WICKED NIX
by Lena Coakley, illustrated by Jaime Zollars
Listed age range – 8-12
Wicked Nix is a fairy. The Foulest of the Fairies, in fact. When the other fairies leave the forest to return to the Summer Kingdom, he takes on the task of guarding the forest from intruders. But his task becomes much more difficult when a human man decides to brave the curses of the fairies and move into a long-abandoned cabin in the woods.
But maybe with the help of a wise young girl named Rose, and Mr. Green, whose face is in the leaves and branches and whose voice is the sound of nature itself, Nix will be able to make things right in the forest again.
This book is beautiful, mysterious, and heartwarming, and I’m so glad I read it! The story is best when you don’t know exactly how it’s going to turn out, so I’ll try to avoid revealing much about the plot, while still giving you some idea as to what the story is about.
The fairies in this book are less like the ones in Disney movies, and more like the ones found in old-school fairy tales. They’re strange, unpredictable, and not always kind. But Nix himself is a lot less wicked than his name suggests. His voice as a narrator is youthful, full of wonder for the natural world, and his actions are more often kind than wicked:
I stop short, almost falling. A spiderweb stretches across the path, sparkling with dew. I go around, careful not to break the spider’s pretty work, and start to run again. (Page 3)
I also want to mention that the art in this book is lovely! The chapter headings are decorated with branches, items from Nix’s collection of things, or animals from the forest. There are several full-page illustrations as well, featuring characters from the story. And the cover itself is whimsical and mysterious, capturing the tone of the story itself. I’ve taken several art classes over the years, and I have a lot of respect for the illustrator of this book.
Wicked Nix is written for a middle grade audience, and adults can definitely enjoy it too.
Now that I’m done writing this review, I’m going to pester my mom (you know her as Jane Valencia) to read Wicked Nix, because I have a feeling she’ll love it as much as I do.
– Reviewed by Amri Valencia