Needy Little Things by Channelle Desamours (Feb 4, 2025) Thank you to Wednesday Books and Macmilllan Audio for the gifted advanced listening copy of this absolutely enthralling and thought-provoking YA speculative mystery.
Imagine being able to hear the small needs of everyone around you – pencil, cough drop, nail file, chapstick. That’s the life of Sariyah Lee Bryant. Her mind is constantly inundated with the little necessities of those around her. To quiet the endless voices, she carries a handbag affectionately dubbed “the Santa Bag,” filled with odds and ends. Each time she fulfills a need, one voice is silenced.
But in a cruel twist, the minds of the people she loves most are completely closed to her. Only her family and her best friend, Malcom, know the truth about her ability – Malcom, whose sister vanished years ago, leaving Sariyah haunted by loss. When her friend Deja goes missing after Sariyah gives her a small item she needs, Sariyah refuses to let history repeat itself. With deep mistrust of the police, she and her friends take matters into their own hands to uncover the truth behind Deja’s disappearance.
This book is a so good and works on multiple levels. It’s a gripping speculative mystery with Nancy Drew vibes, centering on Sariyah’s unique ability and the profound ways her small acts of kindness ripple through others’ lives. But what sets it apart is the sharp and layered exploration of racism, classism, and education bias in society – especially the disparities in how missing persons cases are treated based on who is deemed “worthy” of being found.
🎧 About the Audiobook 🎧 Alaska Jackson, a new-to-me narrator, delivers a stunning performance. With a large cast of characters, Jackson brings each one to life uniquely and vividly, perfectly capturing the tension and emotion of the story. The audiobook runs 8 hours and 6 minutes, and every moment is captivating.
Book: 🌟🌟🌟🌟💫
Audiobook: 🌟🌟🌟🌟💫
Book Smart Kate 