In an adventure equal to any a storyteller might relate, a crippled serving girl faces the intrigues of the harem, the dangers of the streets, and ...
read full description
reviews
Oct 09, 2011
Ashley
rated it: 
Originally reviewed on my blog, Books from Bleh to Basically Amazing.
Shadow Spinner by Susan Fletcher is set in Ancient Persia and it is a retelling of 1001 Arabian Nights. The original tale is the story of Shaharazad, the young woman who tells stories each night to the Sultan, ending before the climax is complete in order to remain alive one more day. Over and over she does this, for 1001 nights. The original tale is where we get such beloved stories as Aladdin, Sinbad, and Ali Bab More...
Shadow Spinner by Susan Fletcher is set in Ancient Persia and it is a retelling of 1001 Arabian Nights. The original tale is the story of Shaharazad, the young woman who tells stories each night to the Sultan, ending before the climax is complete in order to remain alive one more day. Over and over she does this, for 1001 nights. The original tale is where we get such beloved stories as Aladdin, Sinbad, and Ali Bab More...
0 comments
like
(1 person liked it)
Aug 11, 2011
Barky
rated it: 
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
To view it, click here
May 13, 2011
Nanci
rated it:
Shahrazad is the princess who tells the sultan the thousand tales of the Arabian nights. She stops the tale at just the right place so that the king doesn't kill her in the morning because he wants the rest of the stories. She is at 939 nights and has born the king 3 sons and still she fears for her life each night. She is running out of stories to tell and doesn't know what to do when she meets Marjan. Marjan is a teller of stories as well and has held Shahrazad as her hero all her life. S
More...
Mar 19, 2010
Bethany
rated it: 
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
To view it, click here
Sep 29, 2009
Lexie
rated it:
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 More...
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 More...
0 comments
like
(1 person liked it)
Sep 19, 2011
I must admit I was skeptical when I picked up this book. How interesting could a story be about someone who tells stories? I tell stories, and trust me, a book about my life would be very boring. (And then Janette sat huddled in front of her laptop for the next five hours . . . See what I mean?)
I'm glad to report that I was really wrong in this assumption. It was an awesome book and I liked it all that much more because the characters talked about stories and their importance. Th More...
I'm glad to report that I was really wrong in this assumption. It was an awesome book and I liked it all that much more because the characters talked about stories and their importance. Th More...
0 comments
like
(1 person liked it)
Apr 12, 2009
Vickie
rated it:
I stayed up last night to finish this book (and to play Easter Bunny for Lady K). I read this one rather quickly even for a bedside book which always go fast due to more reading time available. Marjan is a crippled orphan who comes to the notice of Shahrazad, the teller of stories to the Sultan to maintain living another day and to save the lives of other women in the Sultan's realm. Shahrazad is running low on stories and lives in fear, until the day Marjan comes to the harem with her aunt to s
More...
Feb 10, 2011
Ori
rated it:
I always did wonder how Shahrazad kept up night after night for over three years without accidentally spinning a story she had already told. I can barely remember what I did yesterday, much less whether I've told people a story already or not.
One thing I can't quite decide about is the issue of Marjan's crippling and how it was used in the book. Was it used just to give Marjan her own chance for personal growth? Or was it used well, portraying a character who doesn't let her physical d More...
One thing I can't quite decide about is the issue of Marjan's crippling and how it was used in the book. Was it used just to give Marjan her own chance for personal growth? Or was it used well, portraying a character who doesn't let her physical d More...
May 17, 2010
Mary
rated it:
There are some true and important messages in this book. This book would make a great read-a-loud, it is exciting and full of adventure, and teaches a few good lessons. I enjoyed that the heroine did not have physical or spiritual perfection but was on a journey.
I really enjoyed the little bits of wisdom at the beginning of each chapter. One quote I particularly liked was, "People will take what they need from the stories they hear." Another quote says, "Sometime More...
I really enjoyed the little bits of wisdom at the beginning of each chapter. One quote I particularly liked was, "People will take what they need from the stories they hear." Another quote says, "Sometime More...
Feb 04, 2011
Akoss
rated it:
I grew up reading the story about Shahrazad many times and in various "versions", but this take brought a breath of fresh air to it.
Susan Fletcher is a great story spinner who gave more than life to the characters. The ones from the original story such as Shahrazad and the Sultan, were more than 2 dimensional, they felt real, and so were the additional characters she brought in to weave in the "behind the scenes" parts. You will get to know and care for those secondary More...
Susan Fletcher is a great story spinner who gave more than life to the characters. The ones from the original story such as Shahrazad and the Sultan, were more than 2 dimensional, they felt real, and so were the additional characters she brought in to weave in the "behind the scenes" parts. You will get to know and care for those secondary More...
