In this brilliant picturebook version of the myth of Arachne, Arachne gets to tell her own story. Athena steps in to give her take on events a few times, but this is Arachne’s tale. Her voice is brash, proud, and very human. Athena sees parallels between them, both motherless artists, achieving fame through their craft, defiantly independent in a man’s world. While Athena is moved to be merciful by their similarities, Arachne is enraged that she must struggle while Athena is worshiped. When the time comes to go gentle into that dark night, she is more than ready to rage against the dying of the light. 

Kate Hovey’s poetry is masterful. The text is passionate, fast-paced, and exciting, easy to read, with a driving rhythm that keeps you turning pages. Definitely read this book out loud. Blair Drawson’s illustrations are equally an artistic tour de force. She draws them in tapestry frames, as if Arachne is using her weaving abilities to tell her story, just as she does in the myth, until Athena literally breaks her frame.   

Responsible adults should be advised that this book is not for sensitive readers. The front cover image shows Arachne bleeding from a head wound, and it’s startling enough that the online marketing posts the back cover, as shown here. In addition, the text treats Arachne’s suicide explicitly. Even so, she gets the last word. Unlike Athena, Arachne gets to weave her own story even up to the present day, and her descendants are countless as the stars. This isn’t a tragic version of the myth of Arachne, in spite of its violence. It’s an angry, ardent, but ultimately triumphant retelling about a woman who takes on a god and wins. – Krishni Burns

I ran a one-week Classics workshop last summer at my local community center for kids ages 9-11. This workshop taught me what aspects of Classics most appealed to my students. Arachne Speaks is a powerful story narrated by the ancient weaver Arachne herself. In this compelling first-person narration, Arachne finds purpose in the story of her life and afterlife plagued with seemingly horrible circumstances. The rhyming text combined with the beautiful, creative, and thoughtful illustrations makes for an enjoyable reading experience. The poetry may be hard for young children to understand, but the images help tell the story and make up for any confusion in the text. I would recommend that children read this book with an adult. Additionally, I recommend that children and individuals sensitive to matters involving suicide be wary when reading this book as Arachne speaks about suicide. This is an inspiring story of a persistent girl, and later woman, who never gave up even when Athena, the goddess of wisdom and handicraft, didn’t approve of her. Arachne stuck with her passion and believed in herself. – Stella Anderson