I Am the Swarm by Hayley Chewins is a beautifully crafted and thought provoking story.
A magical YA story that caught me by surprise and held me captive till the very end.

This was an unusual and unique read. At first, I was confused by the layout of the words, but then realized that it was meant to be written as a poem.

Nell is a young teen in a family of women who are cursed with magic. It's not the kind of magic you think or would even want. It shows up in peculiar ways and at awkward times. Nell's magic comes to her in the form of insects, directly related to her emotions. Whether she's angry, sad, happy, confused, etc. Different types of insects represent each emotion. Without openly discussing how she was feeling, I was still able to understand by what type of insect appeared.

This was a beautiful yet heartbreaking story about a young teen's struggles to understand herself, her family, and the world around her.

This beautifully written novel in verse weaves a perfect metaphor by using magical traits to stand for the mental illness and problems passed down through family lineage. Intensely relatable for me as an adult reader while staying age appropriate for the intended teen audience.

First and foremost as always thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the advanced copy of this book. This was an incredibly good read! The story was beautifully written and the characters were flushed out really well! Loved this! Definitely worth the read!

“The magic is passed down the line, a cursed family heirloom that nobody wants. I’ve never wanted it. But that has never mattered. No matter what I want. I’m still going to get it.”

Like all the Strand women before her, Nell is aware of the strange power that courses through her veins—one that keeps her family trapped in an endless cycle of misery. In comparison to the haunting melodies of her older sister’s blood and a mother who can shapeshift into many ages, Nell Strand’s ability to display her emotional world in the form of ladybugs and dragonflies initially seems like a blessing. However, she soon learns that even her seemingly beautiful shell can break when her rage and resentment is no longer allowed to hide. Finding herself torn between rising tensions in her household and unwanted advances from those around her, Nell seeks comfort through a heated, unexpected love—one she calls her antidote.

I Am the Swarm’s verse writing drew me into Nell’s heart immediately, unveiling her deepest scars and her desire for the normalcy that she has been robbed of. Through an emotionless father and a mother that frequently seeks to escape from the horrors of her shape-shifting self, readers can see exactly how magic has divided the Strand family and destroyed the protagonist’s relationship with her sister, Mora. Witnessing the personalized and cruel nature of each of the Strand women’s magic, however, was the most interesting aspect of the book for me. In Nell’s case, she is forced to deal with the physical manifestation of emotions that she feels numb to, which causes her to embark on her own healing journey as she navigates her strained relationships with her family members. This parallels her experiences with the boy she loves and her piano teacher who threatens her sense of control, forcing her to confront her feelings of isolation. Throughout the course of the book, I found myself wanting to know more about the boy and I wished Chewins had leaned a bit more into the romance to push Nell’s development. Besides that, the pacing was exceptional, as I felt that all the necessary pieces of information fell together like a puzzle at the end as Nell recounts past moments, leading to her slowly mending her family’s rifts. Similar to her other slice-of-life stories, Hayley Chewins’ I Am the Swarm masterfully captures the struggle between a girl and her cursed magic amidst the typical troubles of one’s teenage years.

I Am The Swarm
•spoiler-free review•
4.0 ⭐️

This book is written in a novel-in-verse format, meaning the entire story is told through poetry. As someone who’s written and published a handful of poems/collections, I was excited to see how this story would go.

I loved the premise, and how the story tackles magical realism with intense topics. The magical elements makes it easier for me as a reader to connect with Nell, our main character, and her family. It’s both a beautiful and haunting book.

If you’re a fan of poetry, magical YA novels, or books that delicately discuss real-life issues, then I think you’d enjoy I Am The Swarm!

(Thank you @netgalley for the e-arc!)

#bookstagram #bookworm #yafiction #yabookstagram #novelinverse #poetrycollection #iamtheswarm #netgalley #netgalleyreviewer #bookreview #bookrecommendation

This was an unusually written, thought provoking read.
The author's style of writing made me feel exactly what the female lead was feeling - all of her pent up emotions, confusion, loneliness...you name it. I was even brough to tears a couple of times, and I only ever cry for a book when what I am reading is really good.
I wish the author could have explored the female lead's powers a little more and maybe have delved into what was affecting the sister so much. The family portrayed here was really dysfunctional, and I would have liked to see a little bit more resolution and togetherness at the end, instead of such an open finish.

