Critics' Opinion:
Readers' rating:
Published Mar 2023
400 pages
Genre: Fantasy, Sci-Fi, Speculative, Alt. History
Publication Information
The Song of Achilles and Circe get a sapphic, young adult twist in this gorgeously lush, feminist retelling of the myth of Arachne spun in moving verse.
Sixteen-year-old Arachne is 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 the tragic loss of her family, 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.
But Arachne will not be silenced. She challenges Athena, and a fateful weaving contest ensues, resulting in an exposé of divine misdeeds, a shocking transformation, and unexpected redemption.
"Via alternating past and present narration told in sensate verse, Caprara cultivates a tale of ill-fated competition between mortals and gods in this captivating read, a crash course in Greek mythology...Fittingly using Arachne's mythos as a framework, Caprara navigates issues surrounding gender norms, grief, and trauma, while accentuating how art and storytelling can serve as acts of healing and advocacy." —Publishers Weekly (starred review)
"Gifted poet and storyteller Caprara keeps readers engaged, varying the pace, cadence, and emotional shading of Arachne's passionate refutation of the gods' ruthless exercise of power and privilege. Her own anger serves her purposes; if speaking truth to power exacts a high price, it's one she's willing to pay. Exciting, richly textured, thought-provoking fare." —Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
"Fans of Greek mythology will find themselves immersed in Caprara's novel-in-verse retelling of Arachne...Caprara weaves other myths—Daphne, Persephone, Aite—into Arachne's story, tucking a strong feminist message into her lovely writing that is sure to resonate with modern audiences." —Booklist
"In Spin, Rebecca Caprara pulls together threads of millennia-old stories and weaves a completely fresh tapestry that unravels what we thought we knew of Arachne. From the first page, lush, self-assured verse immerses readers in a world both mythic and all too familiar. A tour de force!" —Joy McCullough, award-winning author of Blood, Water, Paint
"Caprara spins heartbreak into art, myth into reality, and poetry into music, all within a masterful narrative frame. Spin is a stunning must-read." —Colby Cedar Smith, award-winning author of Call Me Athena: Girl from Detroit
"Intricately weaves the myth of Arachne in beautiful verse that is filled with rebellion, hope, and longing. Perfect for Madeline Miller fans!" —Kip Wilson, award-winning author of White Rose
This information about Spin was first featured
in "The BookBrowse Review" - BookBrowse's membership magazine, and in our weekly "Publishing This Week" newsletter. Publication information is for the USA, and (unless stated otherwise) represents the first print edition. The reviews are necessarily limited to those that were available to us ahead of publication. If you are the publisher or author and feel that they do not properly reflect the range of media opinion now available, send us a message with the mainstream reviews that you would like to see added.
Any "Author Information" displayed below reflects the author's biography at the time this particular book was published.
Rebecca Caprara is the author of multiple acclaimed novels and the recipient of the Marguerite W. Davol Picture Book Critique Scholarship and the Jane Yolen Scholarship from the Society of Children's Book Writers & Illustrators. An artist and avid globetrotter, Rebecca has lived in Italy, Singapore, and Canada. She is now growing roots in Massachusetts with her family.
The Stolen Child
by Ann Hood
An unlikely duo ventures through France and Italy to solve the mystery of a child’s fate.
Daughters of Shandong
by Eve J. Chung
Eve J. Chung's debut novel recounts a family's flight to Taiwan during China's Communist revolution.
There are two kinds of light - the glow that illuminates, and the glare that obscures.
Click Here to find out who said this, as well as discovering other famous literary quotes!
Your guide toexceptional books
BookBrowse seeks out and recommends the best in contemporary fiction and nonfiction—books that not only engage and entertain but also deepen our understanding of ourselves and the world around us.
