My introduction to Kevin Wilson was ’Nothing to See Here’ three years ago, which left me giddy with delight. Less than a year later I read his ’Tunneling to the Center of the Earth’, a collection of stories, which I also loved. So when I saw he had ’Now is Not the Time to Panic’ I knew I wanted to read it. I’m so very glad that I did.

Set in Coalfield, Tennessee in the mid-nineties where Frances Budge, who goes by ‘Frankie’ meets a boy her age, Zeke, at the local public pool. Most people she’s grown up with, gone to school with, avoid her or ignore her, so when she meets this boy from Memphis who has just moved there for the summer, she feels like she finally has someone she can talk to, someone who will actually listen. A friend.

Frankie loves to write, and is currently working on a story when they first meet, she has dreams of being published one day. Zeke loves art, loves the process of creating art. As their friendship quickly blooms, together they make a poster using an old copy machine in her mother’s garage that will change everything for Coalfield, Tennessee. When multiple copies are placed around the town over time, it takes on a life of its own. This remote and quiet town will soon become a place that makes the news all over the world.

’The edge is a shantytown filled with gold seekers. We are fugitives, and the law is skinny with hunger for us.’

Slowly, people begin to notice, posters are taken down, and just as quickly they go back up. Soon it is out of their hands as others begin to copy them and they fill the town, and beyond. Soon they appear in other places, other cities, other states, other countries as others begin to copy their work. Their work becomes famous, albeit anonymous, and things eventually become dangerous. Lives are lost, and the law is out to catch them, even though no one knows who is responsible. Of course this leads to many theories of who is responsible and what it all means.

Although there is a bit of this story that revolves around ‘first love,’ for me, the heart of the story is the power that words and art hold, the power to capture our attention and share it with others, trying to find the meaning behind it. The power of mere words and art to shape us, to see things from a new perspective, to seek the meaning and beauty in even the things we don’t understand at first glance.


Pub Date: 08 Nov 2022

Many thanks for the ARC provided by Ecco Books

I first encountered Kevin Wilson's writing in Nothing to See Here, which was a curious tale of children that catch fire. The writing was fun and engaging and the story made me think... lots.

So when I saw that he had a new book coming out, I requested it from Netgalley and was happy that I was given the opportunity to read more of Wilson's work.

This story is just as engaging and I have thought lots about it since I finished the book this week. It is a bit of a coming of age story... and while that is generally not my first choice in reading, this coming of age story pulled me in. It is also about not fitting in... feeling different than everyone around you. It touches on divorce, single parenting, and more.

I loved Frankie... so very much. She is a tester of the waters, a try-er of new things, and yes... a budding writer! So Frankie and Zach (the other odd boy out in the town their mothers returned to after leaving their husbands) spend a summer by creating what turns out to be a very controversial bit of art... art they reproduce and post anonymously all over town. And they keep the fact that they were the artists for 20 years.

"The edge is a shantytown filled with gold seekers. We are fugitives, and the law is skinny with hunger for us."

I wish I could have seen the artwork, although I have a picture of it in my mind, I am left wondering if the book will have an image of it.

This story also touches on what happens when people don't understand something... and the way that people can cause each other to panic. (The title is just so brilliant!) I truly appreciated Wilson's forward to the book, which explained why he wrote it. He had my attention from the first page!

I highly recommend this story!

I would like to thank Ecco and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book.

It is 1996 in Coalfield, Tennessee and Frankie Budge is a sixteen-year-old artistic loner with no plans for her summer vacation. When she meets Zeke, another creative teenager in town staying with his grandmother the connection is immediate and intense. Working collectively and anonymously, the two create a small, seemingly ephemeral, piece of art that ultimately takes on a life of its own. Twenty years later the commotion it caused is still remembered and is now being investigated by a journalist who has proof that the work belongs to Frankie. This coming of age story addresses acute adolescent connections as well as the power and kinship of art

Thank you to Net Galley and Harper Collins for an advanced reader's copy.

I really enjoyed this book. It's quirky and realistic, with a very complicated protagonist and supporting characters. I loved the depth to each characterb in h. Both Frankie and Zeke felt genuine, but I also really loved Frankie's mom. It's a very character-driven story and I loved where Frankie (and Zeke) took us.

I adored Nothing to See Here so was excited for this one. But this one wasn’t quite for me. I was a little bored. And when I started getting reengaged toward the end—when the MC was an adult— the ending left me underwhelmed— the whole book did.

