Needle

Waterstones Children's Laureate Patrice Lawrence delivers a powerful and heart-rending exploration of a teenager’s journey through grief, rage and getting caught in the criminal justice system.

Winner of the 2023 Little Rebels Award and shortlisted for the Carnegie Medal.

Charlene is a demon knitter. It’s the only thing she enjoys and the only thing she believes she’s really good at.

So when her foster mum’s son destroys her latest creation, Charlene loses it and stabs him in the hand with her knitting needle. It damages a nerve and she gets sucked into the criminal justice system for assault.

Charlene's not sorry and she’s never apologised to anyone in her life. But people keep telling her that if she says sorry, they’ll go easier on her. Can she bring herself to say it and not mean it when her freedom’s at stake?

Particularly suitable for children aged 13+ with a reading age of 8.

© 2026 Barrington Stoke (Audiobook): 9780008870218

Release date

Audiobook: 1 December 2026