The Bone Spindle, Book 1 Leslie Vedder – WISE Score & Parent Review | Screenwise

The Bone Spindle, Book 1 Leslie Vedder

Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

book2022

80%

WISE Score

4.2

Amazon

Sleeping Beauty gets a queer makeover with treasure-hunting, puzzle-solving, and a cursed prince who's more romantic baggage than hero.

The Bone Spindle, Book 1 Leslie Vedder

book

2022

80%

WISE Score

4.2

Amazon

Sleeping Beauty gets a queer makeover with treasure-hunting, puzzle-solving, and a cursed prince who's more romantic baggage than hero.

4.2

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Screenwise Verdict

This is a solid YA fantasy that does what it promises: adventure, romance, puzzles, and queer rep without being preachy or formulaic. Vedder's debut is legitimately well-written—reviewers keep using words like 'fresh' and 'punchy,' which in the crowded YA space means something.

The gender-swapped Sleeping Beauty angle works because it's not just a gimmick—Fi and Shane are fully realized characters, not just 'what if the prince was a girl?' The sapphic romance is woven naturally into the story, and the found family vibes give it heart beyond the monster-fighting.

It's not going to change your teen's life or make them rethink existence, but it's entertaining, well-paced, and represents a slice of the world (LGBTQ+ teens) that deserves more page time. If your kid likes fantasy adventure with romance and doesn't mind kissing scenes, this is a win.

Age Fit

Best for ages 13-17, the sweet spot for YA fantasy romance. The sapphic representation, mild romantic content, and snark-filled adventure hit right for teens who've outgrown middle grade but aren't ready for adult fantasy's heavier themes.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

Gender-swapped fairy tale retelling with positive representation (LGBTQ+ characters, tough female warrior, bookish heroine). Common Sense Media confirms mild romantic content—some flirting, innuendo, and kissing but nothing graphic. Found family themes and cooperative adventure. Tone is age-appropriate for teens with snark and humor balanced against emotional depth.

Imaginative

Fresh take on Sleeping Beauty meets Indiana Jones—combines fairy tale lore with treasure hunting, puzzles, and ruins exploration. Reviewers praise the 'punchy and fresh' writing that avoids formulaic territory. Rich world-building with dark magic, Witch Hunters, and century-old curses. The premise of a bookish adventurer stuck with a prince's spirit until breaking his curse is genuinely inventive.

Safe

Books are inherently low-risk media. Common Sense Media flags only 'mild innuendo, flirting, and a few kisses'—no graphic content, violence, or triggering material mentioned in any reviews. Fantasy adventure elements (dark magic, battles) are standard YA fare without gore or shock content. The 'bad exes' and romantic tension are handled appropriately for the teen audience.

Enriching

Strong LGBTQ+ representation with Shane's character (likes 'pretty girls'). Explores themes of found family, challenging destiny, and overcoming fear of vulnerability. The puzzle-solving and ruins exploration encourage problem-solving thinking. However, it's primarily entertainment-focused adventure/romance rather than deeply thought-provoking literature. Still, the gender-swapped dynamics and queer representation offer meaningful perspective for teen readers.

Parent Info

✓

Why It Might Be Great

Gender-swapped fairy tale that flips the script—tough girl warrior, bookish adventurer, and a male sleeping beauty who needs saving
Solid LGBTQ+ rep with Shane's sapphic storyline woven naturally into the adventure (not tokenized or preachy)
Reviewers consistently praise the 'punchy, fresh' writing and puzzle-filled Indiana Jones vibes—it's fast-paced without being shallow
Found family dynamics and a heroine who's terrified of falling in love add emotional depth to the monster-fighting
Strong debut that avoids YA formula traps while delivering the romance and adventure fans want

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What to Watch For

Romantic content includes kissing, flirting, and mild innuendo—nothing graphic but definitely present throughout
Fantasy violence (Witch Hunters, dark magic battles) is standard YA fare but worth noting for sensitive readers
The 'bad exes' subplot and romantic tension might hit close to home for teens navigating their own relationship drama

Conversation Starters

"Fi is terrified of falling in love with Briar Rose—why do you think people sometimes resist romantic feelings even when they're real?"
"The book flips traditional fairy tale gender roles. How does that change the story compared to the original Sleeping Beauty?"
"Shane is attracted to girls and that's just part of who she is, not a big plot point. Do you think that's a better way to include LGBTQ+ characters than making it their whole story?"
"Fi solves puzzles and explores ruins—if you could be an adventurer like her, what kind of mysteries would you want to solve?"

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