Product Description

Fans of Jean Auel will love this series that began with Picture Maker, a book called "an absorbing adventure tale...brought to life through the eyes of [Spinka's] courageous heroine", Library Journal crowned it "absolutely fascinating."

Publishers Weekly called Picture Maker "an absorbing adventure tale...brought to life through the eyes of [Spinka's] courageous heroine." Library Journal crowned it "absolutely fascinating." Now Penina Keen Spinka once again sweeps readers back nearly a thousand years...to a time when the Vikings crossed the vast oceans in search of a new homeland, and a place--the majestic wilds of North America--bitterly divided by blood and war.

In the four years since Picture Maker and her loved ones were driven north, many changes have come to a people and a land. The long, arduous journey that took Picture Maker from a young Indian separated from her tribe to a bride of Halvard has come to an end. It falls to Halvard and their daughter, Ingrid, an emerging woman, to return to Greenland and reclaim their home. Here, their Norse traditions are rejected by the newly Christian community, where an infestation of beautiful rare butterflies has resulted in plunder and bloodshed. Forced to wander once more, the family takes refuge with the Inuits, who have proven to be allies in the past. But Ingrid, answering the powerful call of her mother's blood, soon embarks on another journey-one that takes her to a far-off land, where her true destiny awaits.

Breathtaking in scope and historical detail, this is a sprawling adventure in the grand tradition of Jean M. Auel and Jane Smiley by a gifted author who writes "unique and remarkable stories" (Anna Lee Waldo, author of Circle of Stones and Sacajawea).

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #554407 in Books
• Published on: 2003-01-06
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 464 pages

From Publishers Weekly
Novelist and young adult author Spinka continues her compelling narrative of 14th-century Inuit and Viking communities in Greenland in this follow-up to her first adult novel, Picture Maker. Here, Ingrid (Dream Weaver), daughter of a Norse Greenlander and the late Native American visionary Picture Maker (heroine of the first book), holds center stage as the Norse settlement struggles for its survival after virtually being abandoned by Norway. An infestation of grass-eating butterfly larvae and a devastating rampage by English warriors drive Ingrid and her father and two half-brothers to seek refuge in an Inuit village. Ingrid, who was contemptuously viewed as a half-breed by her father's people, and as a lowly pagan by Christian missionaries, once again feels out of place when she is unable to suppress her independent nature to fit Inuit ideals of submissive women. She sets off on her own journey, hoping to find her mother's native village at the base of the St. Lawrence River. Spinka's painstaking research into customs, rituals and social mores of Native Americans and Greenland settlers makes for a captivating history, and much of her storytelling is gripping. Yet the plot becomes overcrowded and messy when she tries to tie in the historic union of the five great North American tribal nations with Ingrid's search for her mother's homeland. As well, Picture Maker looms a bit too large in this tale, which covers much of the same territory-both geographically and thematically-as its precursor.
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal
When Picture Maker was published last year, readers discovered a heroine every bit as intriguing as the young Ayla of Jean Auel's "Earth's Children" series. Gahrahstah's epic journey, set in 14th-century North America, took her from the East Coast of what would become the United States through Canada to Greenland. This sequel opens with Gahrahstah's death. Because of her non-Christian beliefs, Gahrahstah and her husband, daughter Ingrid, and stepsons have been living in exile for the past 12 years. Upon her death, her husband and children return to their village in Greenland. Regrettably, the church still considers the family a threat to the community. After the village is raided by the English and threatened by famine, the small family makes its way back to Gahrahstah's adopted Inuit family. From there, Ingrid, who has been an outsider all her life because of her mixed Mohawk-Greenland heritage, retraces her mother's journey in reverse and eventually finds her true family. Despite exhaustively researched historical details, Spinka's follow-up pales in comparison with the first book. The characters are not as compelling, and the plot sometimes lags a bit. Still, libraries owning the first volume should get this one. Also recommended for public libraries where Auel has a big following. [A Literary Guild and Doubleday Book Club selection.]-Jane Baird, Anchorage Municipal Libs., A.
--Jane Baird, Anchorage Municipal Libs., AK
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.

About the Author
Penina Keen Spinka is the author of Picture Maker, the first book in this sweeping historical series.

Customer Reviews

Dream Weaver
The portrayal of a Native American called Ingrid is fascinating. As part Cherokee, and interested in fiction of early America, I was not aware of the extent to which other groups had reached into northeastern Canada and Greenland. A lot of realism! The detailed description of Ingrid's journey and the interaction with her father and stepbrothers illustrates interesting pre-Columbian local tribal customs about family values. It was interesting how fifeteen century European priests tried to transform her paganism to their beliefs. It made her seem mature, more independent, and I found myself relating to the character. I found Dream Weaver's story so clearly that I finished it in two evenings. It was hard to put down! The work, to me, ranks favorably with my other recommended readings that include Linda Shuler, Sue Harrison, Lynn McKee and Jean Auel. Looking forward to the next book.

Great story that sticks to your ribs!
I was very surprized reading the other reviews of Picture Maker and Dream Weaver, there were so many critical of what I found to be a very good book. However, I would advise reading BOTH books together as I found them to be really one long story, Dream Weaver is actually the end of the story. While similar in ways to the Clan of the Cave Bear as mentioned in another review, I did not find the similarities annoying and the setting and outcome were certainly different.
I found the clash of cultures encountered by the young women in the story very well described and you cannot help but empathize and relate to the characters, who I felt were very well-developed. While I do not personally know how accurate the history is in these pages, I think it opens the mind to what life was truly like centuries ago and is a great read.

Dream Weaver
"Dream Weaver" by Penina Spinka is a marvelous adventure. It is the second book of a wonderful trilogy. The book was not a quick read, because it needed savoring.

Besides adventure, there is (partial list) romance, magic, Norsemen & women, Inuit eskimos, shaman magic, corrupt priests, hardship, love, triumph, and history. This is excellent writing with wonderful imagery and interesting, complex relationships.

I recommend reading "Picture Maker", the first book of the trilogy, as well. It is not necessary to read the first book first, although that may be pleasant. Just read them both!

Thank you, Ms. Spinka; you did it again, now do it again! I shall watch for the third book to debut with great anticipation.