Shop Harry Potter in 3D

These promotions will be applied to this item:

Some promotions may be combined; others are not eligible to be combined with other offers. For details, please see the Terms & Conditions associated with these promotions.

You've subscribed to ! We will preorder your items within 24 hours of when they become available. When new books are released, we'll charge your default payment method for the lowest price available during the pre-order period.
Update your device or payment method, cancel individual pre-orders or your subscription at
Your Memberships & Subscriptions
Kindle app logo image

Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required.

Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.

Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.

QR code to download the Kindle App

Follow the author

Something went wrong. Please try your request again later.

Spinner (The Healer Chronicles Book 1) Kindle Edition

4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 66 ratings

Fifteen-year-old Alex is a “spinner.” His friends are “dummies.” Two clandestine groups of humans want his power. And an ancient evil is stalking him. If people weren’t being murdered, Alex might laugh at how his life turned into a horror movie overnight.

In a wheelchair since birth, his freakish ability has gotten him kicked out of ten foster homes since the age of four. Now saddled with a sadistic housemother who uses his spinning to “fix” the kids she injures, Alex and his misfit group of learning disabled classmates are the only ones who can solve the mystery of his birth before more people meet a gruesome end.

They want to know who murdered their beloved teacher, and why the hot young substitute acts like she’s flirting with them. Then there’s the mysterious medallion that seems to have unleashed something evil, and an ancient prophecy suggesting Alex has the power to destroy the world.

Friendships are tested, secrets uncovered, love spoken, and destiny revealed. The kid who’s always been a loner will finally learn the value of friends, family, and loyalty.

If he survives…

Awards
  • Finalist in the 2016 USA Best Book Awards
  • Bronze Medal in the 2015 Readers’ Favorite Awards
  • Finalist in the 2015 Wishing Shelf Book Awards
  • Runner-Up in the 2015 Southern California Book Festival
  • Literary Classics Seal of Approval 2015
  • Winner in the 2015 Hollywood Book Festival
  • Honorable Mention in the 2015 Halloween Book Festival
  • Honorable Mention in the 2015 San Francisco Book Festival
  • Honorable Mention in the 2015 Royal Dragonfly Book Awards

Shop this series

See full series
See included books
Shop this series
There are 3 books in this series.
Bundle price: Kindle price
By placing your order, you're purchasing a license to the content and you agree to the Kindle Store Terms of Use.

This option includes 3 books.

Something went wrong.
Bundle price: Kindle price
By placing your order, you're purchasing a license to the content and you agree to the Kindle Store Terms of Use.

Customers also bought or read

Loading...

From the Publisher

Orphan Outcast Hellraiser
“Bowler...depicts his special needs kids not as victims but as real heroes.” —Kirkus Reviews
“Young adult to adult readers will find Spinner compelling and vivid.” —Midwest Book Review
READ THE SERIES

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Bowler...depicts his special needs kids not as victims but as real heroes. Will both warm the heart and chill the spine."
- Kirkus Reviews

"
Spinner incorporates elements of horror into a young adult read that is riveting and centered upon powerful protagonists that are well-drawn. The 'added value' in this story...lies in its...scenes that take the trappings of teen horror and turn them into something much more developed. Young adult to adult readers will find Spinner compelling and vivid."
- Midwest Book Review

"Michael manages to include many topics within the story, from bullying, to dealing with being in a special education class, to what it is like to be in love with someone who does not love you the same way, and much more."
- Readers' Favorite

"Bowler has created a tangible cast of characters who nearly leap off the page as they come to life in this highly suspenseful book...which is sure to keep readers enthralled clear through to its finale."
- Literary Classics

"Bowler offers some astute observations about teen life - capturing the doubt and insecurity of adolescence - and addresses important themes for maturing young adults, channeled through realistic character dynamics and camaraderie."
- Red City Review

"A must for YA fantasy readers looking for humour, suspense, and fully fleshed out characters." -
The Wishing Shelf

From the Author

With this novel, Spinner, I chose to feature teen heroes who have disabilities, to show that they are just as important and brave and scared and human as the non-disabled teen heroes of most YA lit.

Whether labeled general education or special education, all kids have unique gifts and talents and personalities and can contribute positively to this world. I've lived with a disability my entire life - hearing impairment - and I met no one even
close to my age with hearing loss until after graduate school. I was very much a singularity.

My disability
was a drawback with teachers who talked a lot or didn't articulate clearly, but it didn't stop me from learning. It made me a visual and tactile learner. It allowed me to see more of the world around me because I couldn't "hear" the world with the same precision as my peers. It did make playing on sports teams a frustrating experience for all the mistakes I made from mishearing the coach or other players on the field. It did make discerning song lyrics difficult, especially through the old radio speakers we had in those days, and that isolated me from most of my peers who could quote songs from memory.

