On Gwyn's 9th birthday, his grandmother tells him he may be a magician, like his Welsh ancestors. She gives him five gifts to help him-a br... read full description
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Jun 19, 2008
Candy
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Title: The Snow Spider
Author: Jenny Nimmo
Copyright date: 1986
Publisher: Egmont
How many pages: 122 pgs
How long it took me to read: 2 days
Category: Fiction
I learned about this book from: going on a search looking for something to read after Harry Potter.
This book was purchased at: Chapter's
This book is: for anybody who has an imagination
Other books by this author: Emlyn's moon, The chestnut soldier, Midnight for Charlie Bone, The ti More...
Author: Jenny Nimmo
Copyright date: 1986
Publisher: Egmont
How many pages: 122 pgs
How long it took me to read: 2 days
Category: Fiction
I learned about this book from: going on a search looking for something to read after Harry Potter.
This book was purchased at: Chapter's
This book is: for anybody who has an imagination
Other books by this author: Emlyn's moon, The chestnut soldier, Midnight for Charlie Bone, The ti More...
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Aug 23, 2008
Janice (Janicu)
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A haunting, otherworldly tale about a young boy (Gwyn) who lost his older sister Bethan in a snowstorm while looking for his lost ewe. His family hasn't been in the same since, and his birthday, the day in which she disappears, is a bittersweet time. His grandmother reveals to him that he has a strange talent for magic, but he has no idea how to fully unlock the gift. She gives him some odd gifts which he unleashes out into the world to get his sister back. A young girl who reminds him of his si
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Feb 20, 2009
Ronda
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Many, many years ago, I read Susan Cooper's Dark is Rising. The series enthralled me, and I found myself anxiously waiting for each book in the series to come back in to our school library (the series was popular). So how is this relevant to Jenny Nimmo's The Magician Trilogy? Reading The Snow Spider put me in the same frame of mind that Cooper's series put me into so very many years ago, so much so, that I (1) can't wait to read the 2nd book in Nimmo's series and (2) am itching to re-read Coope
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Jun 09, 2011
Dylan
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On his ninth birthday Gwyn received a strange present from his grandmother. "It is time," she said, "to find out if you are a magician." But a piece of seaweed, a yellow scarf, a tin whistle, a twisted metal brooch, and a small, broken horse seemed like strange tools to use to find out if he was a magician, but he put them away and wondered how to use them. All his grandmother had said was "Give them to the wind."
Three weeks later, the winter wind arr More...
Three weeks later, the winter wind arr More...
Dec 27, 2010
Jim
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Young Gwyn's world has been lonely since the disappearance of his sister Bethan. His parents, particularly his father, are still grieving and his father blames Gwyn for his sister's loss. On his ninth birthday, though, his life takes a strange turn as his nain (grandmother) gives him five gifts and tells him that now is the time to find out if he's a magician. One of the gifts, a brooch, is tossed into the wind and becomes Arianwen, the snow spider. And so begins a journey which could finally he
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Oct 04, 2010
Tessa
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Although I read the newer edition, this is the edition that I owned when I was a tween (before the term "tween" EXISTED and no one made clothes in the right size for tweens because they didn't exist yet, hmpf.)
I pretty much had forgotten about Gwyn Griffiths and his Welsh magic until the boyf and I decided to read Lloyd Alexander's Chronicles of Prydain. Then a little memory pricked my consciousness, saying "Wasn't there another book about a Welsh boy magician?" (B More...
I pretty much had forgotten about Gwyn Griffiths and his Welsh magic until the boyf and I decided to read Lloyd Alexander's Chronicles of Prydain. Then a little memory pricked my consciousness, saying "Wasn't there another book about a Welsh boy magician?" (B More...
Jun 24, 2011
Ryan
rated it: 
After losing interest with the Charlie Bone series, I thought I'd give Jenny Nimmo another try. The Snow Spider started off with a great plot and I loved the Welsch flavor (and especially the British guy reading it). About halfway through, however the plot began to take on an ethereal quality wherein nothing seemed grounded, and "mystical" things began happening with little explanation or reason. I've often ranted about the fantasy author's tendency to forget cause and effect and begin
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Jan 04, 2009
I have no idea about these books other than I'm going to have to start checking them out from the library. I read a book titled, Orchard of the Crescent Moon, as a youth and LOVED it. Its about a Welsh girl whose mother died, gets picked on in school/is shy and quiet, cuts the drapes of her piano teacher to create the perfect clouds in her fabric mosaic, and then there are weird things happening . . . . If you stick strictly to the real world, its not for you, but, I found it incredibly beautifu
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May 28, 2007
Pearlpelt
rated it: 
This was a complete waste of my time. After I had read the first twenty pages, I considered just tossing it into the trashcan. Unfortunantly, I didn't. After I had finished it, I lamented about all the time I had taken to read it that I cannot get back.