Nov 27, 2011
Leaf
rated it: 
Shadow spinner is about a girl named Marjan who is crippled.When she goes to the Sultans court to sell some goods she tells the sultans wife, Shahrazad, a story that she never heard before. You see the sultan began killing his wives every nght after his first wife betrayed him, and only Shahrazadis able to stop him by telling him a story each night and stopping it in a exciting part at dawn. After Marjan tells Shahrazad the story she is bought to the sultans house to tell the rest of the story b
More...
Oct 03, 2009
Julia
rated it:
I really loved this book because it has a lot of adventure in it. The sultan of the land found out that one of his wives had betrayed him, so he started killing off all of his wives. He would marry a woman one night and then kill her the next. Mothers started maiming their daughters so that they wouldn't be married by the Sultan. Then, this one woman marries the Sultan, but before he kills her, she asks if she can tell her sister one last story. The sultan agrees, but the woman stops the st
More...
Feb 01, 2010
Jason
rated it:
I thought the premise of the novel was excellent, and I was not familiar with the story of Shahrazad. I thought the plot was very linear and traditional, and I am sure my own girls will read it on their own when they get a bit older. I bought a copy for myself after reading the library copy, just so the girls would have it handy.
Stylistically, I thought the "Lessons on Storytelling" were a bit gimmicky and I wanted to skip them every time. I felt the break in the narrati More...
Stylistically, I thought the "Lessons on Storytelling" were a bit gimmicky and I wanted to skip them every time. I felt the break in the narrati More...
Oct 25, 2008
Libby
rated it:
Although the book is based on Persian culture, I found many familir elements from Moroccan culture. While the plot didn't always flow smoothly, the imagery of the harem and the bazaar captured another world. A good high interest, low reading level book for young teens.
0 comments
like
(1 person liked it)
Dec 15, 2008
Marina
rated it:
My kids bought this book for me as a birthday present. I really liked it. It is about a sultan who has been betrayed and now in his anger marries and kills a wife every day. To save all the young women in the village Shaharazad offers to marry him and provides a story for him every night that she promises to end the following night. Hence that keeps her alive and the other girls from getting killed. Marjan, a cripple becomes a help for the queen to find new stories when she starts to run out of
More...
Jan 30, 2011
Anna
rated it:
This book expands and adds characters to the Persian tale of 1001 nights. It is about a sultan killing a new wife every night until one woman, Sharahzad tells him a story that is so interesting but unfinished that he lets her live in order to hear the story the next evening. I picked it up as a read aloud for my kids as we study Persian history, but I find it a little too scary for my kids (as pretty much all Persian stories are filled with thieves, intrigue and cut throats) and I just read it
More...
Mar 16, 2009
Lauren
rated it:
i found this to be a well-written book, although some of the themes and ideas in the book might not be suitable for the young adult audience to which the book was written.
i've heard vaguely of the tales of Shahrazad but had never read much on it. i appreciated this author's spin on the ancient tale. although i must admit that there were quite a few similarities in the basic story to the biblical account of Esther. and the author didn't mention this when detailing the origins on the st More...
i've heard vaguely of the tales of Shahrazad but had never read much on it. i appreciated this author's spin on the ancient tale. although i must admit that there were quite a few similarities in the basic story to the biblical account of Esther. and the author didn't mention this when detailing the origins on the st More...
May 25, 2009
Merinda
rated it:
An excellent adolescent lit book based on history that takes place in Persia in that fascinating world of the Sultan's harem. The protagonist, Marjan, is a child who was maimed by her own mother to save her from almost certain death. Because of her powers as a storyteller, she is taken into the harem as part of a plot to save the women everywhere from the wrath of the Sultan. She conquers her fears, ends up saving the day through her stories, and in the process learns to forgive her her dead mot
More...
Feb 05, 2012
Kelly
rated it:
Here is yet another book I judged before I even read it. I almost grudgingly put it on hold, and felt the same when I picked it up. From the first page I was very interested. Susan Fletcher is a beautiful storyteller, one would have to be to write a book about storytellers. I truely enjoyed this book.
Set in the middle east, a community lived under the rule of a Sultan. This sultan was betrayed by his wife, and in his anger he swore that he would never let anyone hurt him again. So h More...
Set in the middle east, a community lived under the rule of a Sultan. This sultan was betrayed by his wife, and in his anger he swore that he would never let anyone hurt him again. So h More...
Jul 01, 2010
Laura
rated it:
Awards and Recognitions: ALA Notable Books for Children – 1999
Using Richard F. Burton’s translation of "The Book of the Thousand Nights and a Night" as inspiration, this is the story of Shaharazad as she nears the end of her 1001 nights. Marjan, on a trip with her Auntie Chava to sell jewelry to the Sultan’s harem, is taken to meet her hero, Shaharazad, when Shahrazad’s younger sister overhears her telling a story to some children. Desperate for new stories, Shahrazad bri More...
