Nest

Starred review from July 14, 2014
First-time author Ehrlich’s achingly realistic depiction of family love and loss is set on Cape Cod during the early 1970s. Chirp Orenstein’s mother, Hannah, is a vivacious, talented dancer until a leg ailment forces her to slow down. When Hannah is diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, she falls into a deep depression, fading to an almost unrecognizable shadow of her former self. No one—not Chirp, not her older sister, not their psychiatrist father—can make Hannah feel better. Chirp keeps her sadness and feelings of helplessness to herself except when she’s with her friend Joey, a neighbor who spends a good deal of time trying to avoid his violent father and seems to understand what Chirp is going through. Ehrlich’s novel beautifully captures the fragile bond shared by Chirp and Joey and their growing trust for each other in a world filled with disappointments and misunderstandings. Allusions to songs and trends of the era and references to Chirp’s strong Jewish heritage accentuate and ground the story. Ages 8–12. Agent: Susan Golomb, Susan Golomb Literary Agency.

A little girl's world disintegrates after her mother's illness and severe depression result in family tragedy.Nicknamed "Chirp" because she loves bird-watching in her native Cape Cod, 11-year-old Naomi's devoted to her free-spirited mother, who's always been a dancer. Unfortunately, her mother's inability to cope with a multiple sclerosis diagnosis leads to her hospitalization for depression. Ironically, Chirp's hyperanalytical psychiatrist father seems clueless about what's happening emotionally to his family, while her older sister blames him for sending her mother away. Meanwhile, Chirp quietly withdraws, finding comfort in her birds and the unlikely companionship of her neighbor and classmate, Joey, whose own family has "significant issues." When her mother returns and commits suicide, Chirp's shocked, bereft and in deep denial, until Joey helps her find her way. Chirp's first-person account of how she and her family react to the events leading to her mother's funeral presents a nuanced chronicle of loss. Ehrlich's ability to get inside Chirp's head, to create beautifully rounded characters and to flesh out details of life for this Jewish family in 1972 Cape Cod adds to the overall realism. Frequent textual references to wild birds and relevant children's books provide interesting depth.A poignant, insightful story of family crisis and the healing power of friendship. (Historical fiction. 8-12) COPYRIGHT(1) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Starred review from June 1, 2014

Gr 4-6-It's the dog days of the summer, 1972, and spirited 11-year-old Naomi "Chirp" Orenstein tries to enjoy them as best she can-but something is wrong with her mother's leg. Chirp's mother Hannah is a dancer and the prospect of permanent limited mobility is both heartbreaking and terrifying. A diagnosis of MS sends Hannah spiraling into a debilitating depression, and she is sent to a mental hospital. Chirp's father, a psychiatrist, is consumed with grief and tethered to work, leaving Chirp and her older sister Rachel alone much of the time. After several months of therapy, Hannah returns home. The reunion is short-lived as she slips deeper into depression and tragically decides to end her life, leaving Chirp, Rachel, and their father to navigate their transformed familial relationship. A stunning debut, with lyrical prose and superbly developed characters, this novel is an emotional roller coaster that effectively conveys a family's visceral tragedy. At times tear inducing, the narrative is also vibrantly alive, assisted in part by the Cape Cod setting and refreshingly unplugged 1970s. The focus on nature and the outdoors helps set the pace as the seasonal changes quietly indicate the passage of time. Sensitive readers should be aware of the tough issues that it addresses-suicide, depression, and personal loss. However, the story also offers a hopeful message. Strong readers who enjoy realistic fiction and the occasional good cry will savor Nest and reflect on it long after its conclusion.-Juliet Morefield, Multnomah County Library, OR

Copyright 2014 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

September 15, 2014
Grades 4-6 On the muggy banks of Cape Cod, 11-year-old Naomi (aka Chirp) is happiest scampering around the salt marsh, binoculars in hand and watching for birdsunless, that is, she is having an impromptu dance party. When Chirp's mother suddenly grows ill, the joy is sucked from their home, and Chirp takes refuge in her birds and a new friendship. Very much a character-based story, Nest is driven by emotion and reflection. Chirp's keen observations, la Harriet the Spy, allow readers to see the world through her eyes, and the seamless integration of her passions (birds and dance) into the tale truly bring her to life. Ehrlich sets her story in the 1970s and creates a strong sense of time and place, though some pop-culture references will zoom over young readers' heads. This is a heartfelt debut, marked by its gentle strength and positive message of family and friendship, particularly in the face of tragedy. Chirp proves a memorable heroine who will settle comfortably in the birdhouse in your soul.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2014, American Library Association.)