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3.78 AVERAGE
3.78 AVERAGE
Deliciously malevolent, this short book reads like a horror version of a cross between David Almond's Skellig and a story I read long ago in Twilight Zone magazine, Royal Jelly.
A socially 'different' boy, a new baby sibling who's ill, a mysterious creature that appears in his dreams. Is it an angel? Is it something else entirely?
This book is just scary enough for older elementary kids without pushing them into the land of nightmares, and never talks down to them.
A socially 'different' boy, a new baby sibling who's ill, a mysterious creature that appears in his dreams. Is it an angel? Is it something else entirely?
This book is just scary enough for older elementary kids without pushing them into the land of nightmares, and never talks down to them.
I could not stop reading this book!!!!!!!! Read it all in one night. Super fast read and compelling. Strange, disturbing and compelling. I wish my students were a bit older so I could assign this.
This book is terrifyingly creepy. I'll never look at wasps the same again! At first, I thought the book started out pretty slow and depressing, but about 1/3 of my way through, I couldn't put it down. I loved the unreliable narrator and how it's hard to tell nightmares from reality. This is solidly a middle grade read for me. It is psychologically intense both in a gothic horror kind of way and also in how the narrator graphically describes his experiences with anxiety and OCD.
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
HOLY WASP!! What a story and I'm not a fan of supernatural! This one sucked me in from the beginning. There's a little something for everyone: personal identity, family, adventure, scifi/fantasy. What is normal? What would be perfect? And how do we deal with imperfection?
BOOK TALK: New baby, Theo, is very imperfect. If he doesn't die, it certainly appears his life could be very difficult. Theo's brother, Steven, struggles with his own imperfections of OCD and deadly allergy to wasps. In Steven's dreams enters a wasp queen with a solution to these imperfections. She will supply a replacement for Theo, one without the imperfections. The plan appeals to Steven to remove the pain and worry for his parents and reduce his own stress. Gradually the queen grows a new baby in a next outside Steven's house. When almost full grown the queen asks one thing of Steven. He must say "yes" to opening the window and screen of Theo's room to let the wasps bring in the replacement baby. Will he comply? Will he allow the wasps to replace Theo?
BOOK TALK: New baby, Theo, is very imperfect. If he doesn't die, it certainly appears his life could be very difficult. Theo's brother, Steven, struggles with his own imperfections of OCD and deadly allergy to wasps. In Steven's dreams enters a wasp queen with a solution to these imperfections. She will supply a replacement for Theo, one without the imperfections. The plan appeals to Steven to remove the pain and worry for his parents and reduce his own stress. Gradually the queen grows a new baby in a next outside Steven's house. When almost full grown the queen asks one thing of Steven. He must say "yes" to opening the window and screen of Theo's room to let the wasps bring in the replacement baby. Will he comply? Will he allow the wasps to replace Theo?
I’m not one to read middle-grade novels, but I’d heard from many sources that ‘The Nest’ was quite extraordinary. It reminded me heavily of ‘Challenger Deep’ by Neal Shusterman. That magical realism seated in some mental illness like anxiety.
‘The Nest’ deals with our protagonist Steven communicating with other worldly beings (wasps) that give him a status quo on life and the survival of his ill newborn brother. The whole family are trying to deal with the difficulties the infant faces, as well as their own demons. It may be Steve’s overactive imagination that brings the dreams, or mental illness manifest in the form of delusion. But we are treated to almost psychic predictions. These are then pitted against Councillors and Psychiatrists, and other adult figures with justifications. But in the mind of Steve, we never know what to believe. This theme is front and centre throughout the entire novel, as well as Steve’s fear: that if he comes completely clean about what is going on in his head, he’ll be committed to a Sanatorium.
The set up and narrative balances on the edge of fantasy and reality is done expertly and had me salivating with joy.
We see his character develop as he discerns fantasy from reality, and finding strength within to battle his personal and very real physical threats that circle him and newborn brother Theo. It’s a subtle journey.
I will say the last third of the novel really amps up the tension and pace. I could not take my eyes from the page, curling up my legs and twitching nervously. It was quite a surprise for a middle grade novel, such visceral images and such a menacing ambience. It carries that same creepy air you get from Roald Dahl novels.
Some charcoal, or possible pencil, illustrations are scattered throughout the novel in scribbly texture, one shade of grey that add to the unsettling tone.
I was attracted by the cover art at first, and under the dust jacket holds another version of the cover, just as beautiful. The presentation of this novel is stunning. Deckled edges, thick solid hardback. Such a gorgeous addition to my library.
And the story is haunting, the kind of thing that stays with you for a while after. I would tend to say only the more mature end of middle grade would be able to digest this tome. The story is light, but the meaning dense. I could imagine kids feeling itchy and glancing about like a skittish horse at small movements looking for flying insects.
