Parton records and secretly doing his own makeup, hiding his true self from a conservative world that would not understand his interests. And then one day he receives a message online from a Black girl claiming to be a half-sister he's never known of...
"Needlework" is entirely Kody's story; his unorthodox relationship with his mother and his repressed upbringing have all but killed his ambition and dreams, and "Needlework" follows him as he rediscovers his own interests and passions. One thing that surprised (and delighted) me is that despite the fact that Kody is very gay, there is not a love story for him in these pages. No, Kody strengthens his relationships with his family (and new family!) without the prodding of a convenient love interest, which makes me SO HAPPY because so often love interests in YA act as perfect psychotherapists who inspire great behavior just by being present. Kody does the hard work of navigating his difficult relationships with his family, addressing concepts of addiction, racism, homophobia, and religion. One thing I really enjoyed was the depiction of the South - it's clear that the author is FROM the South, and understands that people can be kind and thoughtful to some and still be close-minded, homophobic, and hurtful to others. Kody's realization that a lot of love comes his way to the fact he presents as a straight white cis male hurts the reader as much as it hurts him. Attitude in the South is never anything that isn't complex - these conservatives aren't villains, not entirely, so much as stuck in a mindset. Watts handles this with such a beautiful nuance. I know Kody's family because I'm from Northern Alabama. I've loved them, and I've wanted them to be better, just as Kody does.
Anyway, this book was amazing. It touched me, it broke my heart. I suspect some might want a larger resolution to Kody's mother's story, but I thought keeping it open was perfect: that's life. Things don't get perfectly tied up in a bow.
HIGHLY recommended to YA readers and adults alike.
September 6, 2023
Growing up in the US being gay, closeted and loving Dolly Parton is hard, but living in the Bible Belt of rural Kentucky is even harder. Kody struggles with his responsibilities to his family, looking after his sick mother while being raised by his grandmother, and over the course of the story starts to realise that if he wants a a future where he's happy, he's going to have to leave town to find his place in the world.
I've not experienced it myself, but I felt that this was a really accurate depiction of drug addiction, from when we first meet Kody's Mommy, begging at Walmart for drug money, to when she tells him, over and over, that tomorrow she'll do better. I loved that this story humanised her, and I could understand her struggles and see that she was ill, and the author really wrote a complex, interesting character that really felt like she could be a real person.
I could tell while I was reading that the author seemed to have personal experience with these types of towns, and the people that lived in them. Every person truly felt like a real person, and the story didn't shy away from discussions of prejudice and racism, but also showed the complexities of living there that made these people become who they were.
I've not experienced it myself, but I felt that this was a really accurate depiction of drug addiction, from when we first meet Kody's Mommy, begging at Walmart for drug money, to when she tells him, over and over, that tomorrow she'll do better. I loved that this story humanised her, and I could understand her struggles and see that she was ill, and the author really wrote a complex, interesting character that really felt like she could be a real person.
I could tell while I was reading that the author seemed to have personal experience with these types of towns, and the people that lived in them. Every person truly felt like a real person, and the story didn't shy away from discussions of prejudice and racism, but also showed the complexities of living there that made these people become who they were.
May 2, 2021
Thanks to the publisher for providing an eARC of Needlework in exchange for an honest review.
Needlework follows 11th grade Kody as he copes with his closeted sexuality, caring for his drug addict mum, and learning that he has a secret Black sister who his biblethumping hometown would probably approve of just as much as they would his sexuality. I think this was a really well done coming of age story and loved watching Kody grow into his identities throughout the story. I also loved how morally grey a lot of the adult characters in there were instead of going for the less realistic "here's an example of a good guardian and here's one of a bad guardian". The writing was nothing groundbreaking but I think the more simplistic tone also fits the small town aesthetic so all in all, this was really well done.
Needlework follows 11th grade Kody as he copes with his closeted sexuality, caring for his drug addict mum, and learning that he has a secret Black sister who his biblethumping hometown would probably approve of just as much as they would his sexuality. I think this was a really well done coming of age story and loved watching Kody grow into his identities throughout the story. I also loved how morally grey a lot of the adult characters in there were instead of going for the less realistic "here's an example of a good guardian and here's one of a bad guardian". The writing was nothing groundbreaking but I think the more simplistic tone also fits the small town aesthetic so all in all, this was really well done.
