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Spinner

Michael J. Bowler (Goodreads Author)

4.38 · Rating details · 74 ratings · 53 reviews

Fifteen-year-old Alex is a “spinner.” His friends are “dummies.” Two clandestine groups of humans want his power. And an ancient evil is stalking him. If people weren’t being murdered, Alex might laugh at how his life turned into a horror movie overnight.

In a wheelchair since birth, his freakish ability has gotten him kicked out of ten foster homes since the age of four. N ...more

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Kindle Edition, 411 pages

Published (first published July 25th 2015)

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Sep 11, 2015 megHan rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

I am a huge fan of horror, and have really gotten into young adult books lately, especially ones that have a lot of adventure, interesting characters, and a story that excites me. This book has all that ... and then some.

Before I discuss the story itself, I want to talk about the characters. These are definitely characters you don't hear about often. Alex is fifteen, in a wheelchair, lives in a foster home, and is in Special Ed in high school ... and has special powers. His friends are all in th I am a huge fan of horror, and have really gotten into young adult books lately, especially ones that have a lot of adventure, interesting characters, and a story that excites me. This book has all that ... and then some.

Before I discuss the story itself, I want to talk about the characters. These are definitely characters you don't hear about often. Alex is fifteen, in a wheelchair, lives in a foster home, and is in Special Ed in high school ... and has special powers. His friends are all in the same class with him - they are the "rejects" and yet they are the ones that are going to save the world. I absolutely love the character of Alex, and all of his classmates, especially Roy. Each one of them have their own personalities, and bring their own things to the story and to the adventure. He describes them perfectly, too - in such detail that you can picture them in your head, but not done in a way that takes away from the story. It's so great to see children with special needs and learning disorders used as the heroes of a book, and the author did a great job doing it. Seeing them try and fail, and keep trying, in spite of the way they were treated in school, was an amazing thing to see, and Bowler wrote so well that I really felt like I was there with them throughout the story, like I knew these boys.

The story is really good. The things they have to go through, the powers and people they are up against the whole way, the mysteries they work to solve, all with a much bigger picture than they can realize. It's an epic adventure that I'm sure lots of children (and Young Adult lovers) will enjoy. The horror aspect of it is done really well - just the right amount of creepy for a young adult novel, as far as I'm concerned.

Definitely check out the introduction to the book before you get started on the story. The author tells you a little bit about himself and why he chose the characters that he did for this novel.

Definitely a book that I highly recommend. This would be a great book to share with older children who are into adventures and scary things. ...more

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May 16, 2018 Carrie-Anne rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: lgbt, stand-alone, indie, demons, mystery, psychological, review-copy

When I read the synopsis for this book I was instantly interested. A book where all the main characters have learning disabilities and our star is a 15 year old wheelchair user who has super powers?! Yes please!

I was instantly drawn in by this book, the writing is quite simplistic -it is told mainly from the points of view of characters from a Special Ed class, so it's a really easy book to get into, nothing is overly complex or unnecessarily wordy.

Our main character Alex has been in a wheelcha ...more

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Jul 12, 2015 Laura Thomas rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

I felt an instant connection to Alex. Not because he was in a wheelchair. But because he and his gang of friends were are all deemed worthless. Each of them had a tic, a disability that landed them in the neverland of Special Ed.

I have a son with a social disabiilty. I can’t think of anything harder to deal with. Everything we do is social, is interaction with others. My heart broke one day. I was at the school to pick up my son and saw this boy coming down the hall. He was hunched into himself, I felt an instant connection to Alex. Not because he was in a wheelchair. But because he and his gang of friends were are all deemed worthless. Each of them had a tic, a disability that landed them in the neverland of Special Ed.

I have a son with a social disabiilty. I can’t think of anything harder to deal with. Everything we do is social, is interaction with others. My heart broke one day. I was at the school to pick up my son and saw this boy coming down the hall. He was hunched into himself, trying to disappear, and there was no one else even in the hall. What crushed me was I realized it was my son. I couldn’t imagine how his days must be.

Alex and his friends endure bullying on a daily basis. They have each others back, the strong defending the weaker. And Alex and Roy have a special bond. It goes beyond friendship. It’s love. Love for a fellow human being. It’s unbreakable. I loved it.