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Sep 19, 2009
Laura
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Aug 15, 2011
Ashley
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This has to be the wierdest children's book I have read in a long time. After reading about half the book, I still had no idea what was going on, and for a childrens book that's wierd. I felt like this book needed about 5 more revisions and edits. A lot happens but with no real structure, and for someone who reads to just enjoy and not really criticize that's saying something. Plus it really drives me crazy how almost every sentence Gwyn speaks ends with a "!". Apparently, he just like
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Jan 16, 2011
Sue
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Young Gwyn and his family live on a sheep farm in the mountains of Wales. Ever since Gwyn's older sister, Bethan, disappeared on the mountain four years ago, there has been little joy in the family. On Gwyn's ninth birthday, his 'Nain' (grandmother), tells him it is time for him to find out if he is a magician, as his ancestors were, and she gives him five gifts: a piece of seaweed, a yellow scarf, a tin whistle, a twisted metal brooch, and a broken horse. Gwyn is to give his gifts to the wind
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May 12, 2010
Cory
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I love Charlie Bone, so I was disappointed by this slim volume. Something about the narrative style made it very difficult to connect to the characters. Maybe it was that everything happened freakishly easily, but without any explanation. You need to tell me why the main character shouted Welsh words into the wind, and why that made things happen. Also? The things that happened that were "magic"? Not so much with the impressive/fun/magic/interesting.
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May 18, 2009
Amber
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This is a nice thin volume, and a good book to listen to while waiting for the next hold to come in. The story was nice, with bits of magic and faraway lands, and a spider that could spin images of the people who live there. It has a well-meaning main character that makes his fair share of mistakes, and learns from them. Great for Jenny Nimmo's younger readers. However, I wasn't too fond of the reader's voice. It was only 3 discs though, so I'll probably listen to the rest of the series at
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Aug 09, 2010
Angela
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Finished reading this last night...and it took a while (like more than 1/2 way through) to get going, but when it did it moved quickly. It occurs to me that it has some similarities to the Harry Potter series (ok, just a few similarities...Gwyn, the main character, has a friend, who has several siblings including twin brothers....) Anyway, a good read, much better for the younger set than the adults out there tho...
Jun 27, 2009
Ily
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I read this book on tape with my boys in the car. Isaac was very fascinated, Micah was intrigued at times, Reece probably fell asleep. I got tired of waiting to listen to it all on tape so I picked up the book and read it quickly. I thought it was a great build up to the climax, but then the climax was vague and lacked details and suspense. It ended kinda lamely for me.
Feb 14, 2009
Charles
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A very interesting short book. I liked Gwyn's character, but it was a little strange. I didn't like Eirlys too much, she was a little to creepy. The storylines could've used a little more development. I think the father of the family was too unrealistic for me. The writing style could use some improvement too. The author really likes exclamation points!!
Mar 14, 2011
Barbara
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Gwyneth...the boy who is the main character is a magician. He discovers that on his 9th birthday. His sister Bethanny just got up and went missing 4 yrs ago on his birthday. His father is bitter about it and somehow blames Gwyn. It DRAAAAAAGGGGGSSSSSS on and on and frankly, I got up to half way before I screamed...ENOUGH!!!
I quit.
Enough said.
I quit.
Enough said.
Sep 23, 2009
Joann10
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Mark-9 and Grace 7 loved this. I thought it was a little slow in parts, but it definitely kept their attention, even though one chapter took about 30 minutes to read. Contains magic and magical powers.
It is the first in a trilogy, and contained the first chapter of the next book, so I know what we will be reading soon. Book #2
It is the first in a trilogy, and contained the first chapter of the next book, so I know what we will be reading soon. Book #2
Mar 05, 2011
Virginia
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This is book one of The Magician Trilogy and I liked it well enough to look for the second one. Gwynn's grandmother recognizes that he may be a magician, so she gives him five strange gifts. Gwynn is an appealing hero and he is able to bring back his lost sister, temporarily, and mend the problem with his father that has existed for years.
Dec 17, 2009
Brick
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This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
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Dec 08, 2011
Louise
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Nearly finished this book, it is truly i brillant book to read, can't wait to pick it up and read more of the story, have'nt read a book like this in a long time, taking me time to finish it, very enjoyable 10 out of 10 recommend it to all even tho its a children book.
Oct 25, 2010
Sonja
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Anthon love, loved this book. We loved the Charlie Bone series, so decided to check this one out as well. It has a nice lyrical type prose and a unique spin on the classic good vs evil. Anthon can't wait to read the next one, which I just got from the library for him today.
Feb 25, 2009
Lori
rated it:
Not every book needs to be 500 pages, but the storyline in this book could have used just a bit more TLC. The other thing that made me crazy were all of the names that I had no idea how to pronounce. Not very many people are fluent in the Welsh language (including people from Wales!), and I, for one, would have really appreciated having a pronunciation guide included in the book.
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Mar 06, 2009
Gywn is a young boy who lost his sister when he was only eight. Now he is 11 and learns that there is still hope. He gets five strange gifts from his grabdmother. She tells him that he is a wizard. To find out what happens next read snow spider.
Jan 08, 2009
Jenny
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I like Jenny Nimmo because her fantasy is suspenseful, but not terribly scary, unlike so much that's written for kids today. David was intrigued by this story. I am assuming that the things not resolved will actually be resolved in later books.
Nov 25, 2011
Onna
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I thought these would be awesome like the Charlie Bone books. It wasn't. It's really sad in a way. I felt really bad for him. The ending was just out there. I read this in one sitting. I don't think I'll read the others.
Jun 04, 2009
Robin
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Zach and I read this together. Zach really enjoyed it. It had some very interesting concepts in it. We have moved on to the second book. Jenny Nimmo is an interesting author who likes to deal in the super natural.
Feb 24, 2011
Debra
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An interesting book. It was a quick read. It was a little strange, and simple, but some things just didn't feel smooth to me. I'm not sure I'll read the whole triligy. (lame review, but there you have it).
May 12, 2010
Sarah
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The Snow Spider was a really good book! If it was a movie I would rate it either PG or PG-13. I reccomend this to people who like a little mystery and weird creatures, like the ones from spore.
