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3.78 AVERAGE
3.78 AVERAGE
“I always remember those words when I saw a wasp. Get a grip. There were a lot of things I was supposed to get a grip on. I just wasn’t much good at it.” p. 10
Steve is a middle school boy whose family is in crisis. His brother, Theo was just born and Theo has lots of problems. Steve, himself, has not had an easy life – he is an anxious child. Oppel shows his readers that Steve is not very confident or sure of himself. This makes Steve’s story even harder to read, but also helped this reader relate to Steve.
I picked up this book because a review I read said the book was good and that Jon Klassen had done the illustrations. That was enough for me. I really like Klassen’s picture books and the tale seemed intriguing. I am not sure how middle school readers, who seem to be the target audience, will take to this story. However, I was hooked from the moment Steve gets stung by a strange looking wasp.
Wasps, one of Steve’s fears, have started to invade his family’s house. Steve has to figure out why the wasps have come to his family and what he should do about it. These wasps turn out to be a challenge even an adult might struggle with. Oppel drew me into his fantastical tale and I couldn’t put it down. What is wrong with Theo? What are the wasps doing? I just wanted answers to all my questions.
Klassen’s drawings add to Oppel’s story. The whole book is well done. I recommend this to readers of speculative fiction.
Steve is a middle school boy whose family is in crisis. His brother, Theo was just born and Theo has lots of problems. Steve, himself, has not had an easy life – he is an anxious child. Oppel shows his readers that Steve is not very confident or sure of himself. This makes Steve’s story even harder to read, but also helped this reader relate to Steve.
I picked up this book because a review I read said the book was good and that Jon Klassen had done the illustrations. That was enough for me. I really like Klassen’s picture books and the tale seemed intriguing. I am not sure how middle school readers, who seem to be the target audience, will take to this story. However, I was hooked from the moment Steve gets stung by a strange looking wasp.
Wasps, one of Steve’s fears, have started to invade his family’s house. Steve has to figure out why the wasps have come to his family and what he should do about it. These wasps turn out to be a challenge even an adult might struggle with. Oppel drew me into his fantastical tale and I couldn’t put it down. What is wrong with Theo? What are the wasps doing? I just wanted answers to all my questions.
Klassen’s drawings add to Oppel’s story. The whole book is well done. I recommend this to readers of speculative fiction.
Creepy. A horror story for middle grades. I appreciate the ethics, that all life has dignity and is worth preserving, but . . . creepy.
3.5? To begin, I this book for school, so that did take away my enjoyment a bit, having to answer questions as I read it and such. However, I did still like this book. I thought the writing was a little boring, but I did like it overall. The illustrations were awesome, though! I thought they added a really nice touch and brought the book together.
I was really torn on my rating of this one.
Reasons I gave it 5 stars:
- It reminded me of A Monster Calls, using a fantastical element to explore what someone truly believes or feels.
- The good versus evil was prevalent, but subtle. It left the reader to explore what's good and what's not.
- There were some great lines masked as words of the wiser, but they sat wrong with what I believe- which allows a mature reader to sort through what is really wise. It also allows for the idea of believing everything someone tells you.
- I loved the protagonist... And I was unsure if I was dealing with an unreliable narrator for parts!
Actually, after writing that out... I'm less torn!
Reasons I gave it 5 stars:
- It reminded me of A Monster Calls, using a fantastical element to explore what someone truly believes or feels.
- The good versus evil was prevalent, but subtle. It left the reader to explore what's good and what's not.
- There were some great lines masked as words of the wiser, but they sat wrong with what I believe- which allows a mature reader to sort through what is really wise. It also allows for the idea of believing everything someone tells you.
- I loved the protagonist... And I was unsure if I was dealing with an unreliable narrator for parts!
Actually, after writing that out... I'm less torn!
dark
medium-paced
Diverse cast of characters:
No
A less good ‘Skellig’
Strange, creepy and disconcerting...but I just couldn't stop reading. Wondered where on earth the author was going with it all. Klassen's art work definitely adds to the overall feeling of the book.
This was a disturbing read. Steve has a younger sister and a new baby brother who is born with serious health problems. With a history of anxiety, Steve takes on more than his share of worry about the baby, and also begins dreaming vividly of wasps who promise to "fix" his baby. The story intensifies to a frightening climax in which Steve has to face his fears. Well-reviewed, but very dark.
Steve has always been a worrier, but when his little brother is born with congenital birth defects his anxiety skyrockets. All of his old tricks used to cope with his anxiety and OCD behavior don’t seem to be working as well. Then in a dream he is visited by a beautiful winged creature who promises to “fix” the baby. Steve thinks she is the answer to his family’s prayers. He has the chance to help make his brother healthy - normal. Slowly Steve realizes what is at stake and begins to reconsider. Who decides what normal is and what price is too high to achieve it? Oppel skillfully builds the tension in this middle grade psychological thriller to a dramatic and can’t put it down conclusion. Illustrations by Jon Klausen add just the right touch of eeriness.