Something that sets Alex apart is he’s a spinner. He can heal others, take away their pain. He can’t do it to himself, only to others. Some powerful people know about his ability. They want it. They want him. And they are coming.

I enjoyed how there were several different plots going at the same time.

The boys had to deal with the bullies. And Alex had to come to grips with a chance at young love.

Then there was the deadly hooded figure and the giant cat. Alex thought they were only in his dreams. But they almost kill him and Roy, and also go after his friends.

Mustn’t forget their new Special Ed teacher. Somethings hinky about her. Not sure who she’s working with, but she’s giving off some creepy vibes. The boys aren’t falling for it either.

Lots of surprises in this book too. I think I was as surprised as Alex when he uncovered a secret from his past. A secret revealed by his deceased mother. Alex has endured 10 foster homes and now Jane, his current abusive foster mother. The one who kept the package from him. She’s got plans for Alex.

So much is happening that the plot flies. It may sound confusing, but it’s not. Everything flows smoothly.

An unlikely band of heroes, these kids have a lot going on. Those who brush them off as dummies will think twice when these guys spring into action.

My son is reading this now. He got tired of me calling him out of his room to read excerpts to him. Told me to hurry up and finish so he could read it himself. Now, he’s coming out of his room to read parts of this book to me. Too funny.

I received this book for my honest review. ...more

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Jan 20, 2018 Cecily Wolfe rated it it was amazing

An emotional, unique thriller with a captivating premise and a fantastic all-around storytelling experience. This had me in mind of Stephen King/Joe Hill, but on a YA level, with all the page-turning excitement and hesitation they bring to the page. I had no idea what to expect as I read, and was absolutely enthralled by the characters, the story, and the writing. Very highly recommended, and for young readers coming from a background of abuse and/or foster care, this might be an empowering read ...more

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Mar 21, 2018 Cláudia rated it really liked it

Review also ->https://enchantedbybookssite.wordpres...

This review was requested to me, despite that all thoughts and opinions are my own.
It’s not often that I go into a different read, or even a different genre I usually stay in my Reading Comfort zone, but this time I’ve decided to take a step out of that zone and read this book. All I knew about it was the synopsis, and it seemed so interesting that I had to read it.
It took me a few chapters to get into the book, but after I did I started to f ...more

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Jun 11, 2015 Wesley Thomas rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Never have I been challenged so greatly as a reviewer. Words fail to explain how truly remarkable this tale is. A unique story of a young boy with a mind-blowing gift, that goes so deep. You will never forget this one. This book lingers with you.
Emotion practically oozes from every page as you genuinely feel sympathetic towards the boy Alex who is gifted, although he sees it as a more of a curse. Nothing more than another burden to join his physical and educational disadvantages.

His life is one Never have I been challenged so greatly as a reviewer. Words fail to explain how truly remarkable this tale is. A unique story of a young boy with a mind-blowing gift, that goes so deep. You will never forget this one. This book lingers with you.
Emotion practically oozes from every page as you genuinely feel sympathetic towards the boy Alex who is gifted, although he sees it as a more of a curse. Nothing more than another burden to join his physical and educational disadvantages.

His life is one of upset and sorrow. Being flung from foster home to foster home, never feeling real love or affection. And then this special ability being thrust upon him. The power in itself is extraordinary, his ability to 'spin' people's pain and heal them. But having such a powerful gift leaves you vulnerable to all kinds of danger. Jealousy, hatred, but the worse of all these, is exploitation when his foster mother wants to exploit this special power. If that wasn't bad enough, an ancient evil is lurking, following and monitoring his every move.

This book is sensational. There are multiple appeals, and several ongoing storylines with very serious themes running throughout, such as isolation, abandonment, being different, abuse, and of course, the supernatural.

This tale has been crafted with tonnes of research and endless editing to leave a flawless masterpiece that hits all the right notes. It is hard to pinpoint a specific genre as personally I feel any reader could enjoy this book. A multi-facted masterpiece for the ages. A book that will stand the test of time by approaching sensitive and delicate subject matters and mixing them with the supernatural.

