Fear of Spiders
by John E. Cother

    FEAR OF SPIDERS by John E. Cother
    Category:  Contemporary
    Age Recommendation:  Grades 9+
    Release Date:  2/1/06
    Publisher:  Behler Publications
    Reviewed by:  Sally Kruger, aka "Readingjunky"
    Rating:  4 Stars


    It is the summer of 1965, and JT is scheming ways to increase his measly allowance of $1.25. His sister, Lesi, is
    a year older and gets $2.00 a week. How is a man supposed to survive with only a $1.25 to his name?

    After several of his “get-rich-quick” schemes fail, JT is pleasantly surprised when, out of the blue one afternoon,
    their father hands him an envelope. His father tells JT that it is for he and Lesi because he loves them. Inside the
    envelope are two crisp five dollar bills.

    Those five dollar bills take on a whole new meaning when, one week later, their father is gone.

    Since their mother has done nothing but drink herself into a stupor for years, Lesi decides it is time to call Aunt
    Lily. When she arrives, everything changes. Soon JT and Lesi find themselves traveling with Aunt Lily to Tupelo
    on an adventure. Unfortunately, when the adventure is over, they return home to discover their mother has died
    of alcohol poisoning.

    Funeral arrangements are made, and there is some discussion of moving JT and Lesi to live with their
    grandmother; however, it is clear that the children are closer to Aunt Lily, and she agrees to move the short
    distance from her home to live with them. Life is good until one night while Aunt Lily is at work, a man breaks in
    and brutally attacks Lesi. Nearly fourteen-year-old JT finds himself acting as the man of the family as he saves
    his sister from certain death.

    FEAR OF SPIDERS is a detailed account of JT and Lesi’s journey from innocent children to world-weary
    survivors. John E. Cother tells their story with elaborate description and rich dialogue, giving readers a generous
    view into the lives of two brave young people.