Can a Nest Protect Chirp?

Growing up in the 1970s Naomi Orenstein, otherwise known as Chirp, is just trying to have fun. Her older sister, Rachel, still does silly things with her, but much of the time Chirp is on her own. She loves to spend time watching the wild birds and their nests. Her family is big on dancing, after all her mom is a dancer. Chirp dances her way around the small town practicing her own leaps and twirls. When she finds out that her mother has been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis her whole world turns upside down. Her mother goes into a depression and nothing Chirp does seems to cheer her up. Chirp begins an unlikely friendship with Joey, the boy next-door. Considering her sister is off doing more grown-up things Chirp needs this friend. He seems to understand her on a deep level, but she still doesn’t tell him all that's happening at her house. She doesn’t want people to know her mother had to be admitted to a mental institution to get out of her depression. When her mom is suddenly back after a long absence Chirp does something that puts a void in her friendship with Joey. And then things go from bad to worse. She doesn’t know what to do. It’s like she’s an empty shell and a part of her has been ripped apart. Chirp shuts herself up in her room building a nest of blankets and pillows to protect and sooth herself. Will Chirp ever be able to recover from the blow that changed her life? Will her family be able to pick up the pieces and move on? Can her friendship with Joey be repaired? You’ll have to read this heartbreaking story of a girl, her life, and the struggles she goes through.

Nest by Esther Ehrlich was a book that has been on my To Be Read list for years. It’s been on there so long, but I don’t even remember where I first heard about it! But I do know that I’m glad I heard about it because this book touched me and the characters have stayed with me long after turning the last page. Reading a story about someone being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in the 1970s, when so little was known about it, was very eye-opening, and it really tugged at my heart. Seeing the world through Chirp’s eyes made me appreciate all that I see out in nature; each bird, the wind rustling through the trees, and the way the water moves. I liked reading about the way the friendship between Joey and Chirp develops, even when it had its problems. They both seem like realistic characters and their friendship was believable. When the tragedy came- I knew it was coming, and I was almost afraid to read on. I even started to cry, but through my tears I read on and my heart went out to Chirp. This is a story about a girl who goes through many life-changing moments and struggles that were even harder to talk about in the 1970s than they are today. I recommend this book to readers ten and up who are looking for a book that will make them think and feel. I definitely recommend having a box of tissues next to you while you read. This was my first book by Esther Ehrlich, but I know I’ll be reading more by her in the future.

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Has anyone else read Nest? Or have you read another book by Esther Ehrlich? We’d love to hear your thoughts!

Happy reading!

~L

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Happy 4th of July! We're on summer break this week, but we'll be back again soon with more riddles to solve and stories to share. Enjoy the sun! ~ F & L