A very descriptive writing style that paints the picture clearly in the reader's mind. Each scene is vividly explained and depicted giving the reader some explosive and amazing imagery as if you were there in the flesh.

I have never read anything like this before. As you can gather by now, this novel goes way beyond the surface, delving deep into our subconscious. We feel visceral responses to some very uncomfortable moments, and our hearts cannot help but break at the many forms of abuse Alex is subjected too.

If you're in the market for something unusual and different this summer, I highly suggest picking up a copy. Phenomenal in every way possible. The exquisite writing, storylines, characters, conflicts and the ending, well the ending you won't see coming. It will plough into you and render you breathless and gasping.

But I have to say, regardless of how incredibly enjoyable this book was, it serves a greater purpose. Through forms of entertainment, it raises awareness of disabled children, foster care abuse and true solitude being forced because of these problems. It brings light to an issue that many feel too awkward to discuss. I hope this book continues to spread its excellence, but also raising awareness and hopefully abolishing ignorance and prejudice.

It is this simple, but a copy! ...more

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May 28, 2015 Mia Kerick rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

FIVE STARS FOR SPINNER

I’m a romance reader, and definitely not what you would call a huge horror fan, but as you know, there’s an EXCEPTION to every rule. Michael J Bowler’s FIVE STAR YA thriller, Spinner, is this exception to my romance novel obsession.

I have to ask myself why—why could I not put Spinner down, when I normally would never pick up a YA horror novel? So here’s my main reason: where I’m a romance reader, I’m an action movie lover! No, strangely, I don’t want to watch a love story u FIVE STARS FOR SPINNER

I’m a romance reader, and definitely not what you would call a huge horror fan, but as you know, there’s an EXCEPTION to every rule. Michael J Bowler’s FIVE STAR YA thriller, Spinner, is this exception to my romance novel obsession.

I have to ask myself why—why could I not put Spinner down, when I normally would never pick up a YA horror novel? So here’s my main reason: where I’m a romance reader, I’m an action movie lover! No, strangely, I don’t want to watch a love story unfold on the big screen; I want to be thrilled, challenged, made to think, and concentrate very hard, through every moment of a movie. This is exactly what Spinner caused me to do as I read each and every gripping page. And thus, I view Bowler’s exciting, un-put-down-able work of YA horror as interactive as I do a thrilling action movie. Just give me some popcorn and a soda and a copy of Spinner and I’m good to go!! That’s entertainment!!

Now on a more serious note, to thoroughly enjoy a novel, I also need to buy what the author is selling. In other words, I must believe in what he is trying to get across, and thus, I need the language to be right. Bowler, having had a great deal of experience with special education teens as a high school teacher, hits the nail on the head with his character dialogue. In addition, I need the relationships to be intense and to genuinely matter to me, and again, Bowler delivers. I wanted—no, I needed—to know whether there would be acceptance and forgiveness and yes, even love, between his tightly knit cast of characters. I found these two essential aspects of a book I can embrace—believability and a feeling that I actually care what happens to the characters—to be alive and well, and thriving, in Michael J. Bowler’s Spinner.

And finally, because I have read Bowler’s Children of the Knight series and FELL IN LOVE with each of the five books (even experiencing a mini-depression when I concluded the final one), I gained an insight about myself and what I’m looking for, particularly when I read a YA novel. I want to learn something. I want to be somehow enlightened, and even end up a more well-informed and compassionate individual for having read the work of fiction. If this also concerns you, I’d suggest you read Spinner by Michael J Bowler. You will emerge on the other side of the novel a more educated, empathetic, and tuned-in (to society) person.

...more

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Jul 18, 2015 Lilian Flesher rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: completed-reads, first-reads

I received an advanced copy of this story in return for an honest review.

Wow, this book has it all, it has an amazing story, really gets to you, the main character Alex is a 15yr old boy in a wheelchair, and he is a spinner. A spinner provides healing ability, and people want his powers. Others are terrified of his powers, the poor boy has been removed from countless foster homes because they think he is freakish. His life is turned upside down, even evil is pursuing him. Alex may have a disabil ...more

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Aug 13, 2015 Majanka rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: young-adult, thriller, supernatural, reviews-august-2015

Book Review originally published here: http://www.iheartreading.net/reviews/...

