This book, The Spinner of Dreams, was so interesting… I’m actually tempted to re-read it since I read it during vacation in September. When I read it I thought “I have to review this on my blog because it was so interesting.” But since it’s been a while not all the details are sharp you know?
Imagine struggling with a diagnosis and then writing a character who reflects it. Finding a way to bring that struggle to life in a way that others understand. Even though I know that different people struggle with the same condition in a variety of ways, seeing how one person handles it can help with understanding others.
The Story’s Synopsis
The Spinner of Dreams brings us Annelise and her uniqueness in life. She lives a life of aloneness since she was cursed by the Fate Spinner at birth. She has a black mark on her hand and a monster living within and a whole town around her blaming her for everything wrong in their lives. Her parents love and protect her, bringing light into her dark existence. The monster within is getting worse. What can she do?
Annelise does what she must! She will rid herself of this curse, she’ll find the Fate Spinner by entering the Labyrinth of Fate and Dreams. She needs to make it out alive. By doing so she’ll meet the merciful Spinner of Dreams and make her life better.
Title: The Spinner of Dreams
Author: K.A. Reynolds
Illustrator: Flora Delargy
Publisher: HarperCollins
Pages: 416
Intended Audience: 8-12 years
Genre: action & adventure, fantasy, fairytale, mental health
Available formats: hardcover, Kindle
So what did I think?
Honestly, it took me a while to get into this story as I found it rather horrifying the way Annelise was blamed for everything. People treated her and her family so badly. And then the cat showed up.
The cat was …. a bit odd, and somewhat unexpected.
And my curiosity got spiked. What’s with this odd cat? What does he have to do with the story?
And so I followed along with the cat, and got hooked on the rest of the story. You’ll note that every chapter has it’s own bit of artwork attached.
I saw kindness, trickery, pain, sadness, impossible odds, and more.
It was at times rather odd, but once I read about how the author tried to include her uniqueness’s with the story it all rather fell into place. Perhaps read the author’s note before reading the story? NAH, that might wreck it for you! 🙂
It took me off-guard with how much I enjoyed this rather quirky book. So in-between fantasy and fairytale while maintaining the good vs bad story.
Not everything is easy or perfect in The Spinner of Dreams. There’s lots of description, bad things happen in the maze, unique things happen that will make you wonder what is going on, and you’ll finish the story and want it to go on. 🙂
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