Cobwebs

by Karen Romano Young

The pattern will change . . .
because I am here. A girl walks across the Brooklyn Bridge, a backpack full of knitting slung over her shoulder, a green fish kite in her hand. A boy balances on the bridge's crisscross webbing, waiting for the girl to pass. Are they angels? Spiders? In love? Or in danger? Once they connect, they'll start a chain of events that could stretch out smoothly like the river below them -- or become knotted like a tangled web of spider silk. I can do this. (Maybe.)
Climb the wall. (Just like the other time.)
Don't think twice. (Yeah, right.)
Leap for it. (Only as far as absolutely necessary.)

Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult, Fiction, Teen, Paranormal, Romance, Urban Fantasy

400 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2004

About the author

Karen Romano Young is the author of young adult novels as well as nonfiction books and magazine articles. Although Small Worlds: Maps and Mapmaking is her first book for Scholastic, she has contributed to Scholastic magazines for the past twenty years. Her other credits include Cricket, National Geographic World, and The Guinness Book of World Records.

Member: Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators, Authors Guild, National Marine Educators Association.

Honors Awards: Smithsonian Best Book Award, and Oppenheimer Toy Portfolio Gold Medal, both 2002, both for Small Worlds: Maps and Mapmaking.

Reviews

[Shazza Maddog · Rating 5 out of 5]

Teenage Nancy lives in the city and is different - not because her parents live separately from each other, or because she's not that interested in boys, or because she doesn't shave her legs - but because she's not entirely human. Her father, Ned, is almost a direct descendent of Anansi, the spider god of Africa; her mother's family line comes from West Virginia and are weavers and potters, and her grandfather is Italian. They're all spider-like in their own way - weavers and climbers and potters. When Nancy meets a boy on the webbing of the Brooklyn Bridge, she realizes there's more than just her family and her friend Annette, and that life can be dangerous and wonderful, both.

Dion's mother is very ill, and his father, Nico, a newspaper reporter, is not only trying to find out about the Angel of Brooklyn - someone who's managing to thwart crimes in the area - but also a way to make his wife, Rose, better. He chances upon Nancy's family, and the healing abilities inherent in Grandma Tina's bloodlines, and will do anything to make sure Rose gets better.

I really enjoyed this story the first time I read it. A second reread doesn't disappoint. The story moves in fits and jerks and is not completely linear, which might be offsetting to people who want that sort of thing, but Nancy and Dion, the strange boy on the bridge, are at the heart of it all - with their families and the way they interconnect, willy nilly.

[Maria Vale · Rating 5 out of 5]

A book that pleases everyone is no kind of book at all. I read this story of teenage Nancy, a descendant of Anansi the spider god, years ago, but the magical treatment of family, community, adolescence and love stays with me still. Be forewarned, is not a linear narrative; more like a web, circling round and round, creating something fragile and beautiful.

[Lori · Rating 2 out of 5]

I couldn’t finish this book. By the time I got to 246/388 I just did t care about the story any more. I didn’t like how the characters withheld information, how everything is a secret, and how disjointed the story felt. I kept having to reread passages that didn’t make sense and interrupted the flow of the story. Finally, 3/4 of the way through, I just didn’t care enough to continue.

[Shannon Rammler · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very interesting storyline, indeed.

[Allison · Rating 3 out of 5]

I kind of really didn't like this book at first... But much like a fly caught in a spider's web, I found myself completely trapped and intertwined with the story in a way I didn't really think possible.

[Emily G · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book was just bad. The story line had no depth. Characters were introduced too fast which left the reader trying to decipher who was who. There were no transitions. One moment you're on the Brooklyn Bridge, the next you're in their apartment. You re-read to find out when they walked, or got on a train, or just moved period, but alas nothing about movement is written. The lack of transitions is totally confusing. Basically the whole book can be summed up as: Nancy's family has a secret. Some can transform into spiders, some are healers. Why? no one really knows, it's just been passed down in the family. Nancy's mom won't go outside, her grandma dies, she meets a guy, and a reporter is using her family's secret as blackmail. The end. It was mostly boring, their was no climax, and it ended on yet another down note.

