The Spinner of Dreams by K. A. Reynolds

Synopsis: 

“Inventive, empathetic, and strange in all the best ways, The Spinner of Dreams draws from the author’s own experiences to create a story that feels timeless and universal. As she did in her debut The Land of Yesterday, K. A. Reynolds thoughtfully explores mental health and crafts an adventure that fits right alongside middle grade classics like The Phantom Tollbooth.

Annalise Meriwether—though kind, smart, and curious—is terribly lonely.

Cursed at birth by the devious Fate Spinner, Annalise has always lived a solitary life with her loving parents. She does her best to ignore the cruel townsfolk of her desolate town—but the black mark on her hand won’t be ignored.

Not when the monster living within it, which seems to have an agenda of its own, grows more unpredictable each day.

There’s only one way for Annalise to rid herself of her curse: to enter the Labyrinth of Fate and Dreams and defeat the Fate Spinner. So despite her anxiety, Annalise sets out to undo the curse that’s defined her—and to show the world, and herself, exactly who she is inside.”

Review:

This is such a difficult review to write because I don’t want to give anything away! Annalise was born with a horrible curse that marks her hand and has affected the entire town where she lives. Despite her curse and the difficulties it brings, her parents’ have nothing but unending love and support for their daughter. Annalise’s anxiety and panic can be debilitating at times, but when given the chance to change her fate, she takes it.

Annalise’s repeats her dream, “I wish to rule my own destiny and rid myself of this curse” follows her as she battles fantastical creatures in a dark and unending labyrinth. With the help of friends and an inner-strength she never knew existed, Annalise comes in front of the Spinner of Fate. And when she does, she’s ready to fight for her own dreams.

An #ownvoices novel with an up-close and personal look at anxiety and obsessive-compulsive tendencies. It also features a character that looks at the world very differently than the people around her. The Spinner of Dreams by K. A. Reynolds balances a character that kids can relate to with a fantastical story filled with magic and possibility.

Need to Know:

Title: The Spinner of Dreams
Author: K. A. Reynolds
Publisher: Harper
Publication Date: August 27, 2019
Page Number: 416 pgs.