Friday, October 12, 2012

The Spindlers by Lauren Oliver


Released on: October 2nd, 2012
Ages: 8 & up
Source: ARC from publisher to review
4.5 stars: I Enjoyed It!

One night when Liza went to bed, Patrick was her chubby, stubby, candy-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 gotten 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 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.

From "New York Times" best-selling author Lauren Oliver comes a bewitching story about the reaches of loyalty, the meaning of love, and the enduring power of hope -quoted from Goodreads

I really enjoy Lauren Oliver's YA books, but I've completely fallen in love with her MG books as well. There's something magical about Lauren's  MG writing. Places come alive, characters become real, and the adventure feels like it's really happening. Lauren's talent for story telling and her gift for writing adds that element of excitement to each of her stories she's written so far, that cater to this younger audience, and it was no different for this book. I don't know if it's the fantasy element she adds in, the adventure, the magic, or the endless possibilities that lie within this book or the combination of each of these make her MG book perfectly for precisely that age group, and not to mention perfect for reading it out loud together with your kiddos.

The Spindlers is the story of a brave young girl, an older sister, who's on the mission to save her young brother's soul that's been stollen from the Spindlers. These spider like creatures live deep below the ground where the two character's house was built. They're not the only unforgettable creatures young readers will enjoy meeting along the way. On the verge of not being a child any more, and still embracing her childhood mannerisms, young Liza is constantly told by her mother to stop with her story telling. Luckily Liza does cling to what she knows is true, even if her parent's think she's telling stories and too old to be using her childish imagination. If Liza was to give up hope, no one would venture below ground to a totally different world, and come face to face with some pretty unusual characters/creatures and figure out a way to out smart the Spindlers in order to save the soul of her younger brother Patrick. 

This is a one fabulous, unforgettable adventure I'd recommend picking up for home, school and classroom settings. 
I would be most content if my children grew up to be the kind of people who think decorating consists mostly of building enough bookshelves. ~ Anna Quindlen

Good children's literature appeals not only to
the child in the adult, but to the adult in the child.
~ Anonymous ~