Spider Stories

Matthew Kirby
BookSurge Publishing (2007)
ISBN 9781419663598
Reviewed by Leslie Granier for Reader Views (12/07)

“Spider Stories” is about a god named Anansi who most often appears as a spider but is capable of taking human form.  His people, the Ashanti, have been transported to the New World to serve as slaves to wealthy landowners.  Anansi uses trickery to free his people and help them to not only survive, but truly thrive, in their new surroundings.  As he moves across the country, he encounters many other gods and spirits, most of whom are benevolent, although others are mainly interested in increasing their own powers.  In the end, natural enemies must unite in order to overcome the biggest threat to their very existence.

This book could be categorized as fantasy but it provides many valuable lessons for readers to consider.  Anansi used stories that have been passed down through many generations as a form of entertainment but also as a means to teach his people how to avoid repeating mistakes from the past.  He provided them with guidance and let them flourish on their own.  He also told stories to provide hope that they could overcome difficult situations they were presently experiencing.  Finally, Anansi used his stories to show how people can do what is right without resorting to violence, which is a particularly important concept that people need to learn today.
 
As Anansi instructed Brer Rabbit, who was one of his proteges, there are only a few stories but each has many variations.  The storyteller is responsible for adapting the details as needed to fit the situation.  It is a refreshing concept to see leaders taking the time to educate people using positive methods instead of using forms of punishment.  The stories are somewhat reminiscent of Aesop's fables - each contains a moral or lesson for the listener.
 
I enjoyed many of the stories that were told in this book.  On the surface, they seem somewhat simple, but they provided me with an opportunity to do some deep thinking.  The social messages are as important today as they were for when this story is set.  Having an epilogue in the middle of the book was a bit confusing, but it made complete sense once I got to the end.
 
“Spider Stories” will be a valuable learning material for teenagers and adults.  It offers important lessons about life and the significance of doing what is right even if it is a difficult task and involves risk.

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