By James Wong
Book Title: Now Is Not the Time to Panic
ISBN: 978006293500
Author: Kevin Wilson
Publisher: Ecco
Publication Year: 2022
Price: USD14.99
I had always been curious about how you could live a life where you never worried about repercussions, never considered that the thing you did rippled out into the world.
Kevin Wilson’s latest novel is a captivating story that follows the lives of two teenagers, Frankie Budge and Zeke, who bonded over their shared sense of loneliness in a tiny town in Coalfield, Tennessee.
It was the summer break of 1996. Out of boredom, they decided to channel their creativity to make art.
With Frankie being an aspiring writer and Zeke a skilled drawer, they created a poster with Frankie’s provocative phrase, “The Edge is a shantytown filled with gold seekers, we are fugitives, and the law is skinny with hunger for us,” complete with Zeke’s striking drawing along with their blood to fill in the spaces.
Motivated by a burning desire to leave a lasting impression and make a mark, they plastered the town with hundreds of copies of the poster, partly inspired by the graffiti art seen in Memphis, where Zeke originated.
However, when the poster became the talk of the town, things quickly spiralled out of control, spawning copycats, conspiracy theories, and fatalities. The frenzy was eventually known as the Coalfield Panic of 1996.
Rumours started to spread, and soon the town was gripped by panic.
The poster became a national news story, with everyone desperate to know who was behind it.
Despite the panic, Frankie and Zeke were determined to keep their involvement a secret.
Amidst the chaos and panic, their relationship took a left turn, leading to a fallout and broke off contact with each other.
Fast forward 20 years, Frankie went on to become a famous author, a loving wife and a mother, but she had never left that summer behind.
When a journalist called asking about the Coalfield Panic of 1996, Frankie’s carefully constructed life began to unravel. She was forced to confront the past she has been trying to forget, and the secrets she has been keeping all these years.
“Now Is Not the Time to Panic” is a coming-of-age story that explores the complexities of young love, identity, trauma, and the power of art. It also provokes readers to ponder about our deepest secrets that haunt us, and what the truth will set free.
Wilson’s writing is humorous and engaging, and the feeling of teenage angst, awkwardness and ambition is captured beautifully with masterful storytelling, allowing readers to stay immersed throughout.
The subjective impact of the art was cleverly portrayed in the novel — people take on different meanings depending on their background and interests.
To music fans, the poster was an advertisement for a new band; to literary critics, it was a carbon copy of Rimbaud; to religious folk, it was Satan worshippers recruiting young people.
The book’s vivid imageries read like scenes from a movie. The likable and relatable protagonists make it easy for readers to identify with their desire to leave a mark in the world.
Moreover, the book does a poignant representation of trauma and closure. It explores how unanswered questions and preserved experiences will go on to shape our lives, and the importance of closure as a means to move forward.
In the 20 years they were separated by fate, Frankie and Zeke were both grappling with their own personal demons, and the consequences of the Coalfield Panic weighed heavily on them both.
This aspect of the book is especially resonating emotionally, it highlights the impact that traumatic experiences can have on individuals, even years after the event has passed.
It is a reminder that the past is never truly gone, and it can continue to affect our present and future if we don’t find a way to confront it.
Ultimately, the novel is a powerful reminder of the importance of facing our fears and confronting our pasts, and the transformative power of closure and healing.
