It’s early 1930s Germany and Hitler’s Nazi Party is just beginning to gain power. People turn to him because he seems to have answers during tough economic times. The trouble is, his answers often involve blaming others, particularly Jews, for hardship.

The Spider Strikes by Michael P. Spradlin brings this tense time to life through the eyes of 12-year-old Joshua, a Jewish boy who lives in Germany. When Joshua’s family goes to their summer home in Austria he takes two friends with him, Ansel and Rolf. Once there, he starts to notice small harassments, like a shopkeeper who refuses to sell Joshua’s dad supplies.

When the three boys get permission to spend a week in a cabin in a remote mountainous area near Vienna, they plan to fish and practice the skills they learned as scouts. But when a group of Hitler Youth arrive intent on causing havoc, they must put their survival skills to the test.

Joshua’s voice is fresh and honest, and through his eyes readers see how small bigotries can snowball into bigger hatreds. It’s a chilling account, especially considering the horrors that come in the years ahead. The Spider Strikes is a fast-moving tale that will sweep readers along even as it holds them spellbound with the plight of this group of young friends. I recommend it for readers aged 9 to 14.

The publisher provided a copy of this title in exchange for my honest review.