The Spindlers / Lauren Oliver / 246 pages

The Spindlers is what happens when you are the only one who realizes that your beloved baby brother is a changeling.  Liza goes Below to find her brother and save his soul.  She meets all sorts of creatures including a talking rat, thieving troglods, dancing nids and flesh-eating scawgs.  Eventually she makes her way to the webs of the Spindlers who are preparing to eat all of the captured souls and take over Below.  Through Liza's courage, ingenuity, and hope, she manages to rescue her brother and understand the meaning of hope.  A good read for grades 4-7.  Kids who liked Suzanne Collins Underland Chronicles will enjoy The Spindlers.  If we could all get some of those seeds of hope and spread them around, it would be a great thing.