I have to admit, I accepted Spinner for review because the main character has a disability, and we don’t see that often in YA, especially not in a YA thriller. But I also liked the idea of spinners, the ancient evil, humans out stalking him for his powers, and basically, everything about the book sounded great. I was a little nervous to read it because I had high expectations, but boy, I certainly wasn’t dissapointed. ...more

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Feb 20, 2018 J Aislynn d'Merricksson rated it really liked it

Rating: 📚📚📚📚

Spinner, by Michael J Bowler, introduces us to a most unusual young man. Alex, a boy confined to a wheelchair, suffering from a debilitating condition known as spina bifida. He's been in and out of foster homes, and his current foster mother is exploiting his unique gift. See, Alex is a Spinner, with the ability to siphon off people’s pain. Likewise, he can inflict pain in a similar manner. His rare gift has made him a target of several others who'd like to exploit that gift as well. ...more

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Feb 23, 2018 †Reviews of a FearStreetZombie† rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Spinner was a different kind of read.
Fans of Stephen King and Ted Dekker would enjoy this book.

It took me a while to actually get into the book and I am not really sure why but once I stuck with it and pushed through, I didn't want to put it down.

I want to say I loved all of the characters but.. sadly I only liked about three of them. I adored Alex and Roy but my all time favorite was the neighbor. She was so sweet to those boys.
I loved the idea of this book. It was a mix of Stephen King and ...more

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Oct 10, 2017 Naza N rated it it was amazing

Shelves: my-little-library

This book is pretty much a slow-read for me, as english isn't my mother language, but I enjoy this book so much.

This is the first time I read a book which the main character (whose name is Alex in this book) is in the wheelchair. He is also a Special Ed in his school, lives in a foster home with a vile foster mother, and yet he has a special power. I fell in love instantly with him, so as with all his friends and all their unique personalities, they really complement one another and also the st ...more

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Mar 21, 2018 Stéphanie Louis rated it liked it

RTC I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review

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Jun 06, 2015 Sandra Stiles rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: thriller, young-adult, paranormal

I was intrigued by the premise of this book and was thrilled once I started it. As a teacher I see kids kids like Alex, Roy and their friends every year. I have always fought for those students who have been told over and over that they are stupid or a loser. That might be why I start each year off reading a book with the class called "Loser" by Jerry Spinelli. These kids need to know that they are not losers. Alex and his friends have problems yet there is a part of them that are coping with th I was intrigued by the premise of this book and was thrilled once I started it. As a teacher I see kids kids like Alex, Roy and their friends every year. I have always fought for those students who have been told over and over that they are stupid or a loser. That might be why I start each year off reading a book with the class called "Loser" by Jerry Spinelli. These kids need to know that they are not losers. Alex and his friends have problems yet there is a part of them that are coping with the bullying and name calling. A part of them realize they are not losers.

Alex is in a wheelchair because he has spina bifida. He also has the ability to "spin" people. This means he can take their pain and heal them. Having dreamed about his parent's death the day before it happened and being pushed from one foster home after another because of his "strange ability", he finds himself in the worst foster home yet. His foster mother is cruel and abusive and knows about his "gift". She want to make money off of him. When Alex dreams about his teacher's death and it comes true he finds he is in the crosshairs of some very evil people. They will do whatever it takes to get to him. Along the way he learns a truth about his family. I don't want to give it away because I never saw it coming and want you to be just as surprised. Alex learns exactly what it means to have true friends.

