Customer Reviews

Nest

NEST tells the story of Naomi Orenstein of Cape Cod, in about 1972. Naomi is eleven years old and lives there with her dad, a psychiatrist; her mom, a dancer; and her sister Rachel, about two years older than Naomi.

Naomi is an average eleven-year-old. She has the typical love-hate relationship with school – sometimes a little more hate than love because of an uncertain-of-herself first-year teacher. She quarrels with her sister and her friends at times. She becomes friends with Joey, the boy across the street, whose family isn’t the best – and the youngsters do find mischief together. One thing Naomi loves and understands is bird watching; she knows the birds of her area very well, to the point of having the nickname “Chirp.”

Then Naomi’s mom becomes ill, and everything seems to fall apart for the whole Orenstein family. Responsibilities within the family change.

This novel is very well-written, and I can recommend it for the appropriate age group with one provision: Because of some of the thematic elements readers encounter, I would recommend that the intended readership (about ages nine through twelve) read it with an adult available to discuss these themes and how things have changed since the time this novel is set.

Five stars, but adult presence advised.

Who I am: I hold degrees in English and library science.

Eleven-year-old Naomi Orenstein is nicknamed “Chirp” because of her love of birds and bird-watching. Her sister Rachel and her father are close, and Chirp enjoys a special bond with her mother, a former dancer. The story is set in 1972 on Cape Cod.

Chirp's mother is diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (M.S.) and is severely depressed as a result of her illness. Chirp copes with her mother's illness by spending time alone with her beloved birds and befriending a neighbor boy named Joey.

This is a story about a family dealing with severe hardships. Chirp is a survivor and learns the true meaning of friendship and family.

This was a very emotional book. It was written for middle school students and it deals with problems that many youngsters have probably been sheltered from. These issues included terminal illness of a parent, child abuse, running away from home and suicide.

I believe the author presented this story in a realistic and sensitive manner. This book will make readers understand and appreciate the meaning of the love and devotion of family and friends.

Chirp learned that bad things happen to good people but life goes on. The story illustrates the grieving process and the emotions that are felt by each of the family members. Love never dies.

Highly recommended for middle school students through adults.

I received a free digital copy of this book from NetGalley.

Family tragedies, such as illness and death are deeply tumultuous and emotional times. To see, feel and live these times through the eyes and heart of a child can be humbling and heartbreaking as well as enlightening and priceless. Nest by Esther Ehrlich is the tale of young Chirp’s journey through the illness and death of her beautiful mother, as well as a look at the family dynamics through the eyes and simple wisdom of youth.

Powerful and emotionally charged, yet simple in its message, Nest may be one of the best tales of raw humanity out there. Written with younger readers in mind, the value and insight to be gained by ALL readers is beyond measure. Esther Ehrlich has written from her heart and soul, digging deep with each word, each emotional scene to bring her world to life. There is no fast pace, no quick resolutions, but there is heart, love and characters that will steal your tears as they step off the page with memorable grace. I highly recommend this magnificent read for ALL ages!

"Nest" is a beautifully written story of family love, tragic loss, and strong friendship. Esther Ehrlich has captured the personalities of her characters with sensitivity and compassion and the period of time - the 1970's - authentically and accurately. Her deft handling when describing situations and individuals makes the novel one that is both compelling to read and one that will touch your heart.

The strength of "Nest" and of Esther Ehrlich's writing is in the depiction of the era in which the novel is set and in the characterization. She deftly weaves the political and anti-war sentiments with respect to Richard Nixon and Vietnam into the story. Ehrlich depicts the acceptance of recreational marijuana and the free-spirited attitude of adults through Rachel's attendance at a gathering in her friend's home.

Throughout "Nest", characterization is an even stronger aspect than the era's depiction. Handling sensitive topics such as debilitating illness, depression, suicide and its impact on family members, grief, and abusive relationships with aplomb, Ehrlich creates empathy for the characters. Hannah's depression is real. As she descends toward her ultimate solution, her hopelessness is heartbreaking. Her family's attempts to help leave them emotionally drained and physically exhausted. Rachel, assuming the burden of "mothering", is frustrated and overwhelmed by her responsibilities. Dr. Orenstein is the least sympathetic character; he seems distant, clinical, and oblivious to the emotions of his own family. Joey is one of those remarkable individuals who, even though bullied and abused, retain their sweet nature and empathy for others.

