Oppel, Kenneth. Nest, The . Jon Klassen, Illus. Fiction. Simon & Schuster, 10/2015. 244p. $16.99. 978-1-4814-3232-0. OUTSTANDING. GRADES 5-8.
His parents spend most of their time caring for their seriously ill infant, so Steven must deal with his fears and OCD issues alone. When an angelic figure appears in his dreams, offering “to make things better” by “fixing” his baby brother, Steven is relieved. As these dreams recur, however, he perceives the figures as wasps, not angels, and the queen wasp is making her own plans for the baby. With each dream, the tension ratchets, building to a riveting, nightmarish clash that challenges Steven’s courage and love for his brother. Dark, moody graphite illustrations reflect the eerie, ominous tone. Even the deus ex machina element is creepy. Definitely not for the faint-hearted or nervous reader, this terrifying page-turner will give horror fans a first rate scare.
Linda Perkins, Independent