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katy_irene's review against another edition
4.0
Little John Fischer is helping his father cut down trees when he hears a beautiful song. The sound leads him to a young girl sitting in Sycamore tree. Gayle's singing has the power to heal. Turns out the most powerful man in town admires Gayle's music to the point of obsession. Nightengale's Nest is a retelling of a Hans Christian Andersen tale.
Hovering somewhere between a 3.5 and a 4. I was so engrossed in the story I could hardly put it down. I loved the way magical realism easily blended with the southern small town setting. I really enjoyed the strong writing and characterization. I wouldn't be surprised if this was honored with an award. What didn't work? The themes are dark and emotionally difficult. Little John lives in poverty with a mentally ill mother and alcoholic father. Gayle is a foster child living with a bully. There's a lot of ambiguity about what happens to Gayle when she visits the Emperor. Does he simply record Gayle's voice? Or does something more sinister happen? This isn't a book I'm going to automatically recommend to young readers (my library only goes up to 5th grade). While Little John is always hopeful, I'm not sure the gloom would be appealing.
Hovering somewhere between a 3.5 and a 4. I was so engrossed in the story I could hardly put it down. I loved the way magical realism easily blended with the southern small town setting. I really enjoyed the strong writing and characterization. I wouldn't be surprised if this was honored with an award. What didn't work? The themes are dark and emotionally difficult. Little John lives in poverty with a mentally ill mother and alcoholic father. Gayle is a foster child living with a bully. There's a lot of ambiguity about what happens to Gayle when she visits the Emperor. Does he simply record Gayle's voice? Or does something more sinister happen? This isn't a book I'm going to automatically recommend to young readers (my library only goes up to 5th grade). While Little John is always hopeful, I'm not sure the gloom would be appealing.
froydis's review against another edition
3.0
Thanks to Edelweiss and Razorbill books for early access to this title.
This is kind of a strange book. Its a take-off on the story of The Nightingale by Hans Christian Anderson. I had a bit of a hard time getting into this book, as its filled with lots of doom and gloom. Foster kids, and evictions and serious accidents, and 12 year olds trying to fix the world. It also has kind of a strange but lovely ending, one that, for me, didn't fully fit with the rest of the story. I liked the two kids - Little John and Gayle - but I felt the adults were a bit cartoonish. Its an interesting book, and I think kids who enjoy fantasy tinged realism would enjoy this book.
This is kind of a strange book. Its a take-off on the story of The Nightingale by Hans Christian Anderson. I had a bit of a hard time getting into this book, as its filled with lots of doom and gloom. Foster kids, and evictions and serious accidents, and 12 year olds trying to fix the world. It also has kind of a strange but lovely ending, one that, for me, didn't fully fit with the rest of the story. I liked the two kids - Little John and Gayle - but I felt the adults were a bit cartoonish. Its an interesting book, and I think kids who enjoy fantasy tinged realism would enjoy this book.
britomarte's review against another edition
4.0
I'm still not sure what I think about this book. Incredibly sad.
lazygal's review against another edition
4.0
It's easy to see why there's so much love for this book; for me it was less about the magical realism and more about the power of regret. The fact that the poverty and the potential abuse weren't the most important parts made it just a little bit more powerful a read - it's the power that adults have over children, and the choices children make because of that power imbalance, that is front-and-center. Basing the story on Anderson's "The Nightingale" may lead readers to go back to that story and question how many people ask others to make similar choices/bad decisions.
I also appreciated the fact that the author didn't feel compelled to place this story in the past to avoid using modern technology. It's there, but lightly and doesn't play that large a role.
ARC provided by publisher.
I also appreciated the fact that the author didn't feel compelled to place this story in the past to avoid using modern technology. It's there, but lightly and doesn't play that large a role.