I read this book the last day of school since we had nothing for the students to do in the morning. My afternoon was mine as I'd already cleaned up my room. This was a perfect way to end my school year by relaxing with a great book. I read this in electronic form. I will definitely purchase a copy for my shelves. I will mark it as more mature because of the language used. I could see this as a movie in my head. The author is great with his descriptions. I felt fear, I felt the pain some of them felt. I will definitely check out more books by this author.
I received a copy to facilitate my review. The opinions expressed here are my own. ...more

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Aug 23, 2015 S.L. Dearing rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Spinner by Michael J. Bowler is an exceptional roller coaster of a book. It’s been a while since I’ve read any YA, but this book was fantastic.
Our hero is a boy named Alex. He has spina bifida, is in Special Ed and has to live in a foster home run by an evil hag. He is extraordinary. Bowler has given him the angst and fears of any teenager, but a charming depth and poise we all hope our children will have. He is surrounded by his friends, an eclectic group of boys also in the Special Education ...more

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Jul 29, 2015 Melissa rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Brilliant!
Where to start? I am having a hard time writing this review, searching for the exact right words to put forth to explain just how terrific, upsetting, emotional, horrifying, and thought provoking this book really is. The author has a gift for telling the tale, that is true, but also for making his characters real and awesome while being what most would view as simply imperfect. We don't get many tales where the characters are disabled AND awesome at the same time. I was so drawn into t ...more

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May 29, 2015 Simone rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: books-read-2015

I received a free copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review.

Alex was given up to foster care after the the untimely death of his parents. He was then placed with an abusive foster parent, which caused him to continually "spin" his housemates to heal their injuries. This caused Jane, his foster mother to uncover Alex's special healing gift. When a package from his biological parents never gets to him, Alex uncovers more than he's bargained for.

This book was amazingly creative. You can e ...more

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Jul 06, 2015 Dallas Vinson rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Recommended to Dallas by: Michael Bowler

Shelves: kindle

Excellent YA horror novel. Kept me guessing right up to the very end. What can one wheelchair bound boy and a handful of special-ed kids possibly do to save the planet, or at the very least their friends and neighbors? Is Alex being controlled, forced to do things against his will and without his knowledge, or is someone just trying to make it look like he is? Seems that for every question answered, 4 more pop up.

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Apr 23, 2018 Anniek rated it it was amazing

Alex has been using a wheelchair his entire life. He's also an orphan and attends special ed classes at school. Alex is a spinner. This exceptional ability makes him able to heal people and adjust their thoughts and feelings. His current housemother, Jane, is a cruel woman. She takes advantage of Alex's powers and doesn't care about and look after the children in her home. Lately Alex has been having horrible dreams. When Alex learns that his dreams are actually happening, a battle against an ev Alex has been using a wheelchair his entire life. He's also an orphan and attends special ed classes at school. Alex is a spinner. This exceptional ability makes him able to heal people and adjust their thoughts and feelings. His current housemother, Jane, is a cruel woman. She takes advantage of Alex's powers and doesn't care about and look after the children in her home. Lately Alex has been having horrible dreams. When Alex learns that his dreams are actually happening, a battle against an evil force begins. Alex and his friends all have special needs, but what if they turn out to be the strongest kids in town?

Alex spends a lot of time with his best friend Roy. Roy always picks him up for school and they're very close. Roy has a crush on Alex, but he's too scared to tell him. He's afraid that Alex will turn away from him and that their friendship will never be the same. Alex has had a dream about Roy being murdered and he'll do anything to keep that from happening. Alex has suspected for a while now that Roy might be in love with him. Their strong connection is needed to stand against the dark forces that are coming for Alex. It is said that Alex has the power to destroy the world and there are many humans and demons who'd do anything to take over control. Will Alex find out the truth in time to stop more killings from happening?

Alex is such a sweet teenage boy. He's never felt love as a child and he's been bullied because of his condition. Even after all the bad things that people have done to him, he's still a kindhearted soul. He always tries to see the good in people, even if they don't deserve it. The kids in the special ed class are close friends and I loved their banter and jokes. They aren't afraid to open up to their friends and don't always take things too seriously, they regularly mock themselves. These kids are exceptional inside and out and Alex and his friends found their way into my heart immediately.

Spinner is a spine-chilling story about surviving true evil. Alex was alone for a long time, but now he and his friends stand united against a malevolence as old as humanity. I admired how Michael J. Bowler writes about serious topics with much knowledge and empathy and I loved his unique approach of the horror genre. I greatly admired his young heroic main characters. Spinner is a fast-paced thrilling story that has a lot of interesting twists and turns. It managed to captivate me from beginning to end. I'm a big fan of creepy stories and loved this surprisingly scary book. ...more

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Mar 23, 2018 Stacia | stacialovestoread rated it liked it

Shelves: arcs-and-review-copies

*I received this book from Kate Tilton author services in exchange for an honest review. Thank you Kate, Melissa, and Mr. Bowler*

Being that I’m not much of a fan or paranormal/horror, this book was a little much for me but somehow not enough! Alex is a kid who is in a wheelchair, but he has powers that heal (or inflict pain on) others.