Trigger warnings (I do not recommend reading if any of these trigger you) - Self harm, eating disorders, anxiety, depression, sexual abuse, dysfunctional family, absent parents...etc.

Do you ever pickup a book and know your teenage self would have eaten it up? Of course, even as a teenager I was never drawn to poetry or verse, so I think that is where this book has lost me. I want to love it. I want to appreciate hate the beautiful flow of words and the emotions presented, but I cannot connect completely with characters who are only fleetingly presented. I am obsessed with this cover and the premise, however. I think reading a physical copy would have been a better option so I could study the words on the page. It was a book that needed the sound of a page turn. The book was a lot more and less than I thought. Again, I saved this book in June because of the cover, and I missed the part where it was written in verse. But it was also more because it touched on some very heavy topics. Perfect for fans of Crank and magical realism.

It took a little while for me to fully get used to the writing style. But when I did. I really liked it. If you like contemporary books with a magical element or books written in verse, I'd recommend this.

Beautiful. Lyrical. Poetic. Magical.

This story is told in verses. I wish it had more distinct chapters to help indicate where the reader is in the narrative. It follows Nell, a fifteen-year-old girl who inherits generational magic and explores how she navigates this gift within her challenging family dynamics.

To say that I cried reading this book is an understatement. This book is very powerful in stating what it is like to live in toxic situations and how that can effect people in each generation. I loved the symbolism with the insects reflecting different moods and mindsets that the main character was facing at the time. It was a little repetitive with some stuff but overall a very powerful message.

"A 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."

Damn, I'd hate to have my emotions literally tied to wasps.

A potent and powerful novel in verse that speaks to growing up, the strength that can come from anger, and finding one’s voice. Reading the novel in verse was sometimes tricky for me, but the magical realism used is top notch and the sheer potency of emotions is wonderfully vivid. This book truly captures the uncertainty of adolescence.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4/5 stars)

😘 Thanks to @PenguinTeen and @NetGalley for the gifted eARC. All opinions are mine alone.

👩🏻‍🏫 Reader Notes & Trigger Warnings: This book deals with some heavier topics and is not for the faint of heart. It includes depictions of self harm, suicide attempts, self-starvation, and sexual harassment. Take care.

I believe this novel in verse has so much potential. It has a very powerful premise. Unfortunately the organization and structure of the writing created confusion and pulled me out of the narrative constantly. In truth, I’m hoping that it was an error in the digital arcs and that the final product does not have this issue. I plan on reading it when it’s published to revisit my rating. I think if the structure wasn’t so confusing this would have been a 5 star read for me. I especially loved the visual symbolism of the magic of Nell, Mora, and their mother. I think this novel explores multiple struggles of women and their mental health in a very beautiful way. I think the message of female rage along with hope was built up to so well.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for this ARC in exchange for my honest review!!

This was a beautiful novel told in verse. While some of this was heartbreaking, I loved the messages it had. Nell just wants her family to notice her. For anyone to notice her. Her sister is at a facility for self harm and everyone is so worried about her that nobody notices Nell. So she keeps everything inside.

Without giving too much away, I felt so much for Nell and her family. Everyone has a struggle that I could relate to. Nell’s struggles with feeling invisible, her sister’s struggles to what’s inside of her, and her mother’s struggles with being a parent while her Father is absent a lot of the time. This also goes into an adult with a position of power taking advantage of Nell when she is struggling and feeling like she wants someone to notice her.

I really liked her relationship with Shay. We see her grow as she stops seeing him as “an antidote” to get problems and starts seeing him as a boy who she likes. We also see growth in Nell as she learns that her emotions aren’t bad and she is allowed to feel them and express herself. This was such a tender book and had moments that really hit home.

I Am The Swarm by Hayley Chewins

In the Strand family, magic isn’t a gift—it’s wild, unpredictable, and impossible to control. Nell has spent her whole life watching it unravel the people she loves. But when she turns fifteen, her own magic arrives in the form of ladybugs dancing across her piano keys—beautiful, harmless… until the wasps come. No matter how hard she tries to bury her anger, they always find a way out.

This book is mesmerizing, eerie, and full of feels. It perfectly captures what it’s like to feel too much—the kind of story that sticks with you long after the last page. If you love books with family secrets, powerful emotions, and just the right touch of magic, you need this on your shelf!

Huge thanks to @penguinteen and @netgalley for the ARC!

I Am The Swarm is a hauntingly beautiful and poignant story, written in verse. At times, I wanted to stop reading because it was too much—because the events in the book, the emotions, and the characters felt so real.

