Book Review: The Nest

I am not a huge fan of horror fiction… it scares me just a little too much.  Coraline was absolutely frightening, Doll Bones terrified me and even though I’ve met Mary Downing Hahn, I didn’t have to guts to tell her I’ve never read her work because I hate being scared.  I’m not a fan of haunted houses, scary movies, etc.  So, every once in awhile I’ll pick up something deemed “scary” to ensure that I at least am familiar with a few titles for patrons who come in looking specifically for scary books.

The Nest  by Kenneth Oppel and illustrated by Jon Klassen is the story of Steve and his family.  Steve’s baby brother is very sick and the doctors aren’t quite sure how to make him better which causes the family stress as his parents are constantly taking the baby to doctor’s appointments, hospital visits and more.  Steve and his sister are often left at home throughout the summer with a babysitter, while his parents take the baby to appointments.  Understandably, Steve is a worrier (which makes his parents worry more); he’s worried about germs, his family, the wasp’s nest outside (he’s allergic).  But, Steve is mostly worried the baby won’t survive, until he is visited in a dream by a wasp queen that might be able to help.  All Steve has to do is say, “yes.”  But, yes is a word full of power and when Steve is finally shown what will happen, he begins to wonder if “yes” was the right answer.

The story itself moves so quickly as you try to keep up and find out what happens with Steve’s baby brother, his family and the wasp nest hanging from the eaves of the house.  And, let me tell you when it comes to the climax of the story, I was reading so quickly to get through the scary part and find out what happened!  It’s also important to note that Steve has obsessive compulsive tendencies that are addressed in the book a few times (i.e. visits with a therapist for coping strategies), which makes for a very real character who is just trying to do the best he can.  It’s a fast read for kids who want a thrill in their stories – perfect for a quick summer read!

Read Alikes: 

1. A Tale Dark & Grimm by Adam Gidwitz
2. Splendors and Glooms by Laura Amy Schlitz
3. Doll Bones by Holly Black
4. The Jumbies by Tracey Baptiste
5. Coraline by Neil Gaiman

Twitter Booktalk (140 characters or less): A sick baby brother, a dream and the power of a single word… The Nest by @kennethoppel is a horror story you won’t be able to put down!

Title: The Nest
Author: Kenneth Oppel
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Publication Date: 2015
Page Number: 256 pgs.