Although recommended for grades 4 - 6, "Nest" is a wonderful read for anyone of any age. However, I would recommend that parents whose children are extremely sensitive or who may have experienced a suicide or attempted suicide in their own family read "Nest" before giving it to their child. Although Hannah's suicide is not detailed, the situation and its aftermath may be unsettling. Nevertheless, this is a five star novel and one that will have an impact on readers.

This is a beautifully moving story of a young girl growing up on Cape Cod in the 70s. Naomi "Chirp", loves wandering among nature in the woods and marshes near her home, birdwatching and daydreaming. Her biggest problems are avoiding the troublesome boys across the street and trying to get along with her older sister. Then disaster strikes when her mom becomes ill. Chirp's world is upended as she and her sister try to keep their lives running smoothly, with her father gone most of the time, either working or with their mom at the hospital. In the midst of it all, Chirp tries to reconcile her feelings toward Joey, the youngest of the three boys who live across the street. Is he an enemy or a friend? Joey will eventually prove to her where his loyalties lie.

Because this story takes place in the 70s, there are a lot of 70s references, which I enjoyed as I also grew up in that decade. The young people in this story face some very real and very difficult situations. The author handles these topics with the utmost care,giving each character a vulnerability as well as great strength.

This wonderful story is about the bonds we share with our loved ones, and what happens when those bonds are tested. The relationships between Chirp and Joey, and Chirp and her sister, are very special. This story touched me deeply and left quite an impression.

I definitely recommend to old and young readers alike.

Naomi Orenstein a 6th grader nicknamed Chirp because she loves reading and watching birds is Nest's narrator. Her family lives year round on Cape Cod back in the 70's when Nixon was president. Her older sister Rachel is in junior high, her father is a psychiatrist and her mother has just been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis so Chirp's home isn't the safe happy nest she has alway been used to.
This is a beautifully written book that while sometimes heartrending and sad is still full of hope and wonder. I liked all the extra information about different birds that was just sneaked in without being overwhelming.
Even though this book is recommend for middle schoolers I'll look forward to more books from this author. I read this as a netgalley copy but when audible has this on sale I would buy it because it is a story worth hearing again. People who didn't grow up in the 70's might miss all the little references but people who did will enjoy them.

Naomi "Chirp" Orenstein had a loving mother until she, Hannah, was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, and sunk into a deep depression, withdrawing from her children and her family tasks.

Preoccupied with his wife and his work as a psychiatrist, Naomi's father did not provide the support that Naomi needed. But Naomi had an older sister Rachel, and a developing friendship with a boy, Joe, whose companionship helped her cope with the turmoil in her family.

SPOILER ALERT: My reference to a plot point below does not reveal any information that the publicity information in regard to the book does not reveal. But readers who do not wish to know what happens to Naomi's mother might not want to read further.

I was drawn to read NEST, written for grades 4-6, although I am in my sixties, because my own mother developed a life-threatening illness and became seriously depressed when I was eleven years old, and my father was too preoccupied with her to be supportive to his children. I was even more alone than the author's Naomi.

If NEST had been available at that time, and I didn't know that Naomi's mother would commit suicide, I would have chosen to read the book. But I believe that doing so would have been severely disturbing to me. I would have feared not only that my mother would die due to illness, but that she might commit suicide.

Children whose family life is disrupted by a parent's illness and/or depression are likely to be drawn to a book like NEST, but identifying with Naomi and her family could be debilitating. A parent's death is difficult enough for a children to handle, but a book whose climax is the parent's suicide is not suitable for elementary school or early middle school children to read on their own. It is likely to be better appreciated by young adults who have the emotional capability to handle such a sensitive life circumstance.

Esther Ehrlich is a talented writer. She creates believable characters and plot, and her writing style is quite engaging. But I cannot recommend this book to children who are in the age 10-12 range, or even those in their early teens who are dealing with a seriously ill or depressed parent.

