The Nest

By: Kenneth Oppel

Narrated by: Gibson Frazier

“The Nest leaves a lasting mark on the memory.” —The New York Times Book Review

Steve just wants to save his baby brother—but what will he lose in the bargain? Kenneth Oppel’s (Silverwing, The Boundless) haunting gothic tale for fans of Coraline, is one of the most acclaimed books of the year, receiving six starred reviews. Illustrations from Caldecott Medalist Jon Klassen.

For some kids summer is a sun-soaked season of fun. But for Steve, it’s just another season of worries. Worries about his sick newborn baby brother who is fighting to survive, worries about his parents who are struggling to cope, even worries about the wasp’s nest looming ominously from the eaves. So when a mysterious wasp queen invades his dreams, offering to “fix” the baby, Steve thinks his prayers have been answered.

All he has to do is say “Yes.” But “yes” is a powerful word. It is also a dangerous one. And once it is uttered, can it be taken back?

Celebrated author Kenneth Oppel creates an eerie masterpiece in this compelling story that explores disability and diversity, fears and dreams, and what ultimately makes a family. Includes illustrations from celebrated artist Jon Klassen.

Timely - with Asian killer wasps now in BC

I have been surprised how few young reader horror stories that I have encountered. Not my favorite subgenre. The story is OK. The queen is far too cerebral to actually scare me. But if you did not grow up watching Twilight Zone, this could be a decent substitute.

Different Story

I found it strange but it is well written. I kept wondering about the mental health of Steve. However, there are people out there who will enjoy this more than I did so I'm not going to judge it harshly. It is well written.

Insane

This book is very mysterious and very strange. This truly is the perfect book for fans of Coraline.

Absolutely fucking fantastic

The honors this book gets is well deserved, and the audiobook version does it such justice. Absolutely captivating from beginning to end. No word is fluff text, every beat and mention has a payoff. Everything is imagined beautifully.

Please download this book for your library, especially if you need some spooks this season.

Oooo! What a good, just creepy enough story!

I got assigned to read this story for school, and bought the audible version. I immediately got caught up in the wonderful narrative. Super creepy, super fun, good ending, I am excited to hear more of this author’s work.