Having loved Nothing to See Here , I was eager to read this book.
Frankie and Zeke have a summer together in Smalltown USA (Coalfield, Tennessee). They are both struggling with family issues and finding their ways in the teenage social order. They form a friendship/romance and come up with an art poster they distribute around their community. What ensues is out of their control but they are unable to stop their own compulsion to continue to hang the posters., despite some tragic consequences. Later we learn what became of Frankie in life as well as how the summer affected the person she became.
I found it to be very well written with strongly drawn characters and a quirky interesting story. Definitely a well done coming of age story. The story drags a little in the midsection but the ending was totally spot on. It is a little scary to see how innocent behavior can have such a ripple effect in the lives of others and how we carry our youthful selves in our consciousness.
I must admit I missed some of the magic and sheer outrageousness of Nothing to See Here but I really enjoyed the book. What made it really special for me was the author's note and his sharing of his own life experience. I loved the emphasis on child/adolescent friendship and how it shapes our lives. This would be a great read for teens as well as all of us who were once teens. Well done!
Thanks to NetGalley and Ecco for the chance to read early and review. Publication date projected for 11/8/2022.

One ordinary teenage summer turns into a life changing time for Frankie when Zeke moves to town. They begin to explore art and test the limits of their creativity and the limits of their small Tennessee town. They spark the Coalfield Panic of 1996 and neither of them are ever the same.

This books combines the charm of classic Kevin Wilson with the cultural friction of the mid '90s. It explores what does it mean to be an artist? Are artists responsible for the reactions of the public to their art? It also explores what it means to be a teenager. And who would go back to that time in their lives? Seriously? I truly appreciated Wilson's view of being a teenager as an adult looking back on that time rather than the intense angst of a YA lens.

It lacks the outright (delightful) absurdity of 'Nothing to See Here' but I found Frankie to be a realistic and enjoyable narrator. I hope this book finds the same amount of love as it's predecessor.

I always appreciate Kevin Wilson's writing style. He writes quirky characters and in a style that is uniquely "him". Now is Not the Time to Panic was an enjoyable book, though it dragged in places for me. Recommended!

ARC received via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

"I thought the saddest thing that could happen was that something inside your head worked so hard to make it into the world and then nothing happened. It just disappeared." (page N.A.)

Kevin Wilson’s new book Now Is Not the Time to Panic* (HarperCollins, November 2022—thanks for the advanced reading copy) is a multi-level exercise on the opposite event: something in a couple of adolescents’ heads erupting into an unexpected something.

What feels like a Y.A. story in the beginning (despite an opening chapter that clearly lets you know it is not) grows into an unpredictably large tale.

Two lonely, alienated teenagers create something out of their imaginations that they then force-feed the world, resulting in a herd action that goes to places they never could have imagined.

Since I am obsessed with understanding our human herd actions, I had plenty to contemplate. But other readers, and even Kevin Wilson, may see this story as much more personal—a coming-of-age tale about a desire to create and affect the world.

Because Kevin Wilson is a terrific writer, readers can go wherever the story takes them. And it ends with the same sweetness as his other books. The guy is just sweet—it’s his nature. And I love it.

_____________
*The book is copyrighted under the title We Are Fugitives and I heartily prefer that title.

An enticing premise with some tender and thoughtful moments that, unfortunately, loses steam and drags on in the second half.

I've enjoyed all of Kevin Wilson's other novels but this one was a bit too weird for me. I feel like it went over my head and I don't "get it." I liked the setting of the 1990s and the role of art in a cultural movement. While this wasn't a fit for me, I still recommend it for those who enjoy "weird" fiction.

I loved it! BUTTT here's the thing about Kevin Wilson you have to like his writing style. I find it unique and he certainly writes about unique topics. All that being said if you need a good laugh he's the writer for you. So break out that sense of humor and enjoy this great weekend read.

Kevin Wilson does it again! I love this quirky take on art and friendship and small towns. Compulsively readable. I will read anything Wilson writes. I will read it twice.

When Frankie and Zeke meet in small-town Tennessee, the two share their aspirations and find in each other a foundation upon which they can create their art. With Frankie's writing abilities and Zeke's proclivity for art, the two launch a collaboration that sends their town into chaos. Wilson is no stranger to creating stories that are playful and poignant and this book is no different. Now is Not the Time to Panic serves as a call to action for any and all who long to create.

Kevin Wilson's book Now Is Not the Time to Panic is like a breath of fresh air. This coming of age story is about two teenagers that spend a summer making art together. Sounds mundane, right? Save that thought until after you read this unique story. The year isn't over yet, but this could end up being my favorite book of 2022.