ARC provided by publisher.
beecheralyson's review against another edition
5.0
Within a few pages of this book, I could feel the emotion of the story. There are some books that you just know will touch you and will make you feel. Loftin's Nightingale's Nest is certainly one of them. The writing in this book is spectacular and demands to be read not only silently but aloud to a whole group. This is a book that I found myself thinking about reading it to a class and discussing it with them. I do not feel this way about all books. Additionally there is a timeless quality to this story. Though there are some things that hint at a present day world, much of the story could pass for any time. There is a classic feel to the story.
Little John and his grieving family. The Emperor or Mr. King and his greed. Gayle and her song. The Cutlins - Gayle's foster family. Ernest and his sister, Isabelle. Such great characters and everyone plays a role in this story.
My favorite lines:
"You can't....really fix all the hurt things in the world. That's not your job, Gayle."
She sighed, that broken sound again. "I know it's not.".......But I heard Gayle's voice as I left, five words that stayed with me the rest of that week.
"It's not your job either."
Hurt, loss, forgiveness, healing, and all the decisions and consequences that build on one another. Just powerful!
Little John and his grieving family. The Emperor or Mr. King and his greed. Gayle and her song. The Cutlins - Gayle's foster family. Ernest and his sister, Isabelle. Such great characters and everyone plays a role in this story.
My favorite lines:
"You can't....really fix all the hurt things in the world. That's not your job, Gayle."
She sighed, that broken sound again. "I know it's not.".......But I heard Gayle's voice as I left, five words that stayed with me the rest of that week.
"It's not your job either."
Hurt, loss, forgiveness, healing, and all the decisions and consequences that build on one another. Just powerful!
yapha's review against another edition
5.0
Little John's family has fallen apart since the death of his younger sister. They used all of their savings for her funeral, and are barely getting by. Although he is only 12, Little John goes to work with his father, cutting back trees on The Emperor's land. Not a real emperor, Mr. Azariah King is nicknamed that due to his wealth and his stores, as well as his attitude. It is while helping his father that Little Jon first hears Gayle sing. She sounds like nothing in this world. Little John feels an immediate need to protect this young girl, a foster child living next door to Mr. King, in all of the ways that he couldn't protect his own sister. But when The Emperor offers Little John an enormous amount of money to help him record Gayle's voice, how can he refuse? This reimagining of Hans Christian Anderson's The Nightingale is powerful and haunting, full of hard choices and harsh consequences. Highly recommended to grades 5 & up.
melmollick's review against another edition
5.0
Beautifully woven tale of friendship, loss, and family. I experienced so many different emotions when reading this book and closed the cover with tears streaming from my eyes. It's a book I'll remember for a long time.
stenaros's review against another edition
4.0
Read for Librarian Book Group
There is much to discuss with young readers in this book, so I heartily recommend it for classroom book groups. Early-teenaged boy dealing with loss encounters a girl also dealing with loss. Full of magical realism, vivid scenery and memorable characters.
There is much to discuss with young readers in this book, so I heartily recommend it for classroom book groups. Early-teenaged boy dealing with loss encounters a girl also dealing with loss. Full of magical realism, vivid scenery and memorable characters.
renatasnacks's review against another edition
3.0
I think I just get too grumpy about magical realism maybe. I really liked the realistic parts of this--really powerful look at a family being torn apart by grief and poverty--but ??
I'm kind of irrationally irritated that the marketing for this compares it to [b:Bridge to Terabithia|2839|Bridge to Terabithia|Katherine Paterson|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1327880087s/2839.jpg|2237401], like, how dare you. Am I going to tear up when I just think about the title of your book? No? Then you are not Terabithia, good day.
Spoiler
like was she an angel or a bird or WHAT, just like, why?? Also what was Mr. King DOING to her? Were we supposed to be reading it as sexual abuse, because that was the vibe I got? But also, NOT that?I'm kind of irrationally irritated that the marketing for this compares it to [b:Bridge to Terabithia|2839|Bridge to Terabithia|Katherine Paterson|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1327880087s/2839.jpg|2237401], like, how dare you. Am I going to tear up when I just think about the title of your book? No? Then you are not Terabithia, good day.