Bird Box (novel)

Upon discovering her pregnancy, Malorie is unable to contact her one night stand. She initially dismisses international news reports of people going mad shortly after seeing "something" outside. These people are considered to have been infected by what they saw and will brutally attack others before killing themselves. As the occurrences spread, they are believed to be caused by "creatures" and the situation referred to as "The Problem."

Malorie is forced to strike out on her own after her sister Shannon becomes infected and kills herself. Malorie eventually meets and shelters with other survivors: Jules (and his border collie, Victor), Felix, Tom, Don, Cheryl, and later Olympia, who, like Malorie, is about four months pregnant. They spend their days sequestered inside their shelter, only going outside blindfolded to seek out food and supplies. Tom tells Malorie the original owner, George, attempted to find out if the creatures would not affect you if seen another way, so he filmed a window but still brutally killed himself while watching the tape.

Eventually Tom and Jules search the neighboring houses for supplies, but also for dogs they can train to guide them while they are blindfolded as Jules does not want to risk Victor. They find two huskies and some birds kept in a box that coo when people approach. They hang the bird box by their front door as an alarm system. They also discover someone set up a tent in the middle of the street in front of their house.

After months of isolation they reluctantly take in a new survivor, Gary. He claims he left the previous house he was at because a man named Frank, who had been a recluse obsessed with writing in journals and believed The Problem was caused by mass hysteria, had uncovered all the windows and opened the doors to prove this "insanity fuss" was all an illusion. Gary and Don become friends, but Gary only talks about Frank's ideology. It is soon revealed that Gary has "Frank"'s journal which he had said "Frank" kept, so he is evicted, only for Don to secretly keep him in the shelter's basement. He remains hidden until Olympia and Malorie go into labor, at which point Don and Gary expose everyone to the creatures. Gary sneaks into the room Malorie and Olympia are in to taunt them, explaining the tent in the street was his because he liked to watch the creatures, while they listen to the others kill each other downstairs. Only Malorie and the two infants, a boy and a girl, survive as Malorie managed to block their sight. Prior to hanging herself with an umbilical cord while Gary was laughing, Olympia comments that the creatures are "beautiful" and "not bad at all". Shortly after that, the creature descends the stairs followed by Gary, who is never to be seen again.

Once again alone, Malorie becomes resigned to the reality that she will have to raise the children by herself. Her only possible beacon of hope is a phone call from a survivor named Rick, who tells her about a self-contained refuge without any windows. He invites them to travel to the refuge via boat, but warns her that the journey will require her to remove her blindfold once.

As she raises them Malorie subjects the children to harsh training in order to ensure their survival, heightening their senses and training them to automatically keep their eyes closed. The children are only referred to as "Girl" and "Boy", as she feels that names are an unnecessary luxury. During this time Malorie keeps Jules' pet dog, Victor, who survived Gary's attack while locked in the basement. She follows Tom's belief that animals are immune to the Problem, only for this to be proven false when Victor goes mad and kills himself after seeing a creature. Malorie also discovers a rowboat and begins planning for the inevitable trek to Rick's haven.

Eventually the day comes for the trio to make the journey when the children are four years old. Malorie chooses this day because there is a heavy fog she thinks will hide their escape in case Gary still watches the house. Malorie inwardly expresses regret over all of the experiences and sights that the children have missed, but knows that it was necessary for their survival. Instructing them to follow her orders and to never remove their blindfolds regardless of what happens, Malorie and the children travel down the river. As they are rowing they come across a person who tries to convince them to remove their blindfolds in order to see the "beautiful" creature; however, they ignore him and continue along their journey. When she hears the signal to temporarily remove her blindfold, the Boy says something is walking through the river toward them. The creature pulls at her blindfold, but then releases it and leaves them. Malorie is terrified to remove the blindfold, but knows that it is necessary to see which split of the river to take. Briefly marveling at sights previously denied due to the Problem, Malorie navigates down the correct path and replaces the blindfold. Eventually they make it to the refuge, originally a school for the blind, where they are met by blind Rick, a sighted Constance, and dozens of other people who have blinded themselves to remain unaffected. Now certain in their safety, Malorie finally allows herself to name the children.

• Michigan Notable Book Award (2015, won)[7]
• James Herbert Award (2015, nominated)[8]
• Bram Stoker Award for Best First Novel (2015, nominated)[9]