March 3, 2023
Wow. I can’t believe this book has been lingering on my tbr stack for so long and when I finally started reading it I could not put it down. I literally read the entire first half of the book before even putting a bookmark in the book.
This book is beautifully written and the characters feel so real. I can’t imagine anybody not loving sweet Kody. He spends most of his time with his grandmother and loves Golden girls and Dolly Parton. He’s the kindest, most loyal guy and he’s always the one taking care of everyone else. He doesn’t expect anyone to love him just as he is. He keeps the fact that he’s gay a secret because he doesn’t want to upset his grandmother who is his caregiver. Kody’s mom is absolutely heartbreaking. His mom has addiction issues. She’s not able to care for Kody or his little brother. She’s not able to care for herself. But Kody’s grandmother makes sure her daughter has food on the table, a roof over her head and that her utilities are on. And Kody tries his best to help his mother sober up. Poor kid. Kody does not get to be a teenager.
Kody lives in a very small town. It’s very poor, it’s very religious. Kody really doesn’t judge anyone harshly for anything. My heart broke for Kody, he’s good to absolutely everyone and expects nothing in return.
One day a stranger reaches out to him on social media and it changes his life in every possible way. I won’t spoil it by saying who it is or the secrets that get uncovered as a result. But the secrets do cause Kody to wonder whether his life can be more than it already is.
This book is very sad at times but very hopeful at other times and it’s just absolutely beautifully written.
This book is beautifully written and the characters feel so real. I can’t imagine anybody not loving sweet Kody. He spends most of his time with his grandmother and loves Golden girls and Dolly Parton. He’s the kindest, most loyal guy and he’s always the one taking care of everyone else. He doesn’t expect anyone to love him just as he is. He keeps the fact that he’s gay a secret because he doesn’t want to upset his grandmother who is his caregiver. Kody’s mom is absolutely heartbreaking. His mom has addiction issues. She’s not able to care for Kody or his little brother. She’s not able to care for herself. But Kody’s grandmother makes sure her daughter has food on the table, a roof over her head and that her utilities are on. And Kody tries his best to help his mother sober up. Poor kid. Kody does not get to be a teenager.
Kody lives in a very small town. It’s very poor, it’s very religious. Kody really doesn’t judge anyone harshly for anything. My heart broke for Kody, he’s good to absolutely everyone and expects nothing in return.
One day a stranger reaches out to him on social media and it changes his life in every possible way. I won’t spoil it by saying who it is or the secrets that get uncovered as a result. But the secrets do cause Kody to wonder whether his life can be more than it already is.
This book is very sad at times but very hopeful at other times and it’s just absolutely beautifully written.
October 23, 2021
Kody isn't like most boys in his hometown in rural Kentucky. He likes to watch Golden Girls with his grandmother, quilt, and sing along to Dolly Parton. He lives with his Nanny and all things considered he has a pretty good life. His younger brother lives across town with his aunt and his uncle and his mommy lives just down the holler in a broken down little trailer. Their dad is in prison. Their mom has problems. She's an addict and she can hardly take care of herself let alone her two sons. Kody and Nanny do the best they can to keep her alive, but it's a thankless job. Thank goodness he has Dolly Parton to keep him sane. Besides his mommy, the most stressful thing in his life is keeping his grandmother from finding out he's gay and likes to dress up in makeup. But then he gets a Facebook and gets a message that will change his life and his family's forever. Touching and heartfelt. A Very genuine and fun young adult story.
January 5, 2022
This is an important book and it is beautifully written in my opinion. It tells the story of a boy named Kody who lives a tiny Kentucky town with his grandmother. His mother is an addict, and Kody is hiding the fact that he is gay (this is a very small town in the South that is heavy on religion, so it's something that is not widely accepted) when he finds out that he has a younger sister living with her aunt across the border in Tennessee. All his life, Kody has believed in certain things, and this news has tilted his world on its axis. There are some things that he can no longer hide and terrible truths that he may not be ready to face. This is a good coming-of-age story about a boy who thinks he knows who he is but when he finds about his sister his view on the world changes--for obvious reasons.
