The Story Web is an enchanting fable with superb storytelling

What’s remarkable about The Story Web is how quickly this original book hooks you. By the end of the first chapter, a scant ten pages in, you’ll be hooked. You will know the main character, get a glimpse into what drives them and will flip through the pages without any effort. Approximately one/fourth of the way through the book you’ll feel like it’s a climax and wonder where the book can go from here. And then, as if accepting a dare, the book takes that climax and runs with it. This extension creates an ultimate finale that matches the buildup, tying up all of its loose ends. The Story Web is upper elementary through middle school gold.

Her dad used to call it the Story Web. It’s a place deep in the forest where different strands of stories are physically woven together. Alice is now older, her dad isn’t around anymore and she’s searching for a purpose. Suddenly all of the animals in town start acting strangely. Moreover, they seem to be communicating with Alice. It’s a rabid animal or I have bacon in my pocket is what I’d think. Alice though, thinks that there might be something to the animals that have found their way into her life.

The Story Web is a coming-of-age, animal love letter to libraries and telling stories. It’s unlike any book we’ve read and will captivate readers who are in fourth grade and up. This was a book that played like a movie in my head and I love books like that. Part of the reason for its seamless transition to my head is that the longest chapter is about eight pages. The chapters are long enough to push the story forward, yet short enough for young readers to complete in one reading. Just like potato chips and kittens, they won’t stop at one and soon enough they’ll be asking for another book in this series.

Towards the end of the book you’ll see that this is a love letter to telling stories and libraries. Part of that is certainly due to author Megan Frazer Blakemore and her job as a school librarian. She’s had other published books that have received numerous awards, including Kirkus Reviewers Best Book of the Year and more.  

Elementary aged readers in third grade and up will love this book. It’s got enough mystery to bring in the action readers and enough friendship to bring in the relationship crowd. The Story Web is awesome and will hook readers that step into its world.