The overall concept of the story here is interesting and refreshing. Alex and his buddies work to stop the string of murders that are occurring, prevent the next ...more

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Feb 25, 2018 Zach Allred rated it it was amazing

I received this book in the mail from the author and I absolutely loved the book. I even forgot to update on my progress because I was so consumed in the story. I loved each of the characters and getting to know about them. I felt connected to Alex and seeing how he developed throughout the story. I haven’t read a story about a handicapped character so it was really refreshing to see something new. This was also the first book where I dived into Young Adult Horror/ Thriller. I went into this boo ...more

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Jun 22, 2018 Kimberly (kimberly_reads) rated it really liked it

Shelves: 2018-reads

I want to send a huge thank you to Melissa Robles (who works with Kate Tilton’s author services) for sending a copy my way in exchange for a honest review!

This book was very much so out of my comfort zone in terms of genre and I’m really happy I decided to go for something new.

The twists and turns throughout this story left me on the edge of my seat wondering what was going to happen next and I loved how real and honest all of the characters felt; especially how they didn’t let their disabiliti ...more

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Jul 19, 2015 multitaskingmomma rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: mm-romance, thriller, arc, mm-contemporary-romance, mm, mm-romance-paranormal, horror, ya

Original Blog Post: Review Request: Spinner by Michael J. Bowler

Reviewed by: Ray
My Rating: 3 of 5 Stars

This story centers around Alex, who is blond, has just turned fifteen, and is wheelchair-bound, due to spina bifida. And, as is often the case with this disease, Alex suffers from some learning disabilities. Alex has a group of devoted friends, all of whom are, like himself, special ed children.

The story is an interesting one, but somewhat poorly written. The writing is uneven and inconsistent ...more

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Dec 05, 2018 Huston Piner rated it it was amazing

Spinner is a supernatural thriller by YA author Michael J Bowler that stands out for its compassionate portrayal of 'special ed' kids as protagonists. Alex, Roy, and their friends are each shown to be individuals with gifts, faults, and distinct voices that allow the reader a small bit of understanding what various learning and/or physical disabilities must be like to those who suffer from them. These teens are so much more than the stereotypes they are too often seen as, and that alone is reaso Spinner is a supernatural thriller by YA author Michael J Bowler that stands out for its compassionate portrayal of 'special ed' kids as protagonists. Alex, Roy, and their friends are each shown to be individuals with gifts, faults, and distinct voices that allow the reader a small bit of understanding what various learning and/or physical disabilities must be like to those who suffer from them. These teens are so much more than the stereotypes they are too often seen as, and that alone is reason enough to read this epic thriller.

I've taken some time to look through the other reviews here, the vast majority of which are rightly positive, and will leave plot outlines, etc, to them. I would rather address some of the negative reviews. Criticisms made by some about the writing in this book are misguided. One reviewer notes "there were times when this reader wondered if parts of the book were written by different people" without realizing the 'different' people are the voices of the characters in the story. Bowler has a talent for third-person omniscient narrative. He smoothly passes from Alex's POV to Roy's, etc, without confusion. This is a rare ability. As he writes from a character's perspective he carefully crafts the dialogue and description of thoughts and feelings to that character. This is not a flaw; it's a gift.

Others have complained of the lack of explanation for some of the supernatural elements in the story. This strikes me a misunderstanding of what makes mysteries what they are. Oliver Onions was among the great ghost story writers who understood that lack of clarity about the supernatural is part of what makes it real for the reader. Bowler is another.

One reviewer complained they wanted “a buildup of suspense, plot…” but instead wound up “dodging my way to the end wondering what was going to happen next, why it was going to happen, and how it was all going to work out.” Is not that the very definition of suspense and mystery in a plot?