Content Warnings: Drug addiction/abuse, use of religion to bash people who are gay and of other races, family secrets, loss of friendships, parental death.
Content Warnings: Drug addiction/abuse, use of religion to bash people who are gay and of other races, family secrets, loss of friendships, parental death.
January 12, 2022
Wow,
It’s soooo rare to find an author who can accurately depict what it is like to grow up in Appalachia. Finding yourself in an area so stubborn in their ways can be difficult to say the least. However it and the people have their own beauty as well that often gets overlooked or ridiculed by others. This author tackles the bad and highlights the good with such a finesse. I’ve read other fiction that have tried to do the same but come across corny. This book was so genuine and I found I could not put it down. If you enjoy Margaret Renkls opinion pieces you’ll find a kindred Appalachian voice in Julia Watts’ fiction.
It’s soooo rare to find an author who can accurately depict what it is like to grow up in Appalachia. Finding yourself in an area so stubborn in their ways can be difficult to say the least. However it and the people have their own beauty as well that often gets overlooked or ridiculed by others. This author tackles the bad and highlights the good with such a finesse. I’ve read other fiction that have tried to do the same but come across corny. This book was so genuine and I found I could not put it down. If you enjoy Margaret Renkls opinion pieces you’ll find a kindred Appalachian voice in Julia Watts’ fiction.
October 17, 2021
I absolutely adored every single word of this absolutely astounding novel. I was born and raised in Georgia in the heart of the south and smack dab in the bible belt. My family was never terribly religious so my personal upbringing didn't necessarily reflect the ultra-conservative views of my immediate surroundings. I did however see and hear people with these attitudes regularly. I feel fortunate that in my family I was exposed to people with healthy gay relationships from an early age. My uncle on my father's side has been with the same partner for all of my life. I called him uncle growing up and it didn't even dawn on me until probably late middle or high school that they were gay, even though I knew and understood what it meant to be gay. As I got older I also found out that I had two cousins (brother and sister) on my mother's side of the family that are also gay. Because of the strong family bonds that were always evident I have always been intensely supportive of the LGBTQ community. I have watched their struggle for years and have always been as supportive as I could for all people in that community. Because of where we live and the people that surround us that hasn't always been the easiest thing to do. So from that perspective, I completely sympathize with the main character Kody as he struggles with his sexuality in an area and with even family who is very opposed to his way of life. I know just how hard it is to lose friends over this issue. To this day, I find I have to hold my tongue and keep my views to myself in certain situations because I know that it would be unwise and in some cases even dangerous to openly defy the opinions of those around me.
Julia Watts does a phenomenal job of describing the terrible issues and opinions of what to this day is still a very small-minded part of our country. She also deals with the issues of substance abuse in an enlightening way that I find to be right on point. I would and WILL recommend this novel to anyone and everyone I can. It truly captures the heart of some still very sensitive issues. Bravo Julia. Outstanding.
Julia Watts does a phenomenal job of describing the terrible issues and opinions of what to this day is still a very small-minded part of our country. She also deals with the issues of substance abuse in an enlightening way that I find to be right on point. I would and WILL recommend this novel to anyone and everyone I can. It truly captures the heart of some still very sensitive issues. Bravo Julia. Outstanding.
August 18, 2021
Such a great read. Good work from the author!
December 5, 2021
I really liked this one. It have my favorite kind of main character. Kody is such a nice guy. He loves his family, but really doesn’t fit in. No one seems to get him. But he keeps trying.
I though some of the side characters were well done, but some were a little flat. Most of the religious folk were. I did like that his grandmother showed a little depth. And the characters who struggled with drugs were interesting.
Anyway, I like how the book turned out. How things are changing for Kody, but slowly.
I though some of the side characters were well done, but some were a little flat. Most of the religious folk were. I did like that his grandmother showed a little depth. And the characters who struggled with drugs were interesting.
Anyway, I like how the book turned out. How things are changing for Kody, but slowly.
February 6, 2022
This was such a good quick read. I loved the main character and would read more if this was a series!
December 24, 2021
“She needs me to show her where she came from, and I need her to show me where I can go”
This story was honestly so heartbreaking and somewhat eye-opening, but also sort of fun. It dealt with so many heavy topics such as being gay, racism, drugs, letting go and finding out who supports you and are there for you and what you need to do; so, you can be you and not wait for others to clean up.
