A Chicago Public Library Teen-Approved Best Book of 2023 "A powerful feminist retelling of an ancient tale about empathy and defiance, written in beautiful verse from a truly unique viewpoint." -- Margarita Engle, Newbery Honor-winning author of The Surrender Tree and Young People's Poet Laureate The Song of Achilles and Circe get a sapphic, young adult twist in this "exciting, richly textured, thought-provoking" ( Kirkus Reviews , starred review) retelling of the myth of Arachne spun in moving verse. Arachne ...
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A Chicago Public Library Teen-Approved Best Book of 2023 "A powerful feminist retelling of an ancient tale about empathy and defiance, written in beautiful verse from a truly unique viewpoint." -- Margarita Engle, Newbery Honor-winning author of The Surrender Tree and Young People's Poet Laureate The Song of Achilles and Circe get a sapphic, young adult twist in this "exciting, richly textured, thought-provoking" ( Kirkus Reviews , starred review) retelling of the myth of Arachne spun in moving verse. Arachne is a homely girl with no claims to divinity or fortune, ostracized by all but her family and closest friend, Celandine. Turning to her loom for solace, Arachne learns to weave, finding her voice and her strength through the craft. After a devastating loss, Arachne and Celandine flee to the city of Colophon, where Arachne's skills are put to the test. Word of her talent spreads quickly, leading to a confrontation with the goddess Athena, who demands that Arachne repent for her insolence and pride. But Arachne will not be silenced. She challenges Athena, and a fateful weaving contest ensues, resulting in an expos??? of divine misdeeds, a shocking transformation, and unexpected redemption. A brilliant weaver of words, author Rebecca Caprara transforms an ancient myth into a sweeping novel in verse, unraveling the tales that frame Arachne as a villainess and deliver a timely story of long-awaited justice.
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Add this copy of Spin to cart. $18.89, new condition, Sold by Ingram Customer Returns Center rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from NV, USA, published 2024 by Atheneum Books for Young Readers.
Add this copy of Spin to cart. $22.65, new condition, Sold by Ingram Customer Returns Center rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from NV, USA, published 2023 by Atheneum Books for Young Readers.
Spin is a young-adult feminist myth retelling of a girl who possesses incredible talent in the art of weaving, in which her reasonable pride has summoned the wrath of the goddess Athena. Comes with marvelous prose in this verse novel, Rebecca Caprara spins a new approach to Arachne's life that revamps her boast into credence, silence into freedom, and misery into redemption.
Hands down â�" one of the best books I've read so far this 2023! I felt Arachne's rage even without violence. This story is meant to tell her voice, yes, but instead she becomes the voice of other women, of myself too. Perhaps you will find solace in this engaging book as well. Furthermore, I value how much the mother of Arachne is emphasized and has a huge influence to her all throughout because whenever I search for Arachne's story online, it's always her father that comes up.
I also appreciate that Spin is told in verses; Arachne has mentioned multiple times about ancient bards telling the wrong sides about girls and women's lives, and it seems to me that this is an attempt to eradicate such ways. That Arachne acting as a bard in this novel, talking to the audience, has owned the rectified and most unbiased version of her tale... and it's shared to us this time in its rawest form, despite being fictional.
This is a straight 5-star to me. Who wouldn't adore a tale of transformation on personal beliefs, girlhood, relationships, and the self! Rebecca Caprara has intricately woven the myth of Arachne as well as of the silenced women in Ovid's Metamorphoses into a work of art. People must read Spin; it's a beautiful addition to everyone's retelling collection, and doesn't deserve to be slept on. It is rather an immersive experience, and the author has indisputably brought Arachne and other characters so much justice.
I borrowed this book as a digital loan from Los Angeles Public Library on Libby.
