The Spindlers

by Lauren Oliver

Iacopo Bruno (Illustrator)

One day when Liza went to bed, Patrick was her chubby, stubby, sweet-grubbing, and pancake-loving younger brother, who irritated and amused her both, and the next morning, when she woke up, he was not. In fact, he was quite, quite different. When Liza's brother, Patrick, changes overnight, Liza knows exactly what has happened: the spindlers have got to him, and stolen his soul. She knows, too, that she is the only one who can save him. To rescue Patrick, Liza must go Below, armed with little more than her wits and a broom. There, she uncovers a vast world populated with talking rats, music-loving moles, greedy troglods, and overexcitable nids ...as well as strange monsters and terrible dangers. But she will face her greatest challenge at the spindlers' nests, where she encounters the evil Queen and must pass a series of deadly tests - or else her soul, too, will remain Below forever.

• ISBN10: 0061978094
• ISBN13: 9780061978098
• Publish Date: 27 August 2013 (first published 13 September 2012)
• Publish Status: Active
• Publish Country: US
• Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
• Imprint: Collins
• Format: Paperback (US Trade)
• Pages: 272
• Language: English

Reviews

[cherryblossommj]

I started this one by reading an advanced copy, but I finished it up via the audiobook version through the Overdrive library system. This was an interesting read and one I plan to keep on the shelves. I also plan to watch for more stories from Lauren Oliver in the future. The Spindlers is the adventure of one girl named Liza who is searching for her real brother's soul and she believes he has been replaced by evil spider-like beings that suck out his soul. As she sets off to find Patrick she comes up against many different tests to find him again, or at least attempt to... This has a flavor of Alice in Wonderland and on some elements I even got a hint of Harry Potter here and there, and even Coralinebut really it's just the bringing out historical mythology of legends past.

This is a neat and interesting story that keeps a reader hooked, but that's not the important part. This is a book about maturity, about what matters most, about the truly important things. It touches on lots of issues that current in-between age children may see or experience but not really understand in relation to their siblings, friends and parents. This is a quest novel through an unbelievable underworld and has just the right amount of scary, and just the right amount of challenge. It is one of those that I truly think a reader can find his or herself growing in the end.


There is also a Discussion Guide available.


I received this product free for the purpose of reviewing it. I received no other compensation for this review. The opinions expressed in this review are my personal, honest opinions. Your experience may vary. Please read my full disclosure policy for more details.


Will be posted to CreativeMadnessMama.com

[Briana @ Pages Unbound]

Source: ARC from Goodreads giveaway

The Spindlers is a cute, fun story but certainly not Oliver’s best or most original. The jacket copy mentions hints of Alice in Wonderland and Coraline in the text, but there is also clear inspiration taken from Tolkien’s The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, as well as from C. S. Lewis’s Chronicles of Narnia. Though the story does have its own creative touches, it often reads like an amalgamation of repurposed fantasy elements.

Most of the story is based in the fantasy, rather than in the characters or plot. The sense is that the book is saying, “Look at this magical place with its interesting geography and its weird creatures!” more than it is saying anything else—which makes it more of a flaw that the weird creatures are not particularly fascinating or remarkable. And even after all the description, Below is still an ambiguous, poorly defined place. It is not even clear until pretty far in that Below has no sunshine. Whether this means the place is like a dark tunnel with a dirt roof is hard to say. Liza certainly experiences no claustrophobia.

The best part may be Liza’s determined bravery in wanting to rescue her brother’s soul. She carries on a like a true solider, facing danger after danger just to do what is right for someone she loves. It would have been better for the readers, however, if the “real” Patrick had been introduced before this mission. Instead, we see first the “wrong” Patrick. This makes it difficult to care very strongly about Patrick as an individual, instead of merely hoping for his soul’s safe return simply because, as decent human beings, we would hope for anyone’s soul to be safe.