Using Richard F. Burton’s translation of "The Book of the Thousand Nights and a Night" as inspiration, this is the story of Shaharazad as she nears the end of her 1001 nights. Marjan, on a trip with her Auntie Chava to sell jewelry to the Sultan’s harem, is taken to meet her hero, Shaharazad, when Shahrazad’s younger sister overhears her telling a story to some children. Desperate for new stories, Shahrazad bri More...
Apr 25, 2009
Katie
rated it:
This is a great book and a neat "spin" on the Arabian Nights theme. Since a noble-women is never allowed to leave the palace harem, it's an interresting thought that Shahrazad would need to hire a servent girl to help her aquire the storys she needs to keep the king interrested, and herself alive. Another added element is the king's mother who tries to foil her new daughter-in-law's plot, and Shahrazad's sister who also helps aquire storys, but has no clue about what goes on in the out
More...
Apr 15, 2008
LFPL Teen Services
rated it:
A unique retelling of the Arabian Nights story. Marjan is a young woman and a crippled orphan living with her aunt and uncle. She adores stories the way children love candy. She has the highest respect for Shahrazad, who is married to the Sultan and has stopped his spree of marrying and killing a wife each day by keeping him mesmerized with her storytelling.
One day, Marjan visits the palace so her aunt can sell some of their jewelry to the women living in the harem. While her aunt i More...
One day, Marjan visits the palace so her aunt can sell some of their jewelry to the women living in the harem. While her aunt i More...
Apr 15, 2008
Lisa
rated it:
A unique retelling of the Arabian Nights story. Marjan is a young woman and a crippled orphan living with her aunt and uncle. She adores stories the way children love candy. She has the highest respect for Shahrazad, who is married to the Sultan and has stopped his spree of marrying and killing a wife each day by keeping him mesmerized with her storytelling.
One day, Marjan visits the palace so her aunt can sell some of their jewelry to the women living in the harem. While her aunt i More...
One day, Marjan visits the palace so her aunt can sell some of their jewelry to the women living in the harem. While her aunt i More...
Apr 17, 2008
Mary
rated it:
The 5th-graders who were strong readers in our Mother-Daughter book group enjoyed this book. It was too difficult for my child so I read it and then summarized it and read selected passages to her. The imagery is beautiful if some of the historical aspects seem suspect. Fletcher sets this adaptation of Scheherazade's 1001 Nights in an undefined place and time that she says is based on Persian culture. I had problems with this heroic tale for girls because the basis is the mythical Sultan who
More...
Apr 10, 2010
Hilary
rated it:
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
To view it, click here
Dec 29, 2011
Janette
rated it:
A great book for young people...highly recommended to me by a 6th grade teacher who is reading it with her classes. How do you explain a sultan, a harem, eunuchs, etc. to kids? She does in her class. I liked the book a lot, keeping in mind the kids who are reading it. It's all about a young girl who helps Shahrazad and her storytelling and how she has to keep telling stories every night so she won't be killed by the sultan.
Feb 16, 2011
Penny
rated it:
I loved this book. A version of how 1001 tales came to be. Two sisters must find a way to outwit one's sultan(?) husband from killing her as he has his other wives. The story reminds me of an eastern tale that Shannon Hale would write. I loved the setting, the clever, brave heroines and those who helped them. I loved having my daughters enjoy the book with me as well. If you enjoy Shannon Hale, I highly recommend this book.
Oct 30, 2010
Lia
rated it:
Okay, here's my review of the BOOK rather than the audio recording.
It's marvelous. Really, truly marvelous. This story has many layers to it, but it tells itself simply and compellingly. I'm a fan of Scheherazade retellings, and this story did not disappoint. I pretty much read it in one sitting, enjoying the details, the characters, the movement of the tale. Highly recommended, but NOT the audio version.
It's marvelous. Really, truly marvelous. This story has many layers to it, but it tells itself simply and compellingly. I'm a fan of Scheherazade retellings, and this story did not disappoint. I pretty much read it in one sitting, enjoying the details, the characters, the movement of the tale. Highly recommended, but NOT the audio version.
Dec 13, 2011
Megan
rated it:
Sharazad must tell stories to her husband every night to keep herself alive. He found his first wife cheating on him so he had her beheaded and then took a new bride every night to kill her the next day, except Sharazad. She enlists the help of a young girl to find her new stories to tell her husband so he does not kill her or anyone else. This would be a good book to talk about different cultures.
Jan 04, 2011
Jenny
rated it:
Marjan was a servant and storyteller. One day she visits the harem with her mistress to sell jewelry, and tells a story that Shahrazad has never heard. Shahrazad must tell a new story every night or she will be killed by the sultan. Marjan risks leaving everything to find the rest of the story that will please the sultan and save Shahrazad. Marjan learns of love, loyalty, and the power of a good story.