A short novel, I read in half a day, the prose is a little rich, so it is either educational for its target audience, leaning towards a discussion afterward, or meant for those hard core younger readers. Possibly something you could read aloud in a classroom as well.
Maybe if I was a lot younger I would give this a much higher rating, but for me, it lacked a little complexity – because that’s the type of book I’m used to reading. But I’d definitely recommend this solely for the experience.
‘The Nest’ deals with our protagonist Steven communicating with other worldly beings (wasps) that give him a status quo on life and the survival of his ill newborn brother. The whole family are trying to deal with the difficulties the infant faces, as well as their own demons. It may be Steve’s overactive imagination that brings the dreams, or mental illness manifest in the form of delusion. But we are treated to almost psychic predictions. These are then pitted against Councillors and Psychiatrists, and other adult figures with justifications. But in the mind of Steve, we never know what to believe. This theme is front and centre throughout the entire novel, as well as Steve’s fear: that if he comes completely clean about what is going on in his head, he’ll be committed to a Sanatorium.
The set up and narrative balances on the edge of fantasy and reality is done expertly and had me salivating with joy.
We see his character develop as he discerns fantasy from reality, and finding strength within to battle his personal and very real physical threats that circle him and newborn brother Theo. It’s a subtle journey.
I will say the last third of the novel really amps up the tension and pace. I could not take my eyes from the page, curling up my legs and twitching nervously. It was quite a surprise for a middle grade novel, such visceral images and such a menacing ambience. It carries that same creepy air you get from Roald Dahl novels.
Some charcoal, or possible pencil, illustrations are scattered throughout the novel in scribbly texture, one shade of grey that add to the unsettling tone.
I was attracted by the cover art at first, and under the dust jacket holds another version of the cover, just as beautiful. The presentation of this novel is stunning. Deckled edges, thick solid hardback. Such a gorgeous addition to my library.
And the story is haunting, the kind of thing that stays with you for a while after. I would tend to say only the more mature end of middle grade would be able to digest this tome. The story is light, but the meaning dense. I could imagine kids feeling itchy and glancing about like a skittish horse at small movements looking for flying insects.
A short novel, I read in half a day, the prose is a little rich, so it is either educational for its target audience, leaning towards a discussion afterward, or meant for those hard core younger readers. Possibly something you could read aloud in a classroom as well.
Maybe if I was a lot younger I would give this a much higher rating, but for me, it lacked a little complexity – because that’s the type of book I’m used to reading. But I’d definitely recommend this solely for the experience.
The Nest drew me in immediately and only became more compelling as the story unfolded. There is a beautiful ambiguity about Steven's part in the story. The reader can't be entirely sure about how much of what happens is "real" (though I suppose it's all real if it's real to the character) and how much is the product of Steven's anxiety and imagination. The result is an intriguing story.
Kenneth Oppel did it again. Like he did with his Boundless, Oppel kept me up at night. He reached right off the pages of The Nest, pulled me in close, and whispered in the darkest, creepiest whisper, “Worry and keep worrying.” And worry I did. I worried about Steve who battles severe anxiety and OCD. I worried about Steve’s baby brother who faces life threatening health conditions. And I worried most about Steve’s decision to contract with an angel-wasp. But I could never blame Steve for sealing the deal with the wasp. How could he ever turn down the chance for peace and a “fixed” baby brother? Or could he?
Once I start watching a scary movie, I have to finish it no matter how scared I am just to find out what happens. The same is true for this book; I could not put it down. I needed to know what was to become of Steve, what was to become of his baby brother, what was to become of the wasps. While I know that I am safe (at least until I see my first wasp this spring and that same fear courses through me again...thanks, Oppel, for instilling in me an eternal fear of wasps), I still find myself thinking much about the idea of perfection. What does it mean to be perfect? Does it mean to be without limitations, physical or mental? Does it mean being just like others? And after reading The Nest, I am again reminded that all we need to do is love ourselves and love each other exactly the way we are.
Once I start watching a scary movie, I have to finish it no matter how scared I am just to find out what happens. The same is true for this book; I could not put it down. I needed to know what was to become of Steve, what was to become of his baby brother, what was to become of the wasps. While I know that I am safe (at least until I see my first wasp this spring and that same fear courses through me again...thanks, Oppel, for instilling in me an eternal fear of wasps), I still find myself thinking much about the idea of perfection. What does it mean to be perfect? Does it mean to be without limitations, physical or mental? Does it mean being just like others? And after reading The Nest, I am again reminded that all we need to do is love ourselves and love each other exactly the way we are.
I read this book aloud in my middle school book club and we were mesmerized by it! Very suspenseful!
Creepy book. Reminded me of a Twilight Zone episode except for middle school. An easy read that I am going to aim the direction of my 5th and 6th graders. I am hoping to hook some of my hard to reach boys with this book.