But the "disability" never defined me.

Later, as a teacher who worked with kids like the characters in this book, I strove to emphasize their abilities, not their disabilities, because I knew that's all most people ever talked about, and they loved me for doing that.

We spend way too much time in this country focusing on what we perceive to be the weaknesses or differences of others. As the kids in
Spinner clearly prove, our strengths always outweigh our weaknesses. If more adults would focus on the strengths of kids, on their natural talents and gifts, especially kids with disabilities, instead of always trying to "fix" the disability or make all kids conform to some normative standard of learning, then every child would have a real chance to soar.

For every "disability," there is an equal or more powerful "ability." Every kid I ever taught showed me this universal truth. They've made my life magical, and
Spinner is my tribute to them.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B075VCQ5F9
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ ; 2nd edition (September 27, 2017)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ September 27, 2017
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 1960 KB
  • Simultaneous device usage ‏ : ‎ Unlimited
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 421 pages
  • Page numbers source ISBN ‏ : ‎ 1974520471
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 66 ratings

About the author

Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations.
Michael J. Bowler
Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.
Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

Michael J. Bowler is an award-winning author who grew up in Northern California. He majored in English/Theatre at Santa Clara University, earned a master’s in film production from Loyola Marymount University, a teaching credential in English from LMU, and a master’s in Special Education from Cal State University Dominguez Hills. Michael taught high school in Hawthorne, California, both in general education and to students with disabilities. When Michael is not writing, he serves as a youth mentor with the Big Brothers Big Sisters program and a volunteer within the juvenile justice system in Los Angeles, but mostly he takes care of his recently adopted son. He is a passionate advocate for the fair treatment of children and teens in California and hopes that his books can show young people they are not alone in their struggles.

You can find Michael at:

Website: www.michaeljbowler.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/michaeljbowlerauthor

Twitter: twitter.com/MichaelJBowler

tumblr: michaeljbowler.tumblr.com

Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/michaelbowler

Instagram: www.instagram.com/michaeljbowler/

Goodreads:www.goodreads.com/author/show/6938109.Michael_J_Bowler

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2NXCPry4DDgJZOVDUxVtMw

Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars
66 global ratings

Review this product

Share your thoughts with other customers

Customers say

Customers find the story engaging and well-written. They appreciate the premise and shifts in perspective that make the read interesting. The characters are relatable and easy to connect with, having experienced bullying and abuse.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

7 customers mention "Story quality"7 positive0 negative

Customers find the story well-written, detailed, and compelling. They like the premise and shifts in perspective that make the read even more interesting. The vivid descriptions and gripping story keep readers on the edge of their seats. The author does a good job describing the characters and keeping them believable.

"...The short chapters and shifts in POV makes the read even more interesting, with numerous moments of suspense that make readers want to know what..." Read more

"...It's a very well-written story and very well thought of. I like how he is portrayed in the struggle he has using his wheelchair...." Read more

"...He is a true empath, able to absorb the pain and injuries of others into his own body and release it out of himself into the unknown...." Read more

"...The book is well written, the story keeps you on the edge of your seat and it greatly explains the traumas faced by children and young adults who..." Read more

4 customers mention "Character development"4 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the book's characters. They find them relatable, especially the characters who have been bullied and abused.

"...I loved Bowlers remarkable cast of characters, solid, convincing, and compelling enough to attract the sympathy of readers...." Read more

"...I like how he is portrayed in the struggle he has using his wheelchair...." Read more

"...It is easy to relate to his characters who have been bullied and abused throughout their lives...." Read more

"...I particularly liked that the main characters were those with various disabilities, not "mainstream" characters." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Reviewed in the United States on June 28, 2016
    The fifteen-year-old Alex is a spinner, a disabled who has been kicked out of many foster homes, but curiously, he has exceptional gifts that many shady groups are fighting to have access to. Aside from the resolve to uncover the mystery about his birth, Alex and his friends have to bring an end to a series of murders especially that of their most cherished teacher. Things only get complicated when Alex discovers an ancient prophecy which speaks of him as one with the power to destroy humanity. Spinner by Michael J. Bowler is a gripping story that will keep readers eyes glued to the pages.

    The book is littered with those A-ha moments that will arouse powerful emotions in readers. The writing is fluid and the narrative voice is so clear and absorbing. I loved Bowlers remarkable cast of characters, solid, convincing, and compelling enough to attract the sympathy of readers. The short chapters and shifts in POV makes the read even more interesting, with numerous moments of suspense that make readers want to know what happens next.