I am a children's librarian and when I first read the reviews for this book, I thought it might be too intense and too sad for our readers. It's sometimes difficult to know where the books for ages 10 & up belong...here in the children's room or in the young adult area where teens often pass over them as too young. After finishing the book, I knew we had to purchase it for our collection. While I would definitely steer older readers toward this book, 11 or 12 and up, I believe there are children who need this book and will see themselves or their families reflected in it.

There is no doubt that it is a very sad read, and sensitive readers should be prepared for the mother's depression, hospitalization, and suicide. It is not for everyone. However, the novel is beautifully written and the issues are handled in what I believe is an age-appropriate manner. Chirp may be a child of the 1970s, and certainly our treatment and understanding of both mental illness and diseases like multiple sclerosis have changed since those days, but her emotions ring completely true. There are many underlying issues in this novel as well, some of which are explored more than others, but this adds to the realism of the story. It is clear that there are no easy answers or resolutions to the issues in Chirp's life, or the life of her neighbor and friend Joey. But there is enough of a sense of growth and understanding to leave the reader satisfied by the end.

I do think it would be ideal for readers to be able to discuss this novel with an adult during or after they've finished it. It would be a good mother-daughter read for older girls, since that relationship is so central to the novel. But what I like especially is that Chirp's relationship with her father, older sister, and friend are also significant and these characters are well-developed.

Overall I feel this is a wonderful and important book, perhaps not for everyone, but certainly deserving of a place in most library collections. Adults will find much to love here too.

This is a hard book to review, simply because I loved it so much. Nest tells the story of a young girl named Chirp who is facing the normal struggles of an eleven year old in 1972, plus some not so normal problems that threaten to totally destroy her world. The author does a magnificent job with the period, throwing in just enough detail to firmly place the story in 1972. Her descriptions of Cape Cod portray Chirp's deep love for her home and for the birds that live there.

Chirp is such a well developed character that it didn't take long for me to fall in love with her. Seeing the world through her eyes and experiencing her grief was revealing, poignant, and often heartbreaking. Her view of her mother's mental illness felt so real that the ensuing events resulted in such a powerful narrative that it left me breathless. Young readers should be aware that the events described in this novel address some powerful issues with an uncommon intensity for this age group. It is a testament to the author's gift with characterization that these events are so deeply felt.

Nest is a powerful novel that I fully expect to see on many award lists. The writing is superb, and the story is memorable. Chirp's story will touch the heart of any young reader. While some of the historical references might not be appreciated by a young audience, the historical setting will offer up plenty of opportunities to discuss how things have changed for young people and for those suffering from mental illness. This is a story of uncommon depth and authenticity. While this does not leave readers with a conventional happy ending, it does leave hope for a solid future for one family that is willing to support each other and love each other no matter what.

Naomi Orenstein (known as Chirp because she loves watching birds and can tell you just about anything about them) and Joey Morell live across the street from each other. Joey has two older brothers who have bad reputations, and Naomi is afraid of them and a bit afraid of Joey, even though they are in the same grade. They are as different as night and day, or so they think. But as the story unfolds, they have a lot in common. They are very bright students, and they both live under difficult circumstances.
This is a story of tragedy, hardship, love, and friendship. It is about a camaraderie born of trust and a need to connect with someone who understands. The plot and characters are both well crafted. The characters are true to life. Chirp and Joey could easily be the kids down the street.
When I first started reading Nest, I wasn’t sure it was going to be a book I would enjoy. As I got to know Chirp, I found I wanted to know more about her, why she and Joey seemed to have a connection, and how Chirp, with Joey’s friendship, learned to come to terms with the way life had changed for all in the Orenstein household. It was a book I couldn’t put down.
Nest is for ages 8-12, but I would recommend it to anyone age 8 - adult. It deals with some tough subjects such as illness, death, and abuse, and the unlikely bond of friendship that was formed by two children living under different circumstances. It is a heartwarming and unforgettable story.
I was given this ARC by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.