[Bethany · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm convinced that the other people who left reviews for this book must have read a different book? Everything is pretty straightforward. It's not A+ writing, and some plot points I never really cared for, but the POV shifts once or twice (briefly) in the whole book, and the way characters are constantly referenced (like, in the first ~20 pages you know who everyone is) there's no confusion over who's who.

Seriously if you actually read the book it's not confusing. I would probably give it three stars (most of the plot is predictable and somewhat uninteresting) but I enjoyed it so it gets four.

[Shelley · Rating 1 out of 5]

Ugh! This book made no sense! It would have been better written in verse since the author seeed to have trouble putting complete sentences together. The ever-changing POVs also drove me nuts. The conversations (or looks or character thoughts) always hinted at secrets between various characters that, for some reason, were never revealed to the reader.
It could have been a nice coming of age, intergenerational, romance story if not for the horrible writing. The author should have given her ideas to some who can actually write so that a potentially good story could be told.

[Diana · Rating 3 out of 5]

It is not hard to bring out the beauty in every, thing; living or otherwise. Yet to be able to blend a romance with the natural beauty of the arachnid, along with a myth and the turmoil that comes in handling the changes wrought upon by society, adolescence and family. It's not easy and there are times where the teenager is not so much of a teenager but it's still quite invoking of emotions on the readers behalf.

[Ashley Jimenez · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I first tried reading this book, I put it down. I could not, for the life of me, get interested in it. Then I realized that some good books don't have that beginning that draws you in. I picked it back up a few months later and started over. I don't regret trying it for the second time. There's just so much going on and it all makes sense in the end. It's lovely.

[Bcpl · Rating 2 out of 5]

Spiderpeople shouldn't shave their legs. Less fun and less adventure than Marvel Comics Spiderman...reminds of Neil Gaiman but less clever and not nearly as compelling. A coming of age fantasy for YAs. Not too racy for the tweens, but maybe boring...

[Sarah Maker · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book really captures the essence of adolescence, which is a hard effect to achieve as an adult. The whole spider thing is probably what made this book so interesting. When you read a lot, it's nice to see someone coming up with something you've never read before.

[Regina · Rating 2 out of 5]

For a book that looks as intriguing as it does, it definitely was a let-down. I thought that there was a lot more that could have been done with these creative characters and setup.
Next time, if I'm in the mood for Anansi, I'll go check out Neil Gaiman's book instead.

[Megalion · Rating 2 out of 5]

A YA with a potentially interesting take on the supernatural. Except it just didn't do it for me.

I consider my reaction to be of simple personal bias thus make no recommendation for or against.

[Annie · Rating 3 out of 5]

What it's like to grow up part human/part magical spider in Brooklyn. Picked this up out of a basket while house sitting and really liked it.

[Maureen · Rating 5 out of 5]

A messy, sticky web of wonderfulness

[Tessa · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was good. but i was confused through a good part of the book, though.

[Elizabeth · Rating 1 out of 5]

1 star.

[Bez · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not very good

[Katrina Sutton · Rating 3 out of 5]

To be honest, I really couldn't get into this book. That is all I have to say.

[Kristina · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was intersting and not the best thing i read but not the worse.

[Kennedy · Rating 1 out of 5]

I'm so glad I didn't buy this.

[Breanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was amazing it was different and had unexpected twists and turns.

[Gabby · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book did confuse me, but I thought it was cute as well. So overall I had fun reading it.

[Olivia · Rating 4 out of 5]

The writing style was really good, though the story became a bit predictable towards the third of the book. I haven't read other books like this much, so for now, I rated it a four star book. :)

[jolly · Rating 2 out of 5]

this book iz the weirdest ive ever read! i still dont get it! weirdo spider peepole!

[Dichotomy Girl · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5

[Jachelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting