The Spindlers - Hardcover

by Lauren Oliver (Author), Iacopo Bruno (Illustrator)

Evocative of Alice in Wonderland, this captivating middle grade fantasy from New York Times bestselling author Lauren Oliver is a bewitching story about the reaches of loyalty and the enduring power of hope. Perfect for fans of the author's other middle grade novels: Liesl & Po and the Curiosity House series.

Looking across the breakfast table one morning, twelve-year-old Liza feels dread wash over her. Although her younger brother, Patrick, appears the same, Liza knows that he is actually quite different. She is certain that the spindlers--evil, spiderlike beings--came during the night and stole his soul. And Liza is also certain that she is the only one who can rescue him on a daring sibling quest.

Armed with little more than her wits and a huge talking rat for a guide, Liza descends into the dark and ominous underground world to save Patrick's soul. Her quest is far from easy: she must brave tree-snakes, the Court of Stones, and shape-shifting scawgs before facing her greatest challenge in the spindlers' lair, where more than just Patrick's soul is at stake.

• Portal Fantasy Adventure: Liza's journey begins not in a wardrobe or down a rabbit hole, but through a secret hole in her own basement, leading to a world Below she never knew existed.
• A World of Magical Creatures: Guided by Mirabella, a huge talking rat with a flair for fashion, Liza must navigate a realm of tree-snakes, shape-shifting scawgs, and the wise, dream-bringing nocturni.
• An Unlikely Heroine: Twelve-year-old Liza isn't a knight or a chosen one. She's just a sister armed with her wits, a broomstick, and a fierce loyalty that drives her to face the darkest of fears.
• A Dark Fairy Tale: Evocative of classic tales but with a chilling new twist, this story confronts the evil, soul-stealing spindlers and their terrifying queen in a quest that is both wondrous and dangerous.

Back Jacket

One night when Liza went to bed, Patrick was her chubby, stubby, candy-grubbing and pancake-loving younger brother, who irritated and amused her both, and the next morning, when she woke up, he was not. In fact, he was quite, quite different.

When Liza's brother, Patrick, changes overnight, Liza knows exactly what has happened: The spindlers have gotten to him and stolen his soul.

She knows, too, that she is the only one who can save him.

To rescue Patrick, Liza must go Below, armed with little more than her wits and a broom. There, she uncovers a vast world populated with talking rats, music-loving moles, greedy troglods, and overexcitable nids . . . as well as terrible dangers. But she will face her greatest challenge at the spindlers' nests, where she encounters the evil queen and must pass a series of deadly tests--or else her soul, too, will remain Below forever.

From New York Times best-selling author Lauren Oliver comes a bewitching story about the reaches of loyalty, the meaning of love, and the enduring power of hope.