My thanks to NetGalley and Random House Children's-Wendy Lamb Books for an eARC copy of this book to read and review.

First, what I loved, the characters and the way the 70s in America was brought to life so VIVIDLY.  

Shag carpets, paisley prints, bandanna shirts, bell bottoms, 45s played on record players, Vietnam, Nixon; everything was so spot on.  It wasn't all big things, but the little things really took you to that time and place.

Also, all of the characters were SO REAL.  Which is why when bad things started to happen, my heart started to break.  

However.

A lot of that bad stuff felt REALLY forced.  SPOILERS FOLLOW, you have been warned.


Ok, we start off with the mom being diagnosed with MS.  That causes her to have a mental breakdown, which leads to her going to a mental institution, to act completely unlike herself, and to eventually commit suicide.  But once she has her breakdown, the plot point of her having MS kind of fades into the background and it seems like she kills herself, not because of being stricken with MS, but because she has a mental illness.  It came kind of out of left field.  

Chirp's friendship with Joey was...different.  She seemed to use him and abandon him when he needed her, but he was solidly there for her when she needed him.  To the point of risking a beating from his father by the end of the book.  Yeah, child abuse pops it's head up in the book too.  It's hinted at before it comes up in almost the last scene of the book.

Which leads me to, this book just ENDS.  No real resolution, just boom, we're done with the story now.  Which upset me, because I wanted to know more about Chirp and Joey and how they grow up and what happens when they are adults and possibly parents themselves.  Do they end up hurting their kids like their parents hurt them?  Chirp's mom had Mommy issues, which the reader is led to believe weakened her mentally and emotionally enough that when the MS diagnosis came, she couldn't handle it and didn't want to leave her kids with a "sick mother".  

So, this book is aimed at middle readers, Chirp is 11, her older sister 13 I think, but it has REALLY dark themes, the parental suicide, child abuse, and most of the adults being either horrible people or completely out of touch with children.  The teacher was just MEAN and the father, who is a therapist, is shown to be weak and ineffectual.  Not sure what the commentary on him being a therapist and being unable to help his wife means, maybe it's saying we are all human and even therapists can't always help those they love?  But it's not really clearly stated and can be read as negative towards the mental health profession.  Depends on how it is read and interpreted I guess.  I am not sure how the 70s setting will make sense to a young reader of today.  

I would actually suggest this to older readers, maybe even adults who want to re-live a bit of the 70s, but I would definitely recommend parental units reading this book before handing it to their young charge.  It is more a slice of (depressing) life.  Not a lot happens in it, though the scene with the "lady" on the bus is worth the read.  

So, this one did not work for me.  Loved the characters and the 70s bits, but the story itself?  Not a fan.  2, more negative than I was expecting and appreciated, stars.

I liked Chirp. She was an interesting kid and having to deal with a mother with clinical depression had to be hard. Very enjoyable book for upper elementary and middle school.

Hauntingly sad, but with a heartfelt and magical message that somehow lifts you up. This is one I would definitely see being a good title for parents and children to read together; it might be a little heavy for a middle grade audience reading solo.

I did not read this book.  I originally put this on my NetGalley list when I first started.  I was super excited about reading ARCs and may have requested too many.  I am now getting much better at picking the books that I am truly interested in reading and am trying my best to keep up with my reviews around the time when the book is coming out.

I'm sorry it has taken so long to review this title. I absolutely loved it and appreciate being able to have the opportunity to read it. Thank you.

This is such a well written book - I look forward to reading more from the author. This sweet story centers around a girl named Chirp,, and is set in 1970s New England. Chirp's mom is sick, and also dealing with depression. Her neighbor Joey seems to be dealing with troubles at home though they're just touched upon - you do get the idea that he is afraid of his father and quite unhappy at home. Chirps love for birds creates a sweet tone to the story though much of what Chirp is dealing with is so very dark. That said, I'd say this story is meant for the more mature end of the marketed middle grade market. The darker themes of suicide, abuse, chronic illness are handled beautifully but may be too much for sensitive readers.might be a good one to read together as a family in order to talk so,e of it out.

I'll jump on the strange bandwagon.  But I really liked the book.

My review:
Steve and his younger sister are excited to have a new baby brother, Theo, but, baby Theo is all broken inside. He needs heart surgery and help probably for the rest of his life. 
Here it gets weird. 
The first time Steve sees the white-winged wasps he is sure they are really angels. And, they can speak to him. They say, “We’ve come because of the baby. We’ve come to help. We can fix what’s wrong with the baby.” 