Kody is an interesting character who`s hurting, who hates that he`s staying “in the closet.” But he loves so much different stuff like needlework and golden girls. He isn’t afraid to be himself. It takes some gut to be the person one wants to be, especially when family doesn’t support one. Caleb is adorable, but I felt like he was mentioned 20% of the book and then he ceased to exist? That was odd to me. I had a wobbly feeling for Nanny, like she was a sort of racist and homophobe– but she grew to understand her grandson and granddaughter and therebefore choose to change. I was extremely frustrated with two people Koby, Caleb and Macey`s mother, just ugh. I do understand that drugs can drag you back in when you do not want to. It is hard to quit, it`s hard to let go – but often she chooses drugs over her children, lying and doing things to get her next fix. It hurt especially must because her children wanted her to be with them. Koby was there again and again to try to help and support, a few times he begged her to try to get clean…but nothing seemed to help, and she turned on him instead. But the drugs make you like that…it is very hard for her and it makes me so sad that her and everyone involved is hurting because of that. And then there`s L.J aka Koby`s ex-friend, he told her that he was gay, and she told him he was an abomination and that it was not god`s will ...I just…I got so frustrated!! She just… threw away their friendship because he wants to marry a guy when the time comes? And that it wouldn`t be them? UGH. Just…I wanted to shake her again and again… I adored Macey though, she just took one look at Koby and went “alright, brother, you do you” and loved him, spent time with him. She wasn`t afraid of telling people how she felt and what she thought, not even to their mother.
This story was honestly so heartbreaking and somewhat eye-opening, but also sort of fun. It dealt with so many heavy topics such as being gay, racism, drugs, letting go and finding out who supports you and are there for you and what you need to do; so, you can be you and not wait for others to clean up.
Kody is an interesting character who`s hurting, who hates that he`s staying “in the closet.” But he loves so much different stuff like needlework and golden girls. He isn’t afraid to be himself. It takes some gut to be the person one wants to be, especially when family doesn’t support one. Caleb is adorable, but I felt like he was mentioned 20% of the book and then he ceased to exist? That was odd to me. I had a wobbly feeling for Nanny, like she was a sort of racist and homophobe– but she grew to understand her grandson and granddaughter and therebefore choose to change. I was extremely frustrated with two people Koby, Caleb and Macey`s mother, just ugh. I do understand that drugs can drag you back in when you do not want to. It is hard to quit, it`s hard to let go – but often she chooses drugs over her children, lying and doing things to get her next fix. It hurt especially must because her children wanted her to be with them. Koby was there again and again to try to help and support, a few times he begged her to try to get clean…but nothing seemed to help, and she turned on him instead. But the drugs make you like that…it is very hard for her and it makes me so sad that her and everyone involved is hurting because of that. And then there`s L.J aka Koby`s ex-friend, he told her that he was gay, and she told him he was an abomination and that it was not god`s will ...I just…I got so frustrated!! She just… threw away their friendship because he wants to marry a guy when the time comes? And that it wouldn`t be them? UGH. Just…I wanted to shake her again and again… I adored Macey though, she just took one look at Koby and went “alright, brother, you do you” and loved him, spent time with him. She wasn`t afraid of telling people how she felt and what she thought, not even to their mother.
January 17, 2022
In rural Kentucky, a sixteen-year-old boy with a love of quilting, cooking and Dolly Parton helps his grandma care for his opioid-addicted mother, until the discovery of a family secret upends everything he has ever believed.
This was a great book. I loved reading about Kody's life with his grandmother and how much she loved him. His mother is a drug addict so he and his younger brother are cared for by other family members. He's in grade 11 and he's gay but not openly because of where he lives. It's a well told story that ended before I wanted it to end.
This was a great book. I loved reading about Kody's life with his grandmother and how much she loved him. His mother is a drug addict so he and his younger brother are cared for by other family members. He's in grade 11 and he's gay but not openly because of where he lives. It's a well told story that ended before I wanted it to end.
January 14, 2022
This book has my heart! 😭😍
"There's beauty all around me, too, but the mountains are scarred up from the mining like a beautiful woman with a black eye from a beating. The winding country roads are beautiful, too, but they're often covered with trash."
