@kidlitexchange #partner: The Spinner of Dreams by K.A. Reynolds and Harper Collins Kids. Releases 8/27/19.
———————
I haven’t read Alice in Wonderland since the approximate age
of 9, but this book reminded me of Alice in Wonderland nonetheless. Annalise in
Dreamland.
For reasons initially unknown, 11-year-old Annalise was
cursed by Fate at birth, bringing nothing but pain and shame to her wonderful,
loving, gentle parents who still see only the best in her. Finally taking her
fate into her own hands and desiring to rid herself of her curse, Annalise
sneaks out, boards an imaginatively mysterious train, meets a beautiful
warm-hearted fox, and sets out to conquer the Labyrinth of Fate and Dreams and
defeat the Fate Spinner once and for all.
Two-thirds of the book takes place within the Labyrinth (the
part that reminded me of a dark, twisted Wonderland) and the action was
wonderful. I hardly saw anything coming. I kiiinda figured out Annalise’s
connection to the Spinner of Dreams but the way it happened was nothing I ever
would have guessed. It is exciting, it is tense, and it is, ultimately,
beautiful.
Let me talk about two things I loved. First, I loved that
this was a world of unicorns, curses, fate, spirits...and also cars, television
news, and animal shelters. I LOVE fantasy worlds that have classic fantasy
elements mixed with all our modern conveniences, so this really made my day.
Secondly, and far more importantly, I loved Annalise
discovering that her curse, her difference that had made life so painful and
difficult, was not a curse at all, but a gift. Her strength, her unique power.
As someone not neurotypical myself, this was a beautiful reminder and meant a
lot to me. We all have something that makes life hard, but it’s also what makes
us who we are. We offer our unique gifts to the world because of it.
You can pick up this wonderful fantasy in late August! Thank
you @kidlitexchange, @harperkid and @krisrey19 for the review copy—all opinions
are my own.
Comments
Post a Comment