Worldweavers: Spellspam (Hardcover)

~ (Author)
Key Phrases: red mesas, Grandmother Spider, Humphrey May, Professor de los Reyes (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 7 Up—In Gift of the Unmage (Eos, 2007), Thea Winthrop, a double seventh who had shown no supernatural ability, learns how to use computers to weave worlds where she can use her magical power. In Spellspam, someone besides Thea has figured out how to manipulate emails to carry spells that attack the person who opens them. They begin with practical jokelike spells such as speaking a new language, hair growth, etc., that only last a short time. But the emails become more dangerous; people all over the world are disappearing, including Thea's environmental-science teacher. Thea and her friend Terry, a computer genius, are sent by the government to stay in the house of Professor de los Reyes, a mage and computer expert, to help discover who or what is behind the trouble. Alexander, like Thea, can weave worlds; she seamlessly blends together the worlds of fantasy, science fiction, myth, and contemporary teen life. The plot and pacing are a little choppy, with characters coming in and out at the speed of spellspam, but the story is quick and original. Thea is a likable character who struggles with feelings of being different and alone, something many teens can relate to. Recommend this one to fans of the first book.—Samantha Larsen Hastings, West Jordan Public Library, UT
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Review

An incredibly enjoyable tale that blends reality, legend, and magic in one of the freshest fantasy narratives this year. -- KLIATT (starred review)

From the very first page, this second in the Worldweavers series grabs the reader’s attention. this book’s energetic plot, well-integrated back story and teen characters will make fans very happy and bring new readers under the series’ spell. " -- Kirkus Reviews (online review)

Readers … will be intrigued. -- ALA Booklist (online reveiw)

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Product Details

• Reading level: Young Adult
  
• Hardcover: 448 pages
• Publisher: HarperTeen (March 11, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0060839589
• ISBN-13: 978-0060839581
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.7 x 1.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #468,406 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Unique world, February 21, 2009

By	Kim Baccellia, YA author "Kim" (Southern California) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Worldweavers: Spellspam (Paperback)

An email spam is not only a pain but causing havoc as it's infused with magic. These spellspams are now inflicting the students at Wandless Academy. What starts out as a practical joke, soon gets worse. Thea thought she was the only one with the ability to reach through the computer with magic. Now it's up to her and her friends to find out who's behind the spellspams before they get much worse.

Fans of HP will enjoy this unique world where magic coexists with our world. Thea's abilities to weave dreams is interesting. I enjoyed her conversations with Grandmother Spider. The idea of emails being laced with magic is interesting especially when the author shows some of the effects of these spells. This fast paced story is engaging. I can't wait to see what Thea will do in the sequel.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Courtesy of Teens Read Too, June 26, 2008

By	TeensReadToo.com "Eat. Drink. Read. Be Merrier." (All Over the US & Canada) - See all my reviews

What would the world be like if the spam we got in our email could actually cast magical spells upon us? That's the story behind SPELLSPAM, the second book in the WORLDWEAVERS series.

Thea and her friends are in the school library when a fellow student goes running from the room, her skin transparent, showing all the gore beneath it. The poor unsuspecting student opened and read an email stating that you could have the clearest skin you could possibly imagine. This is the start of the email epidemic that Thea has nicknamed spellspam. The name spellspam apparently sticks, even with members of the FBM, Federal Bureau of Magic.

Thea and her friends have discovered the "why" of the spellspam, but it's up to her and her friend Terry to discover the "how" of the spellspams. So it is decided that Thea and Terry are to spend a summer internship at the home of Professor de lose Reyes. The Professor is one of the most knowledgeable in the technological world, and his home is the second hub of the magical Nexus. Terry and Thea suspect that the sender of the spellspam has infiltrated the Internet via his computer access.

At first the professor believes that he can learn nothing from the two children. But as Thea and Terry spend more time in his Elemental house (a house that will do whatever you wish by merely thinking it), they are more certain that the culprit is in their midst. With the help of various members of the household and Thea's family, they take on the quest to solve the mystery of the spellspam.

Ms. Alexander crafts a creative story that keeps the reader engrossed and marveling at the worlds that are created. The story moves quickly and the characters are truly unique.

One piece of advice though. This is the second story in the series, following GIFT OF THE UNMAGE, and to fully understand and appreciate the story, it's best to have read the first book. The story can definitely be followed, but there is a lot that is referenced from past adventures that would be clearer to the reader if they have the background knowledge. Having said that, I quite enjoyed this story and look forward to more adventures with Thea and her unlikely group of heroes.

Reviewed by: Jaglvr

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars More Excellence, June 23, 2009

By	Crazy2Read "Joe" (Frederick, Maryland United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Worldweavers: Spellspam (Paperback)

A good sequel is hard to do, but this book is better than good. The technology is a little weak, but the plotting and characterization remain very strong. This book continues to explore the price of choice and the value of sacrifice. Again, I was glad to not need to wait for the next book.