Wicked Nix

  Now in paperback!

Wicked Nix

A Silver Birch Express Award nominee
by Lena Coakley

–
Amulet Books (US); Harper Collins Canada (Canada); Abrams & Chronicle Books (UK)
Hardcover, 112 pages
ISBN 979-1-41972869-3
x
x
Mischievous woodland fairy Nix is up to no good. His beloved fairy queen has gone away, leaving him with a very important job: He must protect the forest from a most dangerous enemy—humans.
x
When a determined invader trespasses on his territory, Nix’s skills are put to the test as he invents several wicked tricks to chase the sorry fellow away. But when his efforts don’t go quite according to plan, it becomes clear that this intruder—and this sprite—may not be at all what they seem.
x
This gorgeous new fairytale by acclaimed author Lena Coakley, with illustrations by rising illustration star Jaime Zollars, explores the timeless bonds of family and the joy of finding home in unexpected places.
x

x

Awards and Nominations

x

Praise for Wicked Nix

x

★ “Nix, “the foulest of the fairies,” lives in the forest near a village, subsisting on fairy gifts from townspeople or anything he can scrounge up (“it’s not stealing if you’re a fairy”), all while waiting for the return of the fairy queen, who abandoned him last summer. When a strange, bald man moves into a cottage in the forest, Nix is certain it will anger his queen and ruin his chances to be accepted back into her fold, so he sets out to use his mischievous fairy magic to scare the man away. But Nix’s magic isn’t very powerful, and the man in the cottage is quite wily. Readers will probably catch on early that Nix isn’t truly a fairy, but that doesn’t mean there’s no magic here: some of Nix’s fantastical-sounding tales turn out to be true after all, and there’s plenty of empowering magic in his gradual realizations about family. Coakley nicely captures the salty, determined voice of impish Nix, who’s utterly convinced of his own magic and feels most at home cradled in the trees, and she strikes a thoughtful balance between fairy tales and the realistic feelings of loss and love. An underlying message that freewheeling independence and family aren’t mutually exclusive is particularly well-handled. The succinct, fairy-tale narrative style and heart-warming conclusion should make this especially appealing to kids starting to get a handle on chapter books.”

xxxxxx—Booklist (starred review)

“Read alone or read aloud, Coakley’s tale has a tangible sense of wonder that conjures a cozy magic. A strong purchase.”

xxxxxx—School Library Journal

“This dark twist on the old legend of stolen children is a spooky, compelling read.”

xxxxxx—Kirkus. Read full review here.

“This is a magical fairy tale that leaves the reader’s heart aching for an abandoned, homeless child in the forest, and culminates with a touching ending where the two brothers reunite at long last. This story would be a great way to teach students about an unreliable narrator.”
x
xxxxxx—School Library Connection. Read full review here.
x
xx“The best stories have a deeper truth to them . . .  In opting for humanity, love, and family, Nix not only gets himself into his proper place, but he also keeps Rose from making his mistake and letting herself be seduced by the fairy promises. Highly recommended.” (5/5 stars)
xxxxxx—CM Magazine. Read full review here.
x

Author Blurbs

x
“Sheer delight.”
x
xxxxxx—Kathy Stinson, author of Red is Best and The Man with the Violin
x
“Wicked Nix is a rare and wonderous book. Equal parts mischievous and poignant–this story is destined to linger in the hearts of all readers lucky enough to discover its magic. Easily the best fairy story I’ve read in years.
x
xxxxxx—Jonathan Auxier, NYT bestselling author of The Night Gardener
x
“Wicked Nix is like any other fairy food – it is delightful; it will cut you to the core. With humor and heartbreak, devastating loss and the hope of connection, Wicked Nix is a meditation on the lies we tell ourselves to protect ourselves, and the unexpected ways we might build a family. A sharp, startling, wondrous story.”
x
xxxxxx—Kelly Barnhill, Newbery Award winning author of The Girl Who Drank the Moon