The doctors say they can help the baby, but not fix him.  He has so many things wrong with him —  including his heart, his eyes, and his brain. He may never talk, walk, or even feed himself. Steve’s parents go back to the hospital countless times, but never return with a positive diagnosis.

It is a bad summer for wasps. So bad, that one of the strange white ones stings Steve. He has an allergic reaction that requires medical attention. In fact, he goes home with an EpiPen in case he gets stung again.

The Queen explains to Steve that the wasps will “fix” the baby by replacing him with a new, perfect child. The wasps are growing him in their nest that is growing on the top level eave  of the house. There is only one cell in this nest to accommodate the large and heavy body of a baby. They need Steve’s consent and his help in putting the new baby into the crib. Steve says, “yes,” but then has second thoughts. His simple yes turns out to be a binding contract Steve begins to realize after things get way out of hand and beyond his control.

Everybody wants perfect things, right? Especially perfect children... Yet Steve worries about replacing his brother. The reader is faced with questions about right and wrong, playing with fate, deciding who should live and who should die in this phantasmagorical story. It’s a heavy burden for a young boy, or for anyone, for that matter.
Toward the end, the book reads like Hitchcock's epic movie,The Birds.

I'd say this one is for 10+ because the tone is dark and sometimes nightmarish. The main character, Steve is a thoughtful kid who experiences anxiety and OCD. Despite the story's dark edges, a poignant message emerges about acceptance of challenges and struggles and being who we are.

A sensitive and lyrically told tale of grief, friendship, and growing up.

I received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for honest review.

(Ages 8–12), a memorable story about a girl, a tragic change, and the healing power of love and friendship.

 In 1972, eleven-year-old Naomi “Chirp” Orenstein; her older sister, Rachel; her psychiatrist father; and her dancer mother live on Cape Cod.   Everything changed as Chirp watches as the symptoms of her mother's illness worsens. Chirp escapes the confusion and pain through her adventures into the woods to watch birds.  But an unlikely friendship forms between her and the boy next door.  Both seeking refuge from the struggles and pain in their homes, they develop an escape plan filled with adventure and humor. Chirp's story will linger with you long after you turn the final page.

Somehow, this book got lost in the depths of my Kindle after reading and I didn't give it the review that it so very much deserves, so I reread the story once again, and it moved me (to tears) as much as it did the first time.

Very much a child of the 70s myself, I loved the references and I related to Chirp as she wandered on her own to watch birds - something we might be horrified at today. Ehrlich has written a story sweet and complex and painfully real with gorgeous prose. It takes on real issues - illness, depression, suicide and child abuse. Did I say it was light reading? No - this is not, and I DO think it is one you should read if your child does, because it bears discussion. But it is also a story of love and friendship. Reminiscent of the Bridge to Terabitha in the sense that it deals with loss, this IS a deep, wonderful, unforgettable tale.

Nest by Esther Ehrlich was one of the first ARCs I received from NetGalley. I was so new to the process that I had trouble downloading the galley and when I finally figured out how to do it on a new device, it had already been archived.

I kept seeing this book on my shelf and the premise interested me so much that I sought out a copy to read. I am so glad I did! Nest is beautifully written, full of imagery and poetic language. It is honest and moving.

The story filled me with sadness from the beginning right through to the end, but the resilient main character Chirp’s personality and strength gave me hope with each new heartache. This is a novel about family and friendship and the healing powers of both. 

As a teacher, there is much for me to recommend about this middle grade novel. While the tragedy that Chirp has to face will be tough for students to read about, this book offers so much for teachers to engage students in via discussion and other activities that allow them to respond to the story. The writing is strong, too, which serves not only as a model to students, but also provides teachers with the opportunity to use the book for lessons on language.

As a final note, I particularly enjoyed the setting on Cape Cod. Readers who live on the Cape or have vacationed there will appreciate the passages that describe the landscape.

I apologize to the author, the publisher and to Netgalley, this book was archived before I could download it.  Sadly, I could not read or review it.

I didn't finish this book. I was never really pulled in. Maybe just be my taste in books.

This is an enjoyable juvenile read. I read it in a sitting and was engrossed the whole read

I really enjoyed this book.  As stated above the main character has many obstacles to go through.  I love the setting and with the detail, it felt like I was there.