"And right then I see how Macey and me fit together. She needs me to show her where she came from, and I need her to show me where I can go."
"Love is work, the work you're willing to do for somebody else even if you don't get anything out of it yourself."
"There's beauty all around me, too, but the mountains are scarred up from the mining like a beautiful woman with a black eye from a beating. The winding country roads are beautiful, too, but they're often covered with trash."
"And right then I see how Macey and me fit together. She needs me to show her where she came from, and I need her to show me where I can go."
"Love is work, the work you're willing to do for somebody else even if you don't get anything out of it yourself."
July 21, 2021
Wow. I feel like this book broke my heart and held my hand the whole time. I think this book is one of my favorite books I have read this year.
I think a lot about my life and how lucky I have been. My dad is from West Virginia. My parents moved to Chicago about 2 years before I was born. I think a lot about what my life may have looked like if they didn't make that move. I went back to West Virginia and visited many times until my Grandpa moved about 5 years ago. And every time I would see a lot of amazing things, but I would also see a lot of pain. The reason I wanted to read this book in the first place is because my fondest memories of my Grandma are her teaching me how to sew in the dinning room of their house that was her sewing room. There were definitely moments when I was reading this book that I felt like in some ways this could have been what my life would have been like. And that's what I thought was so great about this book, it was realistic but not overwhelming.
We see different types of family in this book. There is Kody and his relationship with his grandma, his mother, his dad, his brother, and even the extended family with his aunt and uncle. I think that it is so realistic. No one is perfect. This isn't a book with black and white, it's a story that highlights that we all live our life in the gray areas. Everyone makes mistakes and it's how we handle those mistakes that tell the story, and that's exactly what this book does.
I think this book tackles a lot of hard topics. It addresses drug use, racism, homophobia, family issues, and what it means living in rural America in 2021. But it does all of that in the most gentle way it can.
I did get an ARC of this book to review, but that does not influence my review.
I think a lot about my life and how lucky I have been. My dad is from West Virginia. My parents moved to Chicago about 2 years before I was born. I think a lot about what my life may have looked like if they didn't make that move. I went back to West Virginia and visited many times until my Grandpa moved about 5 years ago. And every time I would see a lot of amazing things, but I would also see a lot of pain. The reason I wanted to read this book in the first place is because my fondest memories of my Grandma are her teaching me how to sew in the dinning room of their house that was her sewing room. There were definitely moments when I was reading this book that I felt like in some ways this could have been what my life would have been like. And that's what I thought was so great about this book, it was realistic but not overwhelming.
We see different types of family in this book. There is Kody and his relationship with his grandma, his mother, his dad, his brother, and even the extended family with his aunt and uncle. I think that it is so realistic. No one is perfect. This isn't a book with black and white, it's a story that highlights that we all live our life in the gray areas. Everyone makes mistakes and it's how we handle those mistakes that tell the story, and that's exactly what this book does.
I think this book tackles a lot of hard topics. It addresses drug use, racism, homophobia, family issues, and what it means living in rural America in 2021. But it does all of that in the most gentle way it can.
I did get an ARC of this book to review, but that does not influence my review.
September 21, 2022
Kody is a teen growing up in rural Kentucky, living with his Nanny because his community has been struck hard by the opioid epidemic, and his mother has a substance abuse disorder. Kody is incredibly close with his grandmother, sharing her love of The Golden Girls, Dolly Parton and knitting, but he has not admitted to her that he is gay.
I loved this book.
The story unfolds so naturally that it's easy to be swept up in it. It also addresses important issues with grace, through realistic turns of events: racism, family enmeshment, the opioid crisis, parentification, and homophobia. We watch many characters face situations and grow from them as they gain perspective.
Kody is incredibly sweet and endearing. Despite the obstacles he faces in life, including growing up in poverty, having to parent his own mother, being gay in a homophobic community, and more, he's unwavering in his kindness. He's funny and generous and views the world through eyes clear with compassion and empathy.
The other characters in the book are also fleshed out well and feel true-to-life. The dialogue feels lifelike and I didn't feel like anything felt cheesy or forced. We move with Kody through his life and his interactions as he grows and learns more about himself and the people around him.
