The second book in THE WEB OF THE SPIDER series will have its debut on June 24th. No worries If you haven’t read RISE OF THE SPIDER, the first story that was released last September as they both read just fine on their own.
Set in Heroldsberg, Germany, in 1930, THREAT OF THE SPIDER is narrated by Ansel, a 12-year-old boy who loves to make his friends laugh and in his spare time he enjoys reading every Dirk Goodly, Boy Detective novel.
Ansel always speaks up when he feels mistreatment to others or himself. This is especially true in regards to the Hitler Youth and Hans, the know it all leader. Many of Ansel’s classmates have joined despite the organizations’ false promises and information. Ansel knows the truth having a journalist father who is very much against this Nazi propaganda.
Just before an important voice in the Nazi party comes to town, Ansel’s father disappears. Fearing that they are trying to keep him from covering this event for the local newspaper, Ansel uses what he has learned about being a detective to hopefully find his dad with a help of a few classmates, best friend’s Rolf and Joshua.
The narration is a revealing look at what citizens experienced during this terrible time in history. The story itself covers just 143 pages, an appealing amount for young readers. The back pages include a heartfelt author’s note and a timeline of events. This one also ends in a cliffhanger, so we will have to wait until next year for book #3, THE SPIDER STRIKES.
THREAT OF THE SPIDER will appeal to the more mature middle grade reader who is ready to learn a deeper meaning as to the ugliness Hitler and the Nazi party brought forth during this time period.
FIVE MORE THINGS TO LIKE ABOUT: THREAT OF THE SPIDER by Michael P. Spradlin
- I’ve read many books set during the reign of Hitler, but this one is told from the view of a German in the appealing Ansel. His honesty and dislike for those who don’t play by the rules had me fully on his side.
- Ansel often uses his Unassailable Facts of Life comebacks. He’s the only one who understands their meaning and is happy to explain each one. They each provide a bit of levity to the serious side of the story. Unassailable Facts of Life #12: “When the wolf approaches, the cheese will still smell bad after three days.”
- Danger and mystery are much needed components in a story of this type. This one delivers both in a memorable fashion.
- History classes in middle school have a great discussion tool with this series.
- The story had me reflecting about modern day challenges that seem to parallel many of the events in this plot.
Note, After reading THREAT OF THE SPIDER I just had to pick up and read Book one, RISE OF THE SPIDER with Rolf doing the narration. Here’s what to expect in this equally compelling story:
1929, Heroldsberg, Germany. Rolf might only be twelve years old, but he’s old enough to know that things have not been good in his country since the end of the Great War. Half of Germany is out of work, and a new political movement is taking hold that scares him. Every night, Rolf’s father and older brother, Romer, have increasingly heated arguments about politics at the dinner table. And when two members of the new Nazi Party, Hans and Nils, move to town as part of the Hitler Youth, Rolf is uneasy to see how enamored Romer is by their promises of bringing Germany to glory.
Rolf doesn’t trust Hans and Nils for a moment. For all their talk of greatness, they act more like bullies, antagonizing shop owners who are Rolf’s friends and neighbors. Yet Romer becomes increasingly obsessed with their message of division, and Rolf watches in horror as his family fractures even further.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Michael Spradlin is the author of over a dozen books for children, some of which have actually been published. He grew up in a small town in Michigan
not far from the Ohio-Indiana border and spent many hours of his young life keeping an eye out for “suspicious Hoosier and Buckeye activity.” His early
youth was spent reading hundreds of books, imagining himself as the hero of several epic battles, and sneaking in fireworks from Canada to indulge his
favorite pastime which was blowing up his collection of plastic Green Army Men and Matchbox Cars.
Michael Spradlin has never practiced law, dentistry (okay maybe once with a loose tooth, string and a doorknob) or flown in outer space. In 1978 he managed to talk his way into college and emerged four years later with a Bachelor’s Degree in History and no prospects for a real job. He has worked as a field hand, a newspaper delivery engineer, a lawn maintenance specialist, a bartender, a bookseller, and has lived in Michigan his whole life except for a two year sojourn to a Southern state which he refuses to discuss. (For more about Michael visit his author website)
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