Fangs and Me

Deborah Dowson is a Canaadian children’s librarian in North Wales,
Pennsylvania.

Maisie is doing her best to cope with the loss of her best friend and
next door neighbor who has just moved away. When the new neighbor turns
out to be a bully named Buddy, Maisie has additional challenges to face
and some difficult choices to make. With the help of her pet spider,
Fangs, Maisie takes a stand against Buddy and learns that just like her
spider, Buddy is not as fierce as he looks. Buddy sees Maisie in a new
light as well, as he discovers her fearlessness around spiders. In
coming to terms with her fears, Maisie resolves the conflict with her
new neighbor and also finds the courage to reach out to make new
friends.

The style of this book is perfect for children in Grades 2 through 4.
The dialogue and expressions are natural and honest with just the right
touch of humor. Maisie is a model of independence and self-awareness,
and her gentle and thoughtful nature make her a very endearing
narrator—she thinks, acts, and speaks as a typical 9-year-old. The
very attractive cover illustration captures Maisie’s gentle and wise
demeanor.

A fine book that can be used to encourage children to resolve
difficulties between themselves, Fangs and Me belongs in every library
collection. Recommended.