It was truly a pleasure to read and I'd happily recommend it to teens and adults alike.
I loved this book.
The story unfolds so naturally that it's easy to be swept up in it. It also addresses important issues with grace, through realistic turns of events: racism, family enmeshment, the opioid crisis, parentification, and homophobia. We watch many characters face situations and grow from them as they gain perspective.
Kody is incredibly sweet and endearing. Despite the obstacles he faces in life, including growing up in poverty, having to parent his own mother, being gay in a homophobic community, and more, he's unwavering in his kindness. He's funny and generous and views the world through eyes clear with compassion and empathy.
The other characters in the book are also fleshed out well and feel true-to-life. The dialogue feels lifelike and I didn't feel like anything felt cheesy or forced. We move with Kody through his life and his interactions as he grows and learns more about himself and the people around him.
It was truly a pleasure to read and I'd happily recommend it to teens and adults alike.
December 26, 2021
One of Julia Watts's best books, this YA novel is a good read for adults as well. Forget that wretched Hillbilly Elegy, this book is a far superior examination of how the opiod crisis and the movement of manufacturing jobs overseas have combined to wreck a generation of lives in Appalachia. The protagonist Kody is perhaps wise beyond his years and experience, but that helps make this novel one that could give many young kids in situations similar to his courage and comfort. The novel shows how damaging secrets can be - how damaging it is to be forced to keep secrets - and how telling (and living) the truth can lead to change and the freedom to be one's self. The author has created a vivid and compelling story in which racism, heterosexism, classism, religion and value systems, the opiod crisis, poverty and job loss are intertwined - as indeed they are in real life in Appalachia. There are small touches in this novel that really make characters come to life, such as the tshirts with various cheerful religious slogans that L.J. wears; the attention to who eats what food where; and the relationship of various characters to their pets. Extraordinary job. Give this novel to any young teen in your life.
March 8, 2023
Kody doesn't mind his life in a small Southern town: he lives with his Nanny who he loves quilting and crocheting and watching Golden Girls with, even if his mother is a drug-addicted mess, even if he can't fully come out of the closet. Then he finds out that he has a half-sister. In meeting Macey, Kody begins to really look at his life and begin to think about something more.
This was a heart-warming story that reminded me of Dumplin' and Pumpkin, about a small town kid beginning to think about the future. Kody has an interest in drag but doesn't have access to anything like that, never mind that he knows the people in his life wouldn't approve if they knew about it. He also has a big heart and tries to help his mother kick her drug habit, and then has to come to terms with the fact that he can't force her to change - his relationship with his Nanny was lovely as she slowly began to make some changes.
This was a heart-warming story that reminded me of Dumplin' and Pumpkin, about a small town kid beginning to think about the future. Kody has an interest in drag but doesn't have access to anything like that, never mind that he knows the people in his life wouldn't approve if they knew about it. He also has a big heart and tries to help his mother kick her drug habit, and then has to come to terms with the fact that he can't force her to change - his relationship with his Nanny was lovely as she slowly began to make some changes.
November 1, 2021
I'm writing this immediately after I've finished the book. I am emotional.
Kody is not like the other boys in his Kentucky town. He doesn't like sports, or hunting. Instead he likes to knit, crochet, sew, and watch The Golden Girls reruns with his nanny who is raising him because his mother had a drug addiction.
Kody is a character you root for the whole way. He is such a good, kind, loving teen. When he learns a family secret, his life changes, and my heart ached for him so much throughout this novel. I wanted to give the boy a hug.
Kody tries so hard to take care of his mother. Kody loves his grandmother so much. Kody has a secret, and it involves his love for Dolly Parton. I love this about him. I love everything about him. He goes to church every Sunday and has one good friend, but he knows the town wouldn't accept him if they knew who he really was. But would his grandmother still look at him the same way? Would his best friend understand?
Needlework had me hooked from start to finish. It's such a beautiful book with a beautiful emotional ending.
Kody is not like the other boys in his Kentucky town. He doesn't like sports, or hunting. Instead he likes to knit, crochet, sew, and watch The Golden Girls reruns with his nanny who is raising him because his mother had a drug addiction.