Others complain of the teen boys’ machismo and the book’s lack of female characters who aren’t villains. That teen boys typically try to out-macho each other should surprise no one. The dearth of female characters likely reflects the sad reality that such boys are likely not to be seen as desirable by girls, and thus not have much interaction with them.

Also, complaints that the characters are self-deprecating, or that a kid feels flawed or sick for being gay, wanting them to be more positive is all well and good, except that we’re still at a stage where kids are bullied and put down, often internalizing the hatred. A book featuring characters who start out feeling that way but who grow to overcome it in the course of the story is itself affirming for readers who also feel that way.

I’ve now had the pleasure of reading seven of Bowler’s books, and each has been gripping, realistic, and worth every second spent reading them. An author who can weave a dark supernatural thriller with such believable characters that even the bizarre elements seem real is a rare find. Spinner is a powerful tale told by a masterful writer. I can’t recommend it highly enough. ...more

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Sep 06, 2015 Galleywampus - rated it liked it · review of another edition

First of all, in many ways, this book has echoes of 1970s-1980s Stephen King novels, particularly portions of It and a few moments I can remember from books like Insomnia, The Talisman (co-written with Stroud) and the short story "The Body". The protagonists here are a group of awkward, outcast boys fighting an unknown, manifest, ancient evil. The stakes are huge. And the only thing standing in the way of utter world destruction is a group of boys who attend Mark Twain High School's "last stop" First of all, in many ways, this book has echoes of 1970s-1980s Stephen King novels, particularly portions of It and a few moments I can remember from books like Insomnia, The Talisman (co-written with Stroud) and the short story "The Body". The protagonists here are a group of awkward, outcast boys fighting an unknown, manifest, ancient evil. The stakes are huge. And the only thing standing in the way of utter world destruction is a group of boys who attend Mark Twain High School's "last stop" class. These are the boys that nobody wants to teach, for various reasons, and they were all put together in a classroom to keep them out of the way. Sometimes the diagnoses isn't the reason they're there, but these aren't the ones you'd probably suggest as humanity's last defense.

There are appearances by a helpful Catholic priest, some grave digging, a necklace that might be made of human flesh, ancient prophesies, strange dreams, blackouts and missing time, and a lot more blood and death than I initially expected--including teenagers being killed, slasher-movie style, and some exploding heads. Also: murderous cats. Big, freaky swarms of murderous cats.

Alex, our wheelchair-bound (due to spina-bifida) protagonist, has been through ten different foster homes and is currently living in a foster home with a terrible foster mother: the type of foster mother who forces children to beat other children, and then uses Alex's power to heal them so nobody will ever know. Did I mention that Alex has amazing healing powers? If a person tells Alex about their pain, he can take it in, absorb it into himself, experience these same pains, and then dissipate them. Miraculous, really. For him, it has been a curse most of his life. But he still uses it for good when he finds the opportunity.

One of the unique aspects about this book is that Bowler shows, in his writing, a keen ear for the teenage voice. More specifically, there is an understanding of and respect for the voices of those who have been deemed "other" on account of disabilities, skin color, or sexual orientation. I've been a teacher (English as well as English intervention classes for students more than 2 grade-levels behind their peers) and I recognize shadows of each of these characters from my classroom.

Spinner gives some good lessons about extended family, acceptance of many different types of "different," and keeps the characters center stage. We get to follow heroes with ADHD, autism, dyslexia, and spina bifida. Though Alex has not been a member of a true family since his infancy, he finds acceptance with the other students in his class--Roy, Java and Israel. Bowler focuses on the boys' abilities rather than disabilities, which makes for a compelling read.

If you loved the horror/thriller books of King and Dean Koontz from the 70s and 80s, this throwback will be right up your alley. Just, you know, don't head up that alley without a buddy. The buddy system works, people. ...more

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Dec 25, 2015 Jay Hawke rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Every once in a long while I have to drag myself away from my own writing and check out the books around me. I’m glad I happened upon Spinner.

