Crewel
By Gennifer Albin
(Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR), Hardcover, 9780374316419, 368pp.)
Publication Date: October 16, 2012
Other Editions of This Title: Paperback, Paperback
Categories: Family - Siblings, Love & Romance, Social Issues - New Experience
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Enter a tangled world of secrets and intrigue where a girl controls other’s destinies, but not her own
Sixteen-year-old Adelice Lewys has always been special. When her parents discover her gift—the ability to weave the very fabric of reality—they train her to hide it. For good reason, they don’t want her to become one of the elite, beautiful, and deadly women who determine what people eat, where they live, how many children they have, and even when they die.
But Adelice is forced to into this powerful group, and she must learn to navigate the dangerous politics at play. Caught in a web of lies and forbidden romance, she must unravel the sinister truth behind her own unspeakable power. Her world is hanging by a thread, and Adelice, alone, can decide to save it—or destroy it.
TESTING
Gennifer Albin holds a master’s degree in English literature from the University of Missouri and founded the tremendously popular blog theconnectedmom.com. She lives in Lenexa, Kansas, with her husband and two children. Learn more about her at genniferalbin.com. Q&A with Gennifer:
Would you describe the world of Arras?
Arras is a world of cocktails, beautiful women who hide deadly secrets behind their made-up faces and silk stockings, and men who fear women so much that women have been forced into powerless roles. No one is quite who they seem and in the middle of it all, sixteen-year-old Adelice has to navigate a tangled web of lies and conspiracy to unravel the truth about her world and her identity. What inspired you to create such a world?
I wanted to create a world that wasn't anything you might expect from a story about girls weaving the fabric of life. Weaving, sewing, and other needlecraft have always been considered womanly arts, so I chose to build Arras into a glamorous, but very Mad-Menesque world. There I can explore how girls feel about traditional jobs and responsibilities as well as the temptation of luxury and fame. And let's face it, writing characters in fedoras and pin curls is fun. Are you like any of the characters in the book?
Eventually a high school teacher of mine is going to expose that Adelice gets her penchant for challenging authority from me. I've always been a big fan of the comeback, but as I get older I'm learning to bite my tongue. I think Jost would be proud.
Praise for Crewel: "The halls of Coventry are dark and twisted places readers will want to visit." —The New York Times Book Review “Albin has created a unique world that is as fascinating as it is frightening. Absolutely thrilling!” —Josephine Angelini, bestselling author of Starcrossed “I love how time in Crewel is a physical, shimmering line that can be touched and woven into a pocket of safety in a lethal world. Original, artistic, layered, and nimble, Albin’s novel is a compelling read.” —Caragh O’Brien, author of the Birthmarked trilogy "“Crewel is a book about romance, knowing who to trust, and destiny.” —Seventeen.com “The next big YA thing-to-come.” —The Atlantic Wire “An incredibly interesting mix.” —Hypable.com “Unusual, brilliant.” —MTV’s The FabLife.com “If you liked The Hunger Games, try Crewel.” —Redbook.com “The next big dystopian blockbuster.” —Booklist "Captivating and intense, the right balance of mystery, romance, and drama.” —Publishers Weekly "Aspects of Crewel bring comparisons to The Hunger Games." -- VOYA
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