Rise of the Spider

Witness the chilling rise of Hitler’s Germany through the eyes of a twelve-year-old boy in this first book in the action-packed middle grade series Web of the Spider for fans of I Survived and A Night Divided.

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.

When there is an act of vandalism against a Jewish-owned business in town, Rolf fears Romer might have had something to do with it. Can Rolf find a way to intervene before things get any worse?

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.

ISBN: 9781665947206
Format: Hardback
Pages: 160
Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books
Published: September 24, 2024

"1930's Germany leaps off the page. An important book for kids to learn about the rise of evil.""Rise of the Spider is a fabulous, important, and entertaining read. Although it takes place during pre-World War II with the rise of Nazism, the information is terrifyingly relevant to what is happening around the world today. It’s a must read. I could not put it down. I have loved every book Michael Spradlin has written. This is novel is no exception. I eagerly await the rest of the series.""[A] fast-moving, stirring tale....Clear of stance and cogent of theme."“A thoughtful reflection…on the rise of evil that will have readers drawing parallels to the current political climate.""The setting and historical events have been well researched, and the book would work as a tie-in with a history curriculum. In addition, the prose is appealing and accessible to struggling and reluctant readers. VERDICT An accessible introduction to social and political events in Germany during the time leading up to World War II."