Kody is a character you root for the whole way. He is such a good, kind, loving teen. When he learns a family secret, his life changes, and my heart ached for him so much throughout this novel. I wanted to give the boy a hug.
Kody tries so hard to take care of his mother. Kody loves his grandmother so much. Kody has a secret, and it involves his love for Dolly Parton. I love this about him. I love everything about him. He goes to church every Sunday and has one good friend, but he knows the town wouldn't accept him if they knew who he really was. But would his grandmother still look at him the same way? Would his best friend understand?
Needlework had me hooked from start to finish. It's such a beautiful book with a beautiful emotional ending.
November 20, 2021
Oh I just loved this! It still manages to tug at your heart strings, while not shying away from the devastating reality of the opioid epidemic and what it’s like to love somehow whose snared within it. Kody is such a genuinely kind person, and I really
enjoyed his interactions with Nanny. I also love reading about little things that remind me of my home in Appalachia. It’s a good, cozy feeling. And of course, Miss Dolly Parton is a shining light for our young protagonist, and rightfully so. Long live Dolly!
enjoyed his interactions with Nanny. I also love reading about little things that remind me of my home in Appalachia. It’s a good, cozy feeling. And of course, Miss Dolly Parton is a shining light for our young protagonist, and rightfully so. Long live Dolly!
October 23, 2022
While set in rural Kentucky, it could be set in West Virginia as well. Kody is a 16 year old boy who lives with his Nanny and his younger brother. His dad isn't in the picture and his mom is usually too strung out on drugs to be of any help with her sons. Kody spends most of his time quilting with Nanny, watching Golden Girls and listening to Dolly Parton records in his bedroom. Kody has a secret though, one he's not ready to share with many around him. You might need a tissue or two for parts of this book, but it will also have you laughing some as well.
March 26, 2023
This is a great story for any LGBT youth or anyone with a family member with addiction.
It's a short but sweet story. It's heroic and feel-good.
Maybe I'm harsh but I hated that he called her "Mommy" throughout the entire book. Wouldn't "Mama" have been more accurate for the south? I ended up having to change every single mommy in my head to mama (and there were a lot of them). Just kind of cringe I guess.
I love the title of the book.... however it almost doesn't really work. His mom mostly pops pills, and his own needle work with quilts is BARELY talked about.
It's a short but sweet story. It's heroic and feel-good.
Maybe I'm harsh but I hated that he called her "Mommy" throughout the entire book. Wouldn't "Mama" have been more accurate for the south? I ended up having to change every single mommy in my head to mama (and there were a lot of them). Just kind of cringe I guess.
I love the title of the book.... however it almost doesn't really work. His mom mostly pops pills, and his own needle work with quilts is BARELY talked about.
March 25, 2023
Kody is a teenage boy, living with his grandmother in rural Kentucky helping to take care of his opioid addicted mother, who loves to quilt and is obsessed with Dolly Parton. When he discovers a long hidden family secret his already spinning world is turned sideways and he has to figure out what to do.
This book made me laugh and cry, I felt so much for Kody and all he had to deal with. I really enjoyed this book and would highly recommend!
💙💙💙💙
This book made me laugh and cry, I felt so much for Kody and all he had to deal with. I really enjoyed this book and would highly recommend!
💙💙💙💙
November 7, 2022
Really wishing I could remember where I heard about this book!
It's both sweet and hard, a good YA book about a Dolly Parton loving boy living in rural Kentucky. As he learns more about his past and his drug-addicted mother he also tries to dive deeper into who he is.
I felt like it was a tad simple, maybe, but it is YA. I loved Kody and enjoyed his growth.
It's both sweet and hard, a good YA book about a Dolly Parton loving boy living in rural Kentucky. As he learns more about his past and his drug-addicted mother he also tries to dive deeper into who he is.
I felt like it was a tad simple, maybe, but it is YA. I loved Kody and enjoyed his growth.
May 2, 2023
I love queer kids and reading about queer kids in different circumstances to my own. This book has such a sense of melancholy, but also joy. The main character has been forced to mature quickly because of poverty and his mom's addiction. I love the way religion converges and conflicts with identity, both personal and public, in this small town. This one's for the queer Dolly Parton fans !
