Needy Little Things: The new YA thriller with a twist that will leave you speechless

Sariyah is not an ordinary teenager; her special gift means she senses what a person needs. Overwhelmed by the noise this creates, she tries to fulfil the requests, one day with devastating and unpredictable consequences. Shortly after one of her best friends disappears and a frantic search begins. Will Sariyah's gift help or hinder the search?

Needy Little Things is an intriguing, mysterious and pacey thriller. Many twists, turns and red herrings make for a suspenseful and gripping novel. Alongside the main issue of disappearance there are several thought-provoking themes throughout the book. Family responsibilities led by parental depression and neglect, romance, social media, loss, and friendship, are just some of the topics included. Overriding all of these are the discrepancies when young Black or white people disappear, whether in the social treatment their disappearance is given, the media or the police.

I was gripped by this book from the outset and highly recommend this as a great read for parents, teens and groups. A page turner, it kept me guessing right to the end with my only complaint a lack of closure on one matter, and a slightly saccharine resolution in another. But it will open discussion about social hierarchies as well as teen safety and the importance of family honesty and openness. The main characters are likeable and fun, making it all the more shocking when events take a turn. Highly recommended, a great read.

384 pages / Reviewed by Lorraine Ansell, school librarian

Suggested Reading Age 14+

What starts out as a story about a teenage girl who has a gift for knowing what people need (think pepper spray, tissues or chewing gum) quickly evolves into something much darker and more serious.

Sariyah's friend Deja goes missing at a festival. She is not the first black girl to do so and along with the grief Sariyah feels, is anger that when a white girl disappeared, society paid more attention. Sariyah and best friend Malcom use social media to try to find Deja and along the way get sucked into a world of distrust, half-truths and fear.

I found this to be a very interesting novel. It's set in America and explores the themes of parental mental health, young adult relationships and, interestingly for me, sickle cell disease. The idea of Sariyah instinctively knowing what people need in the moment is a bit quirky and shouldn't work, set against the other more significant issues, but it does!

Needy Little Things has a gripping plot with the ending being both unexpected and heart-stopping. There is much to consider by the time this has been read. Fans of Angie Thomas and followers of the Black Lives Matter movement will see this book as a useful addition to a conversation that needs to be kept going.

384 pages / Reviewed by Rachel Bolton

Suggested Reading Age 14+