Needlework

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 show more 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. show less

With one parent incarcerated and the other struggling with addiction, 17-year-old Kody lives with Nanny, his maternal grandmother, in her Morgan, Kentucky, modular home. Between watching The Golden Girls, church on Sundays, and working on sewing projects together, the two have a lot in common. But, close as they are, Nanny doesn’t know Kody’s greatest secrets: He’s gay, and he has a ritual Dolly Dress-Up Hour when she’s not home. A third secret comes to light when a surprise Facebook message connects Kody, who is White, with Macey, the 15-year-old half sister he knew nothing about. Yet another surprise for Kody, given that the town is almost entirely White, is that Macey’s late father was Black. The siblings meet across state show more lines where Macey lives in Knoxville, Tennessee, and get to know each other. Macey believes she might be bisexual, and her family’s casual acceptance surprises Kody. But the more they connect, the more Kody’s personal secrets—and his family’s own closely kept secrets—begin to unravel. Watts’ latest contemporary Appalachian story movingly melds identity exploration with more prominent themes of addiction, family, faith, and racism. Though she doesn’t skirt away from uncomfortable situations or harsh realities, the overall tone is hopeful—not unlike a Dolly Parton song itself. Although the end of the novel feels too rushed, the rural setting and community are richly drawn.

A would-be “Backwoods Barbie” tale with a whole lot of heart. (Fiction. 14-18)
(Kirk's Reviews) show less

With one parent incarcerated and the other struggling with addiction, 17-year-old Kody lives with Nanny, his maternal grandmother, in her Morgan, Kentucky, modular home. Between watching The Golden Girls, church on Sundays, and working on sewing projects together, the two have a lot in common. But, close as they are, Nanny doesn’t know Kody’s greatest secrets: He’s gay, and he has a ritual Dolly Dress-Up Hour when she’s not home. A third secret comes to light when a surprise Facebook message connects Kody, who is White, with Macey, the 15-year-old half sister he knew nothing about. Yet another surprise for Kody, given that the town is almost entirely White, is that Macey’s late father was Black. The siblings meet across state show more lines where Macey lives in Knoxville, Tennessee, and get to know each other. Macey believes she might be bisexual, and her family’s casual acceptance surprises Kody. But the more they connect, the more Kody’s personal secrets—and his family’s own closely kept secrets—begin to unravel. Watts’ latest contemporary Appalachian story movingly melds identity exploration with more prominent themes of addiction, family, faith, and racism. Though she doesn’t skirt away from uncomfortable situations or harsh realities, the overall tone is hopeful—not unlike a Dolly Parton song itself. Although the end of the novel feels too rushed, the rural setting and community are richly drawn.

A would-be “Backwoods Barbie” tale with a whole lot of heart. (Fiction. 14-18)
(Kirkus Reviews) show less

A really considerate, thoughtful, and caring view of a slice of life I am not familiar with on many levels. I initially expected Kody's Needle to be the quilting and piecework he did with his grandmother while watching Golden Girls, but it's not. Instead Watts gave the reader a look at what life can be like in contemporary Appalachia, if you're a 16 year old gay guy, whose mother is a drug addict, father is incarcerated, and what keeps you sane are the moments you can cross dress and lip sync Dolly Parton. This story is told with great warmth, and a lot of Dolly,
Many thanks to the publisher and LibraryThing Early Reviewers program for sending me this copy. 2021 pandemic resurgence/Delta variant read. (Please wear a mask, get vaccinated, show more and stay safe.)

(rounded up) show less

A gentle and perceptive look at two issues people in small town rural America would like to ignore, addiction and gay teens. Kody is insulated from some of this with his time taken up by a love of knitting with his grandmother, singing along with Dolly Parton records, and trying to help his addicted mom. There's comfort in this routine as well as heartbreak and stress, but when he connects with a Black girl who claims to be his half sister and accepts him for who he truly is, Kody's world begins to expand and take on added color. There's no neatly wrapped happy ending here, but you come away satisfied and rooting for Kody. It's a book deserving of a place in any libary where teens dealing with family addiction, or gender issues are valued.

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 show more 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. show less

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. show more 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. show less