    I loved the humor. I loved the colorful and vivid descriptions that make readers feel like they were part of the intense drama, and I love the breathtaking action, the frenzy, and the race against time. Bowler has a great gift for writing, but the characters he creates and the powerful message of his story will win the hearts of fans of suspense.
    One person found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on July 18, 2016
    I absolutely love this story. It's not your typical sci-fi story and being someone who enjoys things that are little strange I thoroughly enjoyed this. It's a little confusing in the beginning, but totally worth hanging on until the end. It is very different from anything I've ever read before, but like I said I enjoyed it thoroughly. It's about a boy named Alex and he has a special gift despite the fact that he has spina bifida. It's a very well-written story and very well thought of. I like how he is portrayed in the struggle he has using his wheelchair. I say this because I'm in a wheelchair as well and it's very nice to see a character who has similar struggles in their everyday life. I would love to see a sequel to this story written, but if there isn't one there is no cliffhanger so you're not left wondering. I just think this story could be expanded on a little bit. I'm a very big fan of well detailed stories. Overall I would give this book 5 stars. It totally threw me off with its twists and turns, but it was totally worth it every single second of the way. This story also deals with a very real situation for a gay teenage boy. I thoroughly enjoyed how both characters had their situations intertwined. I would like to read other stories by the author eventually. If you get this book be prepared to not be able to put it down. It will suck you in and keep a hold of you the whole time.
    One person found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on October 11, 2016
    Alex has a secret hiding behind his reputation as the wheelchair kid in special ed. He has always been able to “spin” people. His current foster mom is exploiting that, and he is determined not to let her get in the way of his friendships with the other special ed kids in his class. But when their beloved teacher gets murdered, just the way Alex saw it in his dream, he realizes that the people after him may exploit him far more than his foster mother ever dreamed.

    Spinner is a paranormal story told from a special ed kid’s perspective, which does make it somewhat unique. I live the SpEd mom life, and I love seeing disabled children portrayed as heroes rather than useless. I also work in adoption, and enjoyed seeing that play a part in the story as well. Overall the story was a refreshing take on a relatively formulaic story - gates of hell have been unleashed and an unlikely band of misfit heroes must save the day - and the depth humanity imbued in the characters definitely tugs at the heartstrings. There is violence and language in this book, as well as graphic paranormal activity. Still a good read for those who enjoy rooting for the underdog.
  • Reviewed in the United States on October 24, 2016
    Spinner just did not cut it for me. There were a few things that felt off. Taking all of the things into account, the book felt very inauthentic. I understand the concept of the willing suspension of disbeliefespecially in cases of science fiction and horror combination that comes with the genre that this book falls into, but certain things really nagged at me. For instance, Alexs spinning power was not kept a secret, all of the guys in his special education class knew about it, his foster mother knew about it, everyone knew about it and yet it was not a big deal. There was no media frenzy, there was no church intervention calling him a miracle, or saint or whatever. In real life there would be these things that happen, or in traditional young adult literature, that is a secret the character keeps to himself until something happens that makes it so he can not hide anymore. The author takes a completely different route and Im not sure if its the strongest one. I also did not like the voice of the teen characters, they all felt very forced, as if the author was trying too hard to sound like a teenager. And I think the author has a serious problem with cats
    2 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on August 12, 2015
    Our hero, Alex, is the least likely person to ever have that description applied to him. He's a foster child, in the system for most of his life. He has spina bifida, restricted to a wheelchair and unable to have any use of his legs at all. Due to all the above, he has been a victim of teasing and bullying, but seems never to hold a grudge, and in fact will go out of his way to help or heal any of his friends that he can. He is a true empath, able to absorb the pain and injuries of others into his own body and release it out of himself into the unknown. He has friends, Roy, a boy from school, the "special" kids in his class, the elderly lady next door who makes him a lunch every day, and Father Pat, the priest whom he assists at mass. How can this group hope to defeat an enemy who has in his arsenal killer cats, and Alex's twin brother, whom he had never heard of in his life! It's a story Steven King would rightly be proud of, and one I hope and believe will send the author, Michael J. Bowler, on the road to fame.
    One person found this helpful
    Report

Top reviews from other countries

  • Lovebooks
    4.0 out of 5 stars Seriously thanks for Izzy....
    Reviewed in Canada on May 20, 2018
    This book is good. The atmosphere is " almost" like a Stephen King book. The ambiance is sometime funny,sometime scary and sometime emo...I woke up at 1 a.m. I took my e-book...that kind of book. The beginning is a bit slow but after it's ok. This is the story of a wheelchair boy name Alex. He has special powers and his trying to know more about himself . His he good or evil..read it to know.

Report an issue


Does this item contain inappropriate content?
Do you believe that this item violates a copyright?
Does this item contain quality or formatting issues?