The Nest

Oppel, K., & Klassen, J. (2015). The nest. New York, NY: Simon and Schuster.

The Nest is an eerie story filled with just the right amount of terror to haunt you after you put it down. Klassen’s illustrations set the perfect dark mood as you read about Steve, a young boy with obsessive-compulsive tendencies that only seem to increase now that he has a newborn baby brother with a congenital illness. He is given an opportunity to save his brother, but he is not sure if he’s losing his mind. He has always suffered from fears and now his nightmares are starting to mix with reality. As the reader you are left wondering how much is in Steve’s head as a result of all of pressures and anxieties in his life, and how much is real. If he accepts this “gift” of saving his brother, there may be a sinister price to pay. He is alone in making a decision, fearful that his parents will not believe him and send him back to his therapist. He is also starting to feel more and more neglected with his parents’ preoccupation with his baby brother. Who will he turn to and will he be able to save his brother?

I think this is a good book for a grades 5 and up. Kids who are dealing with a sibling who is sick and those who experience anxiety, depression, and/or obsessive compulsive disorder will relate well to the main character. However, anyone who reads this will feel the emotions and fear conveyed not only through the text but also through the illustrations. Teachers can use this book in the classroom to analyze the possible outcomes of different decisions that Steve can make.

Kenneth Oppel’s website, complete with a book trailer, discussion questions, and enrichment activities for The Nest:

http://www.kennethoppel.ca

Kenneth Oppel’s blog, with a post about writing The Nest:
http://kennethoppel.blogspot.com

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