Shadow Spinner Review
In this engrossing book, you enter the life of Marjan, a poor crippled girl who doesn't like to share the mysterious secrets of her past. Her all-time role model is Shahrazad, who has married the king who kills his wives every night. The clever princess is still alive after two years - almost 1000 nights. Her trick: telling a story every night and dropping off at the most exciting part.
Suddenly, Marjan finds herself living in the haram, or palace - the place that almost no women come out of after entering its gates. Her job as Shahrazad's servant is to assist the lovely princess with finding more new stories to tell the king. If she doesn't, Shahrazad will be killed.
And all of her servants will be killed with her.
Marjan becomes tangled up in a wild mystery. How will she find a blind storyteller from whom she heard a strange story long ago? Is he really blind? And what about the strange woman, "Crazy Zeba," who keeps pigeons in a tower in the haram? And there's the Katun - the fat, dangerous woman who would do anything to get rid of Marjan. It's all too confusing for a poor, flabbergasted girl with a limp foot. And worst of all, Shahrazad's life depends on her.
This book was so suspensful. My mom read it aloud to us, and we always begged for more. It's one of those books that you can't even imagine how everything could work out in the end. Read it!
Shadow Spinner Overview
Each night, in order to save her life, Shahrazad has to tell the Sultan a story that he has not heard before. One day, she hears Marjan, a visitor, telling a brand new story and she persuades her to stay to tell her the story without realizing that Marjan does not know the ending.
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Customer Reviews
Bringing some light to an old tale - Alexandra Cenni - hamilton, nj USA
The story of Shahrazad has always puzzled me. This King kills his wives day after day and his people just let it happen? They didn't revolt? Monarchies have been tumbled for much less! Yet this slip of a girl manages to stand up to this King and save her people.
She has never gotten her proper due in my opinion.
Fletcher's book however is a decent step in that direction. Though about Marjan, we see what it must be like for Shahrazad. Night after night for years, constantly frightened and stressed that at any moment the wrong word, the word turn of phrase will get her family killed.
Marjan is just as brave and clever as Shahrazad, which is both a blessing and curse for women in those days. A muslim hired out to a Jewish man and his wife, her life isn't easy, but they care for her like a daughter and she is happy at least. Its not that Marjan does reckless things--impetuous perhaps, but not reckless. She emphasizes with Shahrazad and reveres her like a hero, willing to do anything (including putting her life at risk) to save hers.
The outside 'force' in the story, that of the Sultan's greedy, waspish, over indulgent mother Khatun, is necessary. Her actions are just this side of evil, but they are covered with 'I need to protect my sons!'.
Just as in life, in Shadow Spinner things do not end 'perfectly'. A measure of happiness for most, but no real 'justice' is given to Khatun's actions and Marjan is forced to flee the city, never seeing her Aunt and Uncle, or friends at the palace again. I could almost wish for a sequel, to make sure that Marjan's life hereafter isn't a let down after this adventure, but sometimes a story needs an ending.
"An awesome book!!!" by Cora Hughes - A. Hughes - Oklahoma City
One of the things that I liked about this book was that it took so many turns, you thought you knew what would happen when something else would happen instead. I also liked the adventure mixed with mystery. The book talks about many feminine things, and I would not recommend it to boys. Overall, this book was definitely worth your money and your time. It was really hard to put down no matter where you were in the story.
Adventure at its best! by Danica Grimaud - Suzanne Grimaud - Oklahoma City
I enjoyed Shadow Spinner very much! I loved how I would finish a chapter and not want to stop reading. I hate to read, but I loved this book. I didn't like some parts in it, until I got to the end and found out that there was a good reason. I liked how it would make you wait to find out what is going to happen, so you would have to read the next chapter to find out. It is about a girl who has courage and isn't afraid to stand up to the Sultan. At the end, because she showed love to him, she stopped the problem. I would totally recommend this book if you have not read it yet. It is great and exciting!
*** Product Information and Prices Stored: Jul 10, 2010 14:30:05
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