Seven baby Siberian snow spiders, frozen since the Ice Age, defrost on their way to a science lab. They wake up in a wood where the Tattletales girls club are planning for the school Halloween Horror Pageant. Their goal is to wipe the floor with their arch-enemies the Copycats (all boys, naturally).
For the spiders it's love at first sight! And one by one, the talented TARANTULAS find their way to the school, each in search of his special Tattletale. But, as each one fails to return, the others become sadder, and madder, so when the final three reach the school it's not love, but MURDER they have in mind!
Will this be the scariest Hallowee'n Pageant ever? And can the Tattletales and Copycats join forces to save their school from disaster?
A hilariously hair-raising story, full of suspense.
'bristles with originality and cleverness also, though it is cleverness which, overall, is used in the