Nuts

by Kacy Cook

An eleven-year-old girl cares for two orphaned squirrels

Genres: Realistic Fiction, Animals, Middle Grade

160 pages, Hardcover

First published April 1, 2009

Reviews

[Blue · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book by Kacy cook is a sweet story of three brothers and some friends. Some day during the fall one of the three boys heard a chirping and wondered what the noise was so he decide to venture off and see what the noise was.He was surprised when he found a baby squirrel that did not even have his eyes open. The boy was frightened and called for his brothers but both of his brothers were younger so he couldn't really get advice from them about the baby squirrel. But the boys did not want to leave the squirrel outside so they called there mother to ask if they can bring it inside. It was a debate with the boys and mom but the mom caved and allowed the squirrel to come in the house away from danger. So when the mom got home she was talking with the boys telling them keeping a squirrel is very hard work and they said yes we can handle it so the mom said all we need now is dads permission. And the dad thought long and hard and finally said yes. But through time the squirrels became a handful and alot of time is spent into them everyday. And one day their were playing and the phone rang so they went to get it and when they came back the baby's fell into the toilet. One lived and the other died from drowning underneath the other squirrel. While they knew they had to let the squirrels go sooner or later they didn't want it like this so as time passed on the last squirrel was growing fonder of going outside and one day decided to stay outside. And now the squirrel visits regularly.

[Tracie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just finished a book called Nuts by Kacy Cook and for once was so impressed with the portrayal of a homeschooling family in a story - and then I find out the author is local - BONUS! The family is loving, kind and intelligent; you won't find many other stories that show homeschooling in such a positive light.
The story is about a family with three children who discover a baby squirrel and decide to raise it. The oldest child, Nell, grows increasingly attached to the squirrel and secretly wants to keep it for a pet though she know she should not. This is a realistic and thoughtful book about the responsibilities, problems and ethics of raising a wild animal. Along the way, as Nell turns twelve, she learns that she can't expect others to trust her if she isn't truthful with them.

[Snoob · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book, but i was sad when the squirrel died and when the squirrel ran away at the end.

[Sandra Stiles · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a story all animal lovers will enjoy. Eleven year old Nell and her two brothers rescue two squirrels who have somehow managed to fall from their nests. Nell's mom and dad agree to let them keep them for a while so they can gain strength and learn to fend for themselves. Nell contacts someone named Libby online. Libby tells Nell she should take them to a wildlife rehabilitator. Nell tells a few lies about why she can't do that and that she needs to leave her parents out of it. We are taken on a journey of help and healing. The first thing I was reminded of was a day when a baby screech owl fell from his nest hitting my son on the shoulder before he hit the ground. We placed him back in the nest where a group of blue jays immediately attacked him and he once again fell from his nest. At this point we picked him up with a towel and placed him in a box and called the bird sanctuary. They came and got him and we were able to visit him at the sanctuary and watch his progress. I hope that the students who read this will learn to love nature a little more and also learn they need to seek professional help in the event something like this happens.

[Bruce · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nell and her brothers find a tiny baby squirrel beneath a tree in their yard. They chase off the neighbors’ cat and bring it inside to keep it safe. Nell goes online to see how to care for infant squirrels. She finds a web site with a link that reads, “If you find an orphaned squirrel” but she’s unhappy to read what it says, “At the top of the page was a notice in a red box: If you find a baby squirrel on the ground and there is no sign of the mother after two hours, or if the baby is injured, take it to a licensed wildlife rehabilitator. A veterinarian can help in locating one.” Nell is very disappointed; she really, really wants to keep it as a pet. What can she do?

This realistic animal story is full of interesting information about wildlife rescue and gray squirrels. It also poses a number of ethical questions about the relationships between humans and animals and about honesty among humans.

[Faith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nell hears a soft, faint sound. She looks at her hamsters, but they are sleeping. She puts her ear to the wall, but only hears the soft hum of the furnace. Her brothers are playing a game of scrabble. The sound seems to be coming from outside. Nell and her brothers go into the front yard. They see a small animal with barely any fur, a tail sort of like a rat's and its eyes are shut. It is a orphaned baby squirrel.

Reasons I like this book-

Reason 1- It has animals.

