It's almost that time again.
Time for another BOOK BIRTHDAY celebration, and while this one actually takes place TOMORROW, I figured why not spark up the anticipation today. 😉 So, if you're a fan of Historical Fiction, and are looking for a story from a younger perspective that takes place during a heavy time in history, today's featured title is right up your alley. Take a closer look between the pages of...
The Web of the Spider series, Book 2
by
Michael P. Spradlin
9781665947213
Margaret K. McElderry Books
Release Date: 06/24/25
About the book...
Ansel has never been afraid to say what’s on his mind. He’s always the first among his friends to speak up when something doesn’t feel right. When the Hitler Youth first set up shop in Heroldsberg the year before, Ansel quickly made enemies of the chapter’s arrogant leader, Hans. Of course, Ansel is also twelve years old, so he spends much of his time reading his favorite Dirk Goodly, Boy Detective novels and trying to make his friends laugh.
But more and more of his classmates have been swayed by Hans’s tactics and the Youth organization is growing throughout the city. Ansel knows that Hans and his group are spreading false information—after all, Ansel’s father is a journalist for the local paper and has been going toe to toe with Nazi propaganda for a long time.
Then Ansel’s father goes missing right before a prominent Nazi leader comes to town. With the local police in the Nazi’s pocket, can Ansel and his friends use their detective skills to find his father and thwart the Nazi’s plans to suppress the truth?
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This is the SECOND INSTALLMENT in The Web of the Spider series and picks up just where the first left off. Does that mean you can't read them out of order? No, I think it works as a standalone, but then again the length of the stories definitely lends more heft to reading them BOTH, you know? 😉 Anywho...
In this second installment, we are back with our friends, but this time, it's not Romer and Rolf who are the focus. This time, we're seeing the story more so from the eyes of Ansel. He's got a unique perspective as well because his father is a reporter and definitely not a sympathizer with the enemy, so the stakes are high for the whole family. The Hitler Youth are taking a firmer hold in the area, and, with the impending visit of a higher up in command, so are bigger players in this violent "game". While one can say to stick to your convictions, it's hard in the face of evil, and some succumb to the peer pressure. Luckily, that's not the case for our friend group here, and extra lucky for Ansel's father who ends up an unexpected pawn in a game he wasn't even playing.
The danger is high and the risks are real, but so is the history behind it all. It's important to know the "ugly" that transpired to learn the lesson and carry forward the truth, so it's not repeated in another generation. It's also important to know that even in the midst of darkness, light can be found. Friendship can still blossom. Hearts can still beat fast. Justice can still be fought for. Good can still triumph over evil...one instance at a time. A great pick for fans of the genre, as well as kiddos trying to get a firmer grasp on the past.
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About the author...
Michael P. Spradlin is the New York Times bestselling and Edgar Award–nominated author of the Spy Goddess series, The Youngest Templar series, and the Web of the Spider series, as well as several works of historical fiction, including the Western Heritage Award–winning Off Like the Wind: The Story of the Pony Express. He currently resides in Lapeer, Michigan, with his wife, daughter, and his schnoodle, Sequoia. Learn more at MichaelSpradlin.com
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Special thanks to Alex at Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing for the copy for review. (THANKS!) For more information on this title, the series, the author, or the publisher, feel free to click through the links provided above. So grab your TO DO list and make plans to snag your copy TOMORROW as it makes its bookstore and virtual shelf debut!
Until next time, remember...if it looks good, READ IT!
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