The Strand women have always had magic. When they turn 15, their magic manifests—each one unique. But Nell knows their magic is nothing but a curse. Her mother’s age shifts unpredictably, often becoming far too young to be a mother. Her sister, Mori, bleeds magic and will do anything to let it all out.

Nell’s magic arrives a little late. At first, she’s delighted when it manifests as a ladybug—a symbol of her creativity. But things take a darker turn. Glossy beetles crawl along her collarbone when her piano teacher stares at her inappropriately. Soft gray moths appear and die when she feels disappointment. And worst of all, wasps—the manifestation of the rage she buries deep inside—swarm when she can no longer contain her emotions.

Mori struggles with suicidal tendencies, their mother avoids responsibility, and their father buries himself in work to escape confronting the family’s issues. When Mori is hospitalized, their mother becomes entirely focused on her, their father withdraws further, and Nell is left feeling invisible. All she wants is to be seen and heard, but no matter how hard she tries, words fail her. The only way she can express herself is through the insects born from her emotions—her anger, shame, and disappointment.

I loved how the author authentically portrayed the Strand women’s mental struggles through symbolism and magic. While the story explores deep pain, it also offers a glimmer of hope—that one day, things might be okay.

Do check the trigger warnings before reading.

Thank you, @NetGalley and Viking, an imprint of Penguin Random House.

Big thank you NetGalley and to the publisher for the chance to review this book pre-release. I Am the Swarm was a reflective, powerful read. I however, didn't always love the formatting. I loved the story and the message, but the presentation of it made me....almost tune out? I feel like I could have absorbed it better in a standard layout, though this could have very well been just me. 3.75 stars.

Thank you Netgalley and Penguin Group for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Haley Chewins’ “I Am the Swarm” is a haunting and poetic novel-in-verse that explores trauma, self-discovery, and the complex emotions of girlhood through a unique blend of magical realism and raw emotional depth. With lyrical prose and an unflinching look at difficult themes—including mental health struggles, parental neglect, sexual abuse, and self-harm—this book is as heartbreaking as it is powerful. Please make sure to read the content warnings before reading and take a break if needed.

At fifteen, Nell Strand believes her magic is a curse. In a family where magic is as much a burden as a gift—her mother’s age shifts unpredictably, and her older sister Mori hears music when she bleeds—Nell’s emotions manifest as insects. When she is happy, ladybugs dance across her piano, but as her pain grows, so do shameful beetles and furious wasps, reflecting the turmoil she cannot express. As she struggles with her sister’s absence in a treatment center, an inappropriate relationship with her music teacher, and the overwhelming loneliness of being unseen, Nell engages in self-destructive behaviors, attempting to starve both her emotions and her magic.

Chewins masterfully weaves magical realism into the story, using it as a metaphor for generational trauma and mental illness. The Strand women’s magic is both beautiful and tragic, a manifestation of their emotions, histories, and wounds. The prose itself is stunning, each verse carrying weight and intensity, making even the most painful moments feel enchanting. The wasps Nell summons are not just insects—they are the embodiment of rage, grief, and the desperate need to be heard.

The book does not shy away from difficult subjects. However, despite its heavy themes, “I Am the Swarm” is not a hopeless story. Nell’s journey toward self-acceptance and finding her voice is both heartbreaking and inspiring. Her relationship with Shay, though it begins suddenly, unfolds in a way that feels real and grounded, offering her a source of connection and understanding. The ending is bittersweet—there are no magical solutions, no easy fixes—but it feels authentic, leaving you with a sense of hope and resilience.

“I Am the Swarm” is a quiet yet powerful novel that lingers long after the last page. It is a testament to the strength of young women, the power of emotions, and the importance of speaking one’s truth. For readers who appreciate poetic storytelling, deep emotional resonance, and beautifully crafted magical realism, this is a must-read.

This is tough for me to rate because I don't think I totally *got* this book. I understood what the different insects represented and the troubles the MC was having with her sister and being ignored, but I don't think I totally understood some of the other issues the protagonist was having. I love reading books in verse, but this one was a bit too vague for me sometimes.

A character I really related to was the mom. What she goes through every day is one of the reasons I don't think I'll ever have children. I saw myself in her in a sad way.

The message of this book is powerful, but it didn't completely impact me the way I wanted it to.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an e-arc in exchange for my honest review.