The Spindlers, written by Lauren Oliver. Harper, 2012. $18.99 ages 8 and up

"The corridor opened up into a vast, semicircular amphitheater chiseled from dark stone. It looked like the baseball stadium at Fenway Park, but thousands and thousands of years old. Hundreds of tiers of blackened stone seats were arranged in a semi-circle, stretching endlessly upward, and Liza saw a smattering of sleepy-looking troglods and other creatures -"

When her brother Patrick seems to have changed overnight, Liza knows exactly what has happened. Patrick's soul has been stolen by the spindlers because he had been distracted and forgotten to use the broom charm she had taught him:

"And so the spindlers had gotten him: They had dropped down from the ceiling on their glistening webs of shadowed darkness and dropped their silken threads in his ear, and extracted his soul slowly, like a fisherman coaxing a trout from the water on a taut nylon fishing line."

In order to save her brother Liza sets out on a quest. She must go Below and get his soul back. Making that decision will lead her to danger, friendship, and ultimate success. Through a hole in the family home's basement, she falls down into the darkness that is Below. There, she meets Mirabella, a rat who first appalls and then befriends Liza, becoming her guide on the journey to find the spindler's nests. Their deadline is the dreaded Feast of the Souls. They must get Patrick's soul back before it is consumed by the evil spindlers.

As they travel a dark and dangerous path, they meet the wise and helpful nocturni and lumer-lumpens while also being terrified by the shape shifters known as scawgs (even the name sounds awful) and the dastardly queen leader of the dreaded spindlers. Everything Below tends to hold surprise and at times, terror. Nothing is expected and readers are constantly bombarded with new and unusual characters who do their best to sabotage Liza's journey.

When she finally makes her way to the nest, she is told that she must survive three rooms of tricks and puzzles if she wants possession of Patrick's soul. It almost overwhelms her, and certainly impedes her resolve. Will she make it in time? Can she really save her brother given all the obstacles placed in her path?

It is a great read...fast paced, daring, often humorous while also very scary. She meets an array of fantastic and memorable creatures. She discovers that she is a strong, brave, loyal and loving sister who is willing to face danger and adversity to accomplish the task she has set for herself.

I had no idea that Lauren Oliver was writing this  new novel. I loved Leisl and Po last year. I remain a big fan of her writing and think this would make a great readaloud for grades 3-6. There is much to like about it, and I am sure she will earn new fans when they hear this tale or read it themselves.