e-Audio, 04:02:09
Narrated by: Hayley Chewins
Release Date: March 25, 2025
Published by: Books on Tape
Read from: March 20-21, 2025
Stand-alone
Source: PRH Audio (I received a free e-ALC from PRH Audio App and the publisher. This did nothing to influence my review.)
Content Warning: CW/TW: dealing with depression, self-harm, disordered eating, sexual harassment, and dysfunctional family dynamics. It refers to attempted suicide and contains graphic descriptions of blood.
For Readers Interested In: Contemporary, Magical Realism, Novel in Verse, YAA propulsive YA novel in verse that blends the contemporary magic of Jandy Nelson with the simmering feminist rage of Laurie Halse Anderson’s Shout
As far back as anyone can remember, the women of the Strand family have been magical.
Their gifts manifest when they each turn fifteen, always in different ways. But Nell Strand knows that her family’s magic is a curse. Her mother’s age changes every day; she’s often too young to be the mother Nell needs. Her older sister bleeds music and will do anything to release the songs inside her. Nell sees the way magic rips her family apart again and again.
When Nell’s own magic arrives in the form of ladybugs alighting on the keys of her beloved piano, the first thing she feels is joy. The ladybugs are a piece of her, a harmless and delicate manifestation of her creativity. But soon enough, the rest come. Thick-shelled glossy beetles that creep along her collarbone when her piano teacher stares at her. Soft gray moths that appear and die alongside a rush of disappointment. Worst of all are the wasps. It doesn’t matter how deep she buries her rage, the wasps always come. Nell will have to decide just how much of herself she’s willing to lock away to stop them—or if she can find the strength to feel, no matter the consequences.
An intense, emotional read simmering with rage and magic, I Am the Swarm is a captivating YA novel in verse that beautifully speaks to the complicated nature of growing up as a girl.
*MY THOUGHTS*
Y’all already know how I’m going to start this lol Me an novels in verse do not always pair well. I got this one to offer to my co-workers as a pick for our program, Tournament of Books. Unfortunately, I didn’t care for it much.
Ok so the novels in verse are always a hit or miss for me. It’s only because I always feel like there’s chunks of stuff missing from each story. And this one was just like this. At one point she was upset and making bugs. The next she was telling us about the scumbag who was teaching her. And it went so fast. I felt like there were bits and pieces that we were missing.
I did like the message and the prose. It was amazing. I do want to know why it was bugs tho lol I was terrified there would be roaches or something and y’all know I don’t care for bugs in the first place. So yeah, I was not amused. But I think it gave the message that was intended. Like bugs are gross and so are these gross feelings that these people have given to me.
I know I’m not actually the target audience for novels in verse, but I always love to experience new books and new formats. And even though this one had some missing spots, it was all still good. And I still want to read more from this author as well.
Overall, I give this