Oliver’s writing does flow nicely, but it may be more “beautiful” (whatever that subjectively means) in her teen books. There are also fewer notable quotations. Only one leaped out at me: “That was what her parents did not understand—and had never understood—about stories. Liza told herself stories as though she was weaving and knotting an endless rope. Then, no matter how dark or terrible the pit she found herself in, she could pull herself out, inch by inch and hand over hand, on the long rope of stories” (ARC 108).

The Spindlers was just nice. I gave it a solid three stars on Goodreads, but Oliver has written better books, and there are books by other middle-grade authors that have done what Oliver is trying to do here better. The story gives off the general impression that it was written too quickly, without the time necessary to develop it into a truly creative and thought-provoking book. Although it is decent, it is a disappointment in light of Oliver’s other work.

This review was also posted at Pages Unbound Book Reviews.

[Jo]

Originally posted on Once Upon a Bookcase.

When I heard Lauren Oliver had written another middle grade story, I was so excited! I absolutely adored Liesl and Po, so was really eager to read The Spindlers, to be awed at the beautiful writing and wonderful imagination of Oliver - which she again delivered!

The Spindlers is again an enchanting story for young readers, but is a little darker than Liesl and Po. Though Liesl and Po is about death, it's an ultimately uplifting story. The Spindlers is a creepy adventure story full of fascinating creatures and sinister monsters. When Liza realises that the Spindlers have taken her brother's soul, she bravely enters Below to save him, and on her journey to the Spindlers' nests, she meets a number of characters and finds herself in a number of difficult situations. It reminded me of Alice in Wonderland, how Liza - and the rat, Mirabella, she befriends - get out of one situation only to end up in another, whether it be a dangerous situation or an enchanting, educational one.

I loved the realtionship between Liza and Mirabella. Through Mirabella, Liza - and the reader - learn so much about prejudice - judging based on looks or on what stereotypes say. It's not very preachy, but it does say a lot about how we should treat people as individuals, yet also not judge people for being different. I loved Mirabella, she was just such a funny little character, how she reacted when she was panicked, and her attitude generally. Just because of the way she spoke, I was able to imagine her more vividly. She was fantastic!

I'm not really sure how much more I can say without spoiling the story. The Spindlers is fun and exciting, and definitely a little creepy - but not too scary for the age range. It's as beautiful and enchanting as we've come to expect from Oliver's middle grade writing, but with an darker edge. I didn't love it as much as Liesl and Po, but that's only because, in my mind, Liesl and Po is just perfection, so nothing is going to ever reach it. The Spindlers is a fantastic story that will spark children's imaginations and take them on a spine-tingling ride of excitement!

[Suz @ Bookish Revelations]

Lauren Oliver delivers a dreadfully mystical tale of magic and wonder. Middle grade reader's, are bound to fall in love with the magical creepy wonders and adventures. The enchanted tale that Oliver spins is intriguing and captivating. An age old tale of conquering fears to save the one you love, is what brings this whole world to life and propels the story into motion. The Spindler's is an amazingly well developed and imaginative world that anyone young or old could dive into and get lost within the pages. This is simply world building at its best and brightest, in originality and vivid splendor.

Reminicent of Coraline or Alice In Wonderland, the character's in The Spindler's, are delightfully creative, brilliantly rich in detail, and terrifyingly beautiful in their own dark mystique. The descriptions are breath-takingly beautiful. They bring wonder and life to the pages of this deep and richly imaginative story of wonder and adventure. Liza is such a likable character full of spirit and character. She's full of delight and is likable and easy to connect with. She risks battling her fears in order to journey Below to save her brother's soul from The Spindler's who have somehow managed to snatch it away.

Lauren Oliver fills the pages of The Spindler's with delicate tenderness, bravery in the face of terrifying fear, and adventure for the greater good. The amount of heart and spirit she puts into this novel, is incredible and will resonate with reader's in such an endearing heartwarming way, that they will find it irresistably sweet, fun, and engaging. It is such a fantastic read for any middle grader looking for a little creepy crawly action and heart. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who has enjoyed Lauren Oliver's previous middle grade book, Lisel & Poe, as this one is just as enjoyable and fun to read.

So full of action, this is definitely a book that reader's of all ages will not want to miss out on.