Synopsis:
Zeke and Frankie create a poster that soon takes on a life of its own. The social phenomenon eventually spreads nationwide creating havoc that will come back to affect the duo as adults.

Kevin Wilson's writing is heartfelt and poignant as he explores friendship, family, and living with our choices. There is a strong sense of relatable elements and authenticity to the characters. Written with an abundance of humor, this novel is sure to delight literary fiction lovers.

Now Is Not the Time to Panic by Kevin Wilson is available on November 8th. (5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐)

Thank you, NetGalley and Ecco, for sharing this outstanding book with me. Your kindness is appreciated!

I enjoyed two of Kevin Wilson's previous books (Nothing to See Here & The Family Fang), which made me excited to pick up his latest offering. Now is Not The Time to Panic has the same underlying quirkiness that I was expecting to find.

The main character is reminiscing about the summer that changed her life when she was 16. She lives in a small town and meets a boy over the summer. They create a secret poster art installation that becomes a global phenomenon.

This book captures a rebellious teenage summer in a way that is not stereotypically salacious or angst-filled. Your attention is captured through the eyes of an unassuming girl who follows the rules but doesn't feel like she fits in. What keeps you reading is the theme of friendship woven with mental health challenges, humor, the power of art, and the longing to find a place to fit in the world.

This is my second Kevin Wilson novel and let me say, I’m officially a fan for life. Now is Not the Time to Panic is so fresh and real - I did not want it to end. One of those books you speed through and then manually slow yourself down to delay the inevitable finish. I loved the teenager larger than life vibes - how it feels like everything in those moments really did impact you for life. The imperfect families of both Frankie and Zeke were a welcome change from what I’ve been reading lately. Wonderful characters that had a little bit of all of us in them.

Thank you SO much to Kevin Wilson, ECCO, and NetGalley for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Five stars!!! Can’t wait for your next book!! In the mean time- just purchased The Family Fang!

I can’t stop thinking about this weird, wonderful coming of age story. Kevin Wilson is so incredible at character development and scene setting (even in entirely improbable circumstances). I also loved the author’s note as an intro — it was really special to see how this spark of an idea came to life. 5 stars for sure.

Thank you to the team for letting me read an early copy. I’ll absolutely reread again!

We all know words have power. They can unite or divide.

In 1996, teens Frances (Frankie) and Zeke are the anonymous co-creators of art that is attributed with unintended meaning. While it doesn’t occur at the lightning speed we experience in the age of social media, the backlash is deadly.

Fast-forward to 2017, when a reporter approaches Frankie with a suspicion about the events of that summer, forcing Frankie to revisit her actions and the reactions of the townspeople of Coalfield, Tennessee and beyond – and now we have a story to tell.

One of Kevin Wilson’s subtlest, yet most striking gifts is his ability to flesh out his characters with just a few lines of dialogue. The reader only needs to read one or two lines spoken by Frankie’s mother to get a clear picture of a loving but sometimes mildly intrusive parent who usually misses the mark. The exception to this subtlety is when Frankie (who shares a lot of qualities with the teen Frankie character in The Member of the Wedding by Carson McCullers) actually mentions the book. OK, we get it. Two Frankies, both southern and outgrowing their former friends. It’s also noticeable and unusual that late-30’s-Frankie has a voice that is undistinguishable from 16-year-old Frankie.

Still – although Wilson’s beautifully written and honest notes “On Writing Now is Not the Time to Panic” don’t support this intent, the author has created an intriguing statement about the spread of hate in the face of concepts we don’t understand. Readable, relatable, and thought-provoking, Now is Not the Time to Panic is a novel you won’t want to miss. In spite of the very minor issues mentioned, the concept and its execution deserve five stars.

Kevin Wilson is fast becoming a favorite author for me. I loved his last book, Nothing to See Here, and his latest was 5 stars for me! The story centers around Two young teenagers, an artist and a writer, who meet in Coalfield, TN. They become romantically and artistically entangled and anonymously create a mysterious poster that takes on a life of its own. Twenty years later, a journalist starts nosing around, which threatens to bring up the past. Wilson noted this book is based on a college friendship of his and is "almost a memoir." It's full of 1990's nostalgia, teenage boredom and the intensity of teenage relationships, quirkiness, chuckle funny humor, and most importantly, it's grounded in heart. It's weird, but not too weird. Just weird enough. The voice shines here and I flew through it in two days.