SPOIL-FREE SUMMARY
Gwyn is just trying to deal with his dysfunctional family years after a loved one went missing. But when he receives seemingly useless gifts from his grandmother he learns he may be descended from less than a normal family.
CAST OF CHARACTERS
Gwyn is a young boy who lives on a farm with his parents. His relationship with his father is tense and he spends most of his time avoiding him and trying not to cause drama. He is rather sensitive but tries to hide it from people but it's revealed how fragile he is when a friend rejects him.
Alun is Gwyn's best friend and his only confidante, other than his grandmother.
Nain is Gwyn's grandmother. She is close to the family and alittle eccentric. She is the one who reveals the familys' heritage.
Eirlys is a new girl at Gwyn's school who befriends him and his family.
PACING
This isn't an action orientated story and most of the story is pushed forward by suspense. Mainly by the tension between Gwyn and his father and the mystery of what happened to the sister.
FATHER AND SON
The struggling relationship between Gwyn and his father is a major theme of the book. From first introducing the source of his father's anger and eventually revealing why it has so much to do with Gwyn.
There are scenes were we see that Gwyn desires to be close to his father again: firstly when he witnesses his father showing kindness to another child. This reveals he believes he will never have the intimate relationship he used to have. And he shouldn't even be able to witness it occurring with another child.
Secondly when his father stands up for him when he is accused of bullying. This scene reveals Gwyn's surprise but pleasure at having his father act like an actual father.
ALUN & GWYN-SPOILERS
Gwyn reveals what is happening to him and his upset when his friend refuses to believe him. Alun seems to be Gwyn's only friend, so it would make sense that Gwyn would get so upset over it.
However, I do wish their friendship would have been revealed before their disagreement. Perhaps through flashbacks, showing how Alun comforted him when he went through the tragedy that occurred years ago. As I knew nothing of their relationship, I just had to assume they had known each other and got on for a long time.
EIRLYS-SPOILERS
Gwyn's new friend is presented as a mystery. She oddly resembles his late sister and her presence adds suspense but also adds confusion. No one ever just comes out and asks who she really is or says that she could possibly be Bethan (the sister).
I thought perhaps this was supposed to be mysterious but I thought it made things unclear. I wanted them to discuss it and how crazy it all was. It could have added an interesting dynamic to Gwyn and his parents.
Also, I wanted Gwyn to struggle with this mystery as well. Instead, he takes it all in stride. And it's not until the end does he even have any anxiety.
GWYN'S SPIDER-SPOILERS
Gwyn gets a spider that can spin silver webs and show moving images through them. She places an important role, as she reveals a secret place. Also she reveals a girl who looks like his sister.
THE HORSE GOES FREE-SPOILERS
One of Gwyn's gift is a horse figurine with broken ears and tail. Nain tells him that it's evil. But Gwyn ends up letting is loose on accident and is suddenly rather reckless. He wants it to bring back his spider, which he had grown very close to. Although he does regret it later when he goes to visit Nain.
GWYN'S MOTHER
The main focus is on Gwyn's father as his mother is rather cowed as we learn straight away. She tries to give her son a birthday party only to have her husband complain. She doesn't really stand up to him.
The only other interaction between mother and son was when she claimed to have killed his spider. His reaction was hysterical and I wish the author had taken the time to cause the mother to attempt to comfort him. This should have set off alarm bells but she never does anything.
A STRANGE PLACE-SPOILERS
Gwyn learns of a strange place where only children live, with silver hair and pale skin. It's unclear whether this is another planet, dimension, afterlife, or anything. I really wanted to learn more and was disappointed that Gwyn didn't ask more.
I contrast this to “The Leap” by Stroud where I actually didn't care what the foreign place was. All of the questions just made me more interested and the pacing of the story made my questions take a back seat.
THE BULLY
After being betrayed by a friend, Gwyn gets bullied buy a group of boys. I thought it was an interesting aspect to see that he didn't run or try to talk his way out of it. He was very stoic but I wish I had learned if he had ever been previously bullied.
Perhaps it was vaguely mentioned who the bully was because he had bullied Gwyn before but I didn't get to learn about any details. The end result was exciting and unexpected but I think it would have had more impact if I had information of previous instances.
CLIMAX
Gwyn accidentally starts a massive storm and tries to trap the being that escaped the horse. But there are unintended consequences when someone else gets caught in it. After this is resolved Gwyn has to say goodbye to a new friend.
AFTERMATH-SPOILERS
After everything is settled, Eirlys reveals she has to return to her new home. Gwyn goes with her and suddenly realizes they want to take him too. But the event is over quite fast and he never fears Eirlys or sees her as a perversion of who she used to be. I think it was played down because it wasn't supposed to be as important as the storm and the horse.
CONCLUSION
I like the story idea, a boy discovering he is descended from wizards and a sister lost.
Gwyn is likable but I don't feel like he has any strong relationships with anyone. Not his mother or Alun. The one who is closest to is Nain but they never really grow to understand each other.
Perhaps the story was meant to focus on his father as the ending was supposed to show that their relationship had healed.
Also, I wish there had been more tension between Gwyn and Eirlys. I felt he should have desired answers more, or at least reacted more strongly when he realized the truth about her. I wanted him to not want her to leave or be in denial about her. Or something. Just strong feelings.
I get the idea was for him and his father to both heal, but I just didn't get that impression.
I give “The Snow Spider” two and half stars.
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