November 25, 2021
Needlework is about a sixteen-year-old from rural Kentucky who isn’t like other boys. He hasn’t the faintest interest in sports or cars but could likely quote an entire episode of Golden Girls to you while working on his latest sewing project with his grandmother. He’s gay in a town and family that’s deeply religious, but his main concern on most days is his mother fighting a losing battle with addiction. Despite their financial and interpersonal struggles, somehow they manage to get by – until Kody discovers a secret that threatens to turn his life upside down.
Needlework isn’t a book I expected to rock me to my core. Though Kody and I share a few things in common, our backgrounds diverge in substantive ways that I assumed might make it difficult to connect with him. And yet Julia Watts managed to prove me wrong at every junction in the story. A lot of books that I’ve read skirt by on the strength of their prose – their authors know that there is poetry in words and they use that to great effect. Watts chooses a simpler style for Kody’s voice, but do not let the simplicity and lack of affectation fool you; there is plenty of wisdom and poetry to be found in in the simplicity of Kody’s words. In fact, one of the reasons the book is so gripping and immersive is because Watts has such a strong grasp of Kody’s voice and because of the way he engages with and perceives the world. There is something so innocent and good-natured, vulnerable and sincere about him that you can’t help but cheer him on and feel his struggles as he contends with them.
Needlework is by no means an easy read. It deals with content that is hard to swallow and at times deeply painful. The struggle of growing up queer in a religious community and taking care of someone struggling with addiction are so carefully depicted that you can’t help but ache for the characters as you read. That’s one of the most incredible parts of the book – it’s a story about love and hurting and healing, and somehow through it all Watts refuses to take the easy way out and paint struggles in black and white. It is all too easy to demonize people with antiquated views and those who have wronged us, but loving someone and not liking how they treat you aren’t mutually exclusive. Kody is understanding and tries so hard to do better and be better – but not everyone is willing or capable of doing the same. How do you reconcile your love for someone with the knowledge that they may not be a good person? How do you forgive someone for hurting you or thinking less of you for who you are? How do you deal with the pain and resentment that comes with trying to help someone you love who refuses to help themselves? These are all questions Watts tackles with all the nuance they deserve and more.
Needlework is an absolute gem of a novel that will make your heart swell just as easily as it will rip it out of your chest. Though it can head to some very heavy, dark places, at the end of the day it is a story about love, family, and purpose, and those themes absolutely shine through in the end.
Needlework isn’t a book I expected to rock me to my core. Though Kody and I share a few things in common, our backgrounds diverge in substantive ways that I assumed might make it difficult to connect with him. And yet Julia Watts managed to prove me wrong at every junction in the story. A lot of books that I’ve read skirt by on the strength of their prose – their authors know that there is poetry in words and they use that to great effect. Watts chooses a simpler style for Kody’s voice, but do not let the simplicity and lack of affectation fool you; there is plenty of wisdom and poetry to be found in in the simplicity of Kody’s words. In fact, one of the reasons the book is so gripping and immersive is because Watts has such a strong grasp of Kody’s voice and because of the way he engages with and perceives the world. There is something so innocent and good-natured, vulnerable and sincere about him that you can’t help but cheer him on and feel his struggles as he contends with them.
Needlework is by no means an easy read. It deals with content that is hard to swallow and at times deeply painful. The struggle of growing up queer in a religious community and taking care of someone struggling with addiction are so carefully depicted that you can’t help but ache for the characters as you read. That’s one of the most incredible parts of the book – it’s a story about love and hurting and healing, and somehow through it all Watts refuses to take the easy way out and paint struggles in black and white. It is all too easy to demonize people with antiquated views and those who have wronged us, but loving someone and not liking how they treat you aren’t mutually exclusive. Kody is understanding and tries so hard to do better and be better – but not everyone is willing or capable of doing the same. How do you reconcile your love for someone with the knowledge that they may not be a good person? How do you forgive someone for hurting you or thinking less of you for who you are? How do you deal with the pain and resentment that comes with trying to help someone you love who refuses to help themselves? These are all questions Watts tackles with all the nuance they deserve and more.
Needlework is an absolute gem of a novel that will make your heart swell just as easily as it will rip it out of your chest. Though it can head to some very heavy, dark places, at the end of the day it is a story about love, family, and purpose, and those themes absolutely shine through in the end.
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