Spinner

Young Adult, Mystery & Thrillers, Horror

By Michael Bowler

Publisher : YoungDudes Publishing

ABOUT Michael Bowler

Michael Bowler
Michael J. Bowler grew up in San Rafael, California. He majored in English and Theatre at Santa Clara University and earned a master’s in film production from Loyola Marymount and another master's in Special Education from Cal State University Dominguez Hills. He partnered with two fri More...

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Description

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. Now saddled with a sadistic housemother who uses his spinning to heal the kids she physically abuses, Alex and his misfit group of learning disabled classmates are the only ones who can solve the mystery of his birth before more people meet a gruesome end.

They need to find out who murdered their beloved teacher, and why the hot young substitute acts like she’s flirting with them. Then there’s the mysterious medallion that seems to have unleashed something malevolent, and an ancient prophecy suggesting Alex has the power to destroy humanity.

The boys break into homes, dig up graves, elude kidnappers, fight for their lives against feral cats, and ultimately confront an evil as old as humanity. Friendships are tested, secrets uncovered, love spoken, and destiny revealed.
The kid who’s always been a loner will finally learn the value of friends, family, and loyalty.

If he survives…

"Spinner incorporates elements of horror into a young adult read that is riveting and centered upon powerful protagonists that are well-drawn. The 'added value' in this story...lies in its...scenes that take the trappings of teen horror and turn them into something much more developed. Young adult to adult readers will find Spinner compelling and vivid." - D. Donovan, Senior Reviewer, Midwest Book Review


"I admire the author's bluntness in creating a world where the reader does not sense a safety net around the main characters, preventing them from permanent peril. This is a genuinely entertaining and gripping novel with truly solid characters." - Gwendolyn Billings, age 17, for LitPick

 
"Michael J. Bowler created a fantastic YA novel with Spinner, and I enjoyed every single page of it. His writing style is unmistakable, so if you have read other books by this author you'll feel right at home. If not, the book will make you want to read his other books, too. Michael manages to include many topics within the story, from bullying, to dealing with being in a special education class, to what it is like to be in love with someone who does not love you the same way, and much more."  - Kim Anisi for Reader's Favorite
 
"I would highly recommend this book to my friends. I found it to be an amazing read." - Lucy, age 15, for LitPick
 
"Bowler effectively compensates for the overgrown garden of his imagination by communicating a thoughtful, sincere empathy for kids with disabilities. He depicts his special needs kids not as victims but as real heroes. There are few worthier goals for a novelist, and his attempt here is largely successful.  Will both warm the heart and chill the spine." Kirkus Reviews