MMGM- Rise of the Spider and Valor Wings

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Unleashing Readers

Spradlin, Michael. The Rise of the Spider (Web of the Spider #1)
September 24, 2024 by Margaret K. McElderry Books

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

It's 1929 in the Bavarian town of Heroldsberg, Germany. Rolf, who is 12, is worried about his older brother, Romer. A brilliant soccer player, Romer is increasingly dissatisfied with life, and fights frequently with their father, who runs a toy factory in nearby Nuremberg that is experiencing difficulties. Rolf knows that things are hard in Germany; after the Great War, the country had to pay reparations, and the economy was suffering. Ansel, Rolf's best friend, is well versed in the news of the day because his father is a reporter for the Nuremberg Zeitgeist. When the two friends see Romer talking to two young men, they are worried to find that Hans and Nils have moved to town to set up an office for the National Socialist German Workers Party, better known as the Nazis. While Ansel isn't pleased with the spidery Hans' glib replies and calls Hitler an idiot, Rolf is more circumspect in his speech. He does tell his father, who is not happy that Romer is considering joining the Hitler Youth. Rolf asks if his older brother, Klaus, who died in the Great War, was also troublesome at that age, and the father does remember that Klaus fought quite a lot with his mother, who died of the Spanish flu. Still, when Mrs. Hufnagel's bakery is attacked and set on fire, and Romer's shirt smells of kerosene, Rolf becomes very worried about his brother. When he finds that Romer has traveled to Nuremberg for a rally, he and his father go after them. With things heating up in the country, will Rolf and his father be able to keep Romer safe? 

Unfortunately, this ends on a cliffhanger, and the next book, Threat of the Spider, doesn't even have a publication date yet! I love the description of what everyday life was like in Heroldsberg, and the information about the economic difficulties makes it easier to grasp why the German people supported Hitler and were coerced into believing his lies about the Jewish population. Almost one hundred years later, many of these details tend to fade away, so Rolf's experiences are a good foundation for understanding how Hitler's rise to power was possible, and how the Holocaust was able to happen. 

Spradlin has done a number of books about World War II, including The Enemy Above, Prisoner of War, and Into the Killing Seas, as well as the nonfiction Jack Montgomery: Gallantry at Anzio (Medal of Honor), so he brings not only incredible historical research to this book, but also a good feel for the time

period. As soon as I found out that Rolf's mother had died, I thought "Who's the family's housekeeper/cook?" Sure enough, we soon met Mrs. Holsten, who was supporting her seven children after her husband perished in the Great War. I loved the father's explanation that he had to keep her on as a way to support the economy! 

There are many stories of fighting during the war, and of the wide range of experiences of Jewish citizens in horrible circumstances, but in the US, there aren't many stories about how ordinary German citizens lived, and how they felt about the Nazis. I had dear friends who were just about Rolf's age. Both were forced into being in the Hitler Youth, but got into quite a bit of trouble for putting the uniform neckerchief on a dog! Seeing the political events through Rolf's eyes was very interesting, and the stage is set for even more enlightening and exciting adventures. Hand this to readers who enjoyed Smith's My Brother's Secret, Hoose's The Boys Who Challenged Hitler, McCormick The Plot to Kill Hitler: Dietrich Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Spy, Unlikely Hero, Osbourne's Winter's Bullet or other books that give more background about the lives of ordinary people during the lead up to World War II. 

Subity, Sam. Valor Wings.

September 17, 2024 by Scholastic Press

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

It's 1940, and things in Europe are becoming dire. In alternating story lines, we meet Iris, who lives in England and is taking care of the last dragon in the area, whom she has named Galahad. Dragons used to  be more widespread, but were accused of killing livestock and spreading disease, and were driven off before Iris was born. Her mother has passed away, and her father and older brother Jamie are working on the family farm. When people find Galahad, he ends up in the possession of the army, directed in the area by General (Colonel? I had to read this through Edelweiss Shelf and can't easily go back and find things.)Stephenson, whose daughter Maud warns Iris that it is pointless to fight for the dragon. To make matters worse, Jamie enlists to fight, although it is some consolation that he is supposed to be Galahad's handler. In Belgium, we meet Max, who has been sent to live with his grandmother while his parents are working in the Resistance in Germany. When the Germans come to their town, headed by General Wyvern, the two take a few belongings, as well as Max's dog Plum, and leave, since they are Jewish. The plan is to head to France, but instead of just going over the border, they are going all the way to Dunkirk. When Jamie ships out without Galahad, Iris gets permission to train the dragon to help with the army, and Maud works with her. It isn't until Iris is in danger that Galahad manages to fly. Max has several harrowing experiences, is separated from his grandmother, and ends up with Jamie and Maud's brother Jack as they work their way through France toward Dunkirk in the rear guard. When Galahad almost perishes in a burning barn, Iris and Maud both ride off to find the fabled herd of dragons; when they do, the leader, Belrath, says he knew Iris' mother Charlotte, and might help to rescue soldiers, but says it will take some time to make the decision. This is time that the girls don't have. Riding Galahad, and Belrath's daughter, Malory, the two take off to Dunkirk. Will they be able to find and save their brothers?

Strengths: Subity dives right into the action, and has us suspend disbelief about the dragons right away. The alternating story lines are both well developed, and meet in a satisfying way. This also gives us a good look at two sides of the preparations for Dunkirk; both the English side, with Iris' father getting their sailboat ready, and the French side, where Jamie and Jack are trying to blow up bridges so the Germans can't use them. The chapters end on cliff hangers, so readers will be frantically reading to find out what happened next. There's no lack of explosions, treacherous falls, planes strafing the area, and other exciting things that are essential to a good World War II book. Surprisingly, there is a strong feminist element as well, with Iris and Maud referring to themselves as "women of valor". This is well paced and exciting, and dragons are always popular with my readers. 
Weaknesses: As an adult reader, there were a lot of coincidences that seemed unlikely, even though they make for a happy ending. I was also a little confused at the beginning when villagers called Iris "dragon girl" under their breath, but it also seemed like Galahad was supposed to be a big secret. Young readers won't mind either thing. (I was also overly concerned about Plum and thought it unlikely that he and Max wouldn't get separated.)
What I really think: This reminds me strongly of Len Lamensdorf's Will to Conquer series, but I can't think of any other World War II/fantasy books than the Brasheres' 2024 Westfallen or Scarrow's Time Riders. Fans of Subity's  The Last Shadow Warrior will enjoy this, as will readers wanting dragons, or a fresh look at the battle of Dunkirk. (Although I'm still a fan of Tunis' 1962 Silence Over Dunkerque [sic].)