I enjoyed this book and the enchanted world below where the spindlers lived. I didn't always enjoy the main character Lisa, who I felt was often rude to her wonderful sidekick Mirabella. An eccentric rat, Mirabella was unusual, unpredictable, and just plain fun to read about.

All in all, a good adventure story for middle grade readers. ( )

Odd little book. Interesting read. I think young fantasy readers would enjoy this. ( )

I'm in love with Lauren Oliver's writing, and to be honest all I've read so far are her Middle Grade novels. If they are at all indicative of her overall writing style, I'm sold. Head over heels in love. Even as an adult reader The Spindlers captured my heart and mind. You couldn't have pried this book out of my hands.

Liza is our main character and I adored her from page one.Strong, stubborn, and braver than most young girls I know, she was a wonderful character to follow. Her belief in magic was sweet, and the relationship that she had with her brother Patrick was even sweeter. We all know that siblings bicker. That you can love the stuffing out of your younger brother or sister and still thing they are utterly obnoxious at times. I loved the reality of Liza's relationship with Patrick for that very reason. She knows what drives her crazy about him, and yet she sets it all aside to save him when he needs it.

What really sparked my imagination was the world that Oliver builds in the "Below". Liza must face some rather terrifying events and inhabitants to save her sibling. I loved how they were just the right amount of scary, without being too over the top. Also, they are offset by the cunning that Liza must use to solve puzzles in her quest as well. There was such a nice mix of trials for her to pass that, despite being an older reader, I found myself entranced by her journey. It reminded me slightly of Alice in Wonderland. A girl who is young and on her own, and yet does great things.

The Spindlers deals with sibling relationships, friendship, and finding courage within. Best of all, it does it in a format that is friendly to young readers. If you have a reader at home who loves adventures, or who believes in magic, this is a book for them. Actually, even if you are adult and have these same qualities, you'll love this book! I did, and I can't wait for more from Lauren Oliver. ( )

I love Lauren Oliver but Spindlers didn't feel very special to me. The monsters and story were interesting but it also felt very generic. It just did not sweep me off my feet into a world of wonder like I would expect from her books. I seem to prefer her realistic fiction YA books more than her children's books. ( )

Her brother Patrick looks the same; he's still dressed in the same space alien pajamas as the night before, yet he's very different. Liza notices it right away at breakfast but her extremely busy parents do not. She concludes that her brother has lost his soul, and she's sure that the spindlers -- large black, gross-looking, spider-like creatures -- have taken it. An oddly dressed talking rat named Miranda guides Liza on the frightening journey to the world down Below, to the spindler's nests, in a mission to rescue her brother's soul and restore her family. This wonderful, quick read for tweens has just enough twists and turns to keep the reader's interest.

Sharyn H. / Marathon County Public Library
Find this book in our library catalog.

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