It's nearly back to school time -- at least here in the U.S.
In honor of the season, I'm featuring a week of great middle grade and tween books.
Whether you're a parent, a teacher, a librarian or just young at heart, I hope you enjoy these great titles! You'll have new chances to enter each day, and one lucky winner will walk away with all these books/ARCs!
August 9: Liar & Spy by Rebecca Stead
August 10: Wishing Spell by Chris Colfer
August 11: When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead
August 13: In a Glass Grimmly by Adam Gidwitz
August 16: The Sinister Sweetness of Splendid Academy by Nikki Loftin
August 17: The Spindlers by Lauren Oliver
Today's feature:
by Lauren Oliver
To be published by HarperCollins Children's Books
on October 2, 2012
Source: Received from the publisher at BEA (Book Expo America). Read my review policy/disclosure here.
My summary: One morning at the breakfast table, Liza realizes there's something different about her brother Patrick. He's polite. He has good table manners. He's nothing like himself at all. Liza knows what's happened -- his soul has been stolen by the Spindlers. When Liza's parents dismiss her worries as fabrications, she knows that she's the only one who can save her brother.
My take: I have not yet read Liesl and Po, Lauren Oliver's prior middle grade novel, but I'm a huge fan of her YA writing. The Spindlers definitely has an Alice In Wonderland feel. Liza falls "Below" and is suddenly in a strange and imaginative world of mysterious creatures. She's guided by Mirabella the rat as she faces a series of challenges leading up to her final showdown with the Spindlers.
My favorite part of this book was the creatures. Troglods, nids, nocturni, hobgoblins -- all these are imaginatively conceived and described. There's plenty of action here, and the trials that Liza has to face will leave middle grade readers on the edge of their seats.
At times as I read, I wondered what this book would have been like if the characters were all creatures -- if Liza and Andrew had been mice, for instance, like in Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH. At times, I felt that the magical creatures were so vivid and engaging that they overpowered the human characters a little. But the idea of a sister bravely charging to the rescue of her brother is charming, and reminded me of one of my favorites, A Wrinkle in Time. The Spindlers is an inventive and gripping read that should please Lauren Oliver's middle grade and YA fans.
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I should be back online this evening. Finally!
You definitely need to read Liesl and Po! It was one of my favorite books last year and is just an outstanding example of MG lit!
ReplyDeleteIt's on my to-read list!!
DeleteThis book sounds really great. I haven't read Leisl and Po either, but have heard that it's good.
ReplyDeleteI've been meaning to read it. I will do that soon!
DeleteI really liked Liesl and Po! This one sounds fun; I love the focus on the brother/sister relationship, it makes me think of my childhood growing up with a big brother to watch out for me. :)
ReplyDeleteI always wanted a big brother, though I hear they can be annoying at times! I have a sister, which is great too :)
DeleteThis looks like a really great read. The cover is fabulous too. I haven't read Liesl and Po either, but it has been on my tbr for a while, so eventually I'll get there. ;) Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteI ended up really loving this book, and after loving Liesl & Po, I am pretty much on board for Ms. Oliver's Middle Grade books from here to eternity. Great giveaway!
ReplyDeleteWhat a great collection of middle grade! I just finished Liesl and Po and absolutely loved it. I'm sure you'll like it if you like Lauren Oliver's writing!
ReplyDeleteYep all going on my my to read list!!
ReplyDeleteAshley A
ash_app@hotmail.com
I totally want to reread a Wrinkle In Time now. This one looks really good. i'm looking forward to reading it.
ReplyDeleteI HAVE to read this one. Delirium isn't one of my absolute favorite series, but I really did enjoy Delirium and Pandemonium, and I just think Lauren Oliver is a fantastic, beautiful and clever writer. I need to read all her books now! This one sounds really great. Great review!
ReplyDelete