Book Review of "The Nest" by Kenneth Oppel: An eerie, gothic fantasy for middle grade readers and up

Review of “The Nest” by Kenneth Oppel

                   An eerie gothic fantasy for

                 middle grade readers and up.

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?

Kenneth Oppell’s newest novel for middle grade (also young adult, also adult) readers, is stubbornly un-classifiable. It has been branded as fantasy, or even middle grade horror, but it’s lasting effect- the feeling which truly brands itself upon your mind- is more of a mysterious, fantastical gothic realism. Without giving too much away (as I think that the impact of the book relies upon the mysterious unfolding of events- the discoveries), the plot is undoubtedly rooted in fantasy. However, the tender realism of an anxiety-ridden boy who is navigating the stressful and terrifying event that has dislocated everyone in his family, is very poignant and resonates with true emotion. It is a haunting book of self-discovery- but a haunting book nonetheless.

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.

“We’ve come to help,” assures the winged, slightly ethereal being

who offers a solution to Steven in a dream. “We come when people

are scared or in trouble. We come when there’s grief.”

As the action unfolds in this eerie tale, our courageous, honest, OCD and nearly friendless protagonist, Steve, finds himself trudging deeper into the solitary realm of believing the absolutely, positively unbelievable. It is a lonely place, this place of trusting the impossible, and even simply to enter and to trust his gut instinct takes courage. Steve has had a good deal of practice “talking himself off the ledge” , as his OCD and anxiety have led his overactive imagination to places of haunting darkness too often in the past. But this time it’s different. When the winged creatures come to Steve in a dream offering to help, he feels compelled to believe that they are real.

The mystery of the story is what keeps the pages turning deep into the night. The reader is frantically uncertain about whom- or what- to trust. A sense of desperate fear can lead anyone to believe in any sort of solution or help being offered- but the question quickly becomes “at what cost?”. Kids will love the book for it’s sheer readability and the heart-thudding mystery of it all, but anyone can relate to that timeless literary theme of struggling to be normal, whole and perfect, only to realize that the way you are is already just right. The way in which this book addresses issues of normalcy, mental wellness, and coping is incredibly tender and insightful.