Spinner is an emotionally powerful story of a young boy, Alex, who has been spat on his whole life, in fact, life itself has spat on him. He is poor, crippled, abandoned, and lives unloved and unwanted with his most recent foster mom. And at school, he is nothing but a special needs kid, dismissed as worthless “crip.” What else could go wrong? Plenty. Alex Every once in a long while I have to drag myself away from my own writing and check out the books around me. I’m glad I happened upon Spinner.

Spinner is an emotionally powerful story of a young boy, Alex, who has been spat on his whole life, in fact, life itself has spat on him. He is poor, crippled, abandoned, and lives unloved and unwanted with his most recent foster mom. And at school, he is nothing but a special needs kid, dismissed as worthless “crip.” What else could go wrong? Plenty. Alex is haunted by demons. No, literally demons are after him!

These demons talk to him through dreams, through animals, and even through inanimate objects. They have a special agenda for Alex, and Alex will have to summon all his powers in order to resist their malevolent scheme.

But what truly gives this story its power is the special abilities that Alex has – the ability to absorb and eliminate the pain and suffering of those around him. Alex is a healer. Barely aware of what that means, Alex comes to see himself as a freak. And why not? Everyone around him treats him as such, unable to truly appreciate the wonder that is right in front of them.

Fortunately, Alex does have a friend who transcends the shallowness of most of his peers, and appreciates Alex for what he is – a miracle. And with his friend and companions, he confronts his demons and learns a lot about love and friendship in the process.

Michael J. Bowler has written yet another poignant story that like his critically acclaimed “Children of the Knight,” features outcasts and rejects as the heroes of the story. He gives so much beauty and humanity to these characters that you can’t help but feel the injustice of a society that so often dismisses them as trash. Bowler is to be commended for seeing beauty, hope, and love, where others see nothing but garbage. And just as Bowler is able to show us the humanity of these outcast, Alex, eventually understands that he truly is a miracle himself.

Spinner is a frightening but touching tale for all fans of young adult, and it is a very special treat for those into horror and paranormal. Reading Spinner felt a lot to me like watching a Stephen King movie from the 1980s. I fully appreciated the nostalgia.
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Jun 24, 2015 Diane rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Teen Alex is a 'spinner' in more ways than one: he is wheelchair-bound and holds a special ability; but that doesn't mean he's helpless, even though his life is hell between an evil force that stalks him and a sadistic housemother who has uncovered his strange ability and is using him.

And this is only the tip of the iceberg. One satisfying feature of Spinner is that Alex is defined not by his disability but by his abilities; and these strengths, as well as the underlying terror in the story, a ...more

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Aug 07, 2015 LitPick Book Reviews rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

This book is centered around a boy named Alex who's a "spinner" and has been in a wheelchair since birth. He has been constantly bullied and made fun of by his peers. He has already been kicked out of many foster homes due to his supernatural abilities. He doesn't understand why he was born with these super powers.

Alex is currently living with a sadistic housemother who is abusing her kids and making Alex use his powers to heal the kids that she abuses. Later, it is revealed that their teacher h ...more

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Sep 15, 2015 Jessica Bronder rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Alex is a foster kid that had been through ten foster homes. He is currently stuck in one with an abusive foster mother. The worst part is that he is a spinner, which means he has the ability to heal and his foster mother knows it. She forces Alex to heal the beatings that she hands out to the other kids.

School is not any better. Because he is in a wheelchair he is considered special needs and is put in the special needs class. That in itself leads to bullying and abuse from fellow students. Bu ...more

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Jul 07, 2015 Literary Classics Book Awards & Reviews rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Spinner, by Michael J Bowler, is the story of Alex, a young boy who was born with Spina Bifida and is confined to a wheelchair. In addition to his physical setbacks, Alex also suffers from learning disabilities. He and a group of friends from his special education class form a tight bond after a series of events occur, starting with the murder of their teacher. Alex has a special ability to heal and take pain from others. There are those who would capitalize on Alex's unique talents including th ...more

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About Michael J. Bowler

Michael J. Bowler

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Michael J. Bowler is an award-winning author who grew up in Northern California. He majored in English/Theatre at Santa Clara University, earned a master’s in film production from Loyola Marymount University, a teaching credential in English from LMU, and a master’s in Special Education from Cal State University Dominguez Hills. Michael taught high school in Hawthorne, California for many years, b ...more