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It’s been a long time since I’ve read a middle-grade novel that grabbed me like Nest did. It’s the story of a girl growing up on Cape Cod in the 1970s, who is nicknamed Chirp because of her love of birds, whose mother is diagnosed with a chronic illness. Nest is the story of a kid who has a lot to cope with.

And it’s tough to review this book, because there are so many wonderful little details that I want to mention. That Chirp is Jewish, but doesn’t quite understand what that means. That this book is full of cultural references that place it firmly in the 1970s. That toward the end of the book, Chirp has a sweet (and surprising!) interaction with a trans character.

But those are all extras, I guess. For me, the thing that makes Nest stand out is the combination of wonderfully atmospheric writing, and a strong, authentic young voice. I love children’s books that remind me of how hard it is to be a kid, how different the world looks when you’re ten years old. It’s very impressive that Ehrlich not only captures that feeling, but also writes about it so beautifully.

I wish this book were perfect, but there are a few things that really bothered me. Chirp becomes friends with Joey, a boy her age who lives on her road, and it’s a really sweet friendship. But toward the end of the book, Ehrlich includes a silly little reference to potential romance between them. This is wholly unnecessary, and unrealistic, too. Another thing that feels out of place is Joey’s resolution. He is a kid who also has a lot of problems, and I’m not quite happy with how they were wrapped up.

Over all, however, Nest is a superb book. Very emotional, and surprisingly strong.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Children’s for providing me with a copy of this book in return for an honest review.