Reason 2- I couldn't stop reading.

Reason 3- I could imagine what was happening.

Reason 4- It was less than 200 pages.

[Terry]

The author is a good writer and tells a nice story. I liked that there were several layers to the story, both in terms of events and character relationships. The dynamic between Russ and Nell is particularly insightful, as it offers both sides to the hunter/hate hunter scenario and you see both sides of the story. It isn't often that we have characters who are homeschooled, so this is a book where they can see themselves.


This could be an excellent choice for animal-crazed kids who tend to see wild animals as pets.
.

[Cindy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Kids who like stories about nature or animals would enjoy this book. We decided it was okay, but not spectucular. For younger children, you'll need tobe prepared to skip or talk about anatomy and mating, as both come up in this book. I also didn't think the main character (11 at the start, 12 by the end) needed to start dating during the course of the book, rushing things by more than a little according to our family's standards. I did like that the main character learned the consequences of lying although for most of the book it looks like she'll get away with it.

[Alex Colebank · Rating 4 out of 5]

The novel "Nuts" is the story of some homeschool children who find two squirrels. They attempt to convince their parents into letting them keep the "homeless" squirrels in their home, at least until they were strong enough to survive on their own. The story revolves around love, growth and attachment. This is the perfect novel for anyone capable of reading it, which would be around 4th grade and up. The story depicts the lifestyle of homeschooled children and they adventure through the upbringing of the squirrels. Wonderful story!

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

5th-6th When Nell and her youger brothers find first one then another baby squirrel in their back yard Nell is determined to raise them.
She ignores advice to turn them over to a wildlife rehabilitor, and proceeds to raise them with some very interesting results and a lot of learning and growing up herself in the process.

[Green2017]

The book Nuts is a great book for people who love animals. It has lots of details and description so you can understand how the characters are feeling. I loved the book because it is funny like when the squirrels fall in the toilet. I would give it a five star review because it is very well written. Nuts is a great book.

[Tiara · Rating 4 out of 5]

this book was pretty good. i am not really into books about nature but nuts was a good read because the story was told by a girl who is around my age. my favorite part of this book is that fact that the family really tries their best to care for the squirrel babies.

[Kate Hastings]

local author RL 690

[April · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very cute story about the perils of raising a wild animal.

[Brionna Boehme · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is great. It is a story about a girl who finds a baby squirrel and really wants to keep it. She goes trough everything to save the squirrel.

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a cute story about a an eleven-year-old girl caring for a baby squirrel. The book also gave lots of info about squirrels.

[Kristin Lenz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Maya plucked this off the library shelf because of the cute cover, and she said it was an adorable story.

[Jennifer Rivera · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing book

I really liked this book, one of the best I've read. I have to declare that it is the best.

[Kerrikoala · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pros: Squirrels!

Cons: Somewhat unbelievable parents, sad stuff.

RC15: Book with a one word title

[k p · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book made me so sad. I hate that they die but still like it

[Liza W · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was amazing! I think it would be a really good book for animal lovers.

[Shannon Allman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book when I was younger

[Laina Wilson · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was a pretty good book. I found it a little unrealistic though. I think that the parents would have gone online themselves to find out more before letting their daughter talk to a complete stranger.

[Lincoln · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love squirrels

[Helen · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book describes very well the powerful feelings a child has about rescuing a baby squirrel.

[Tracey · Rating 2 out of 5]

children's fiction; animal stories. I would've liked this more if it didn't sound like a 12 year old wrote it. Your hair is dark and curly and long? Fine, but that doesn't add anything to the story and I'd just as soon not have these kinds of unnecessary details. Perhaps it does matter to a 12-year-old, however (maybe someone's daughter demanded that these sorts of minutiae got included), and I don't think a child would think it detracts from the story at all, but I feel like the best children's fiction should be enjoyable to all ages. I do get the sense that the author has done her research, at least, on the behavior of squirrels, and it is not a bad animal story otherwise.

[Steve · Rating 2 out of 5]

Kind of cute but a little too weird to finish the whole thing. Maya liked but Stephen didn't so much. I did learn things about newborn squirrel digestive systems that I never knew before.

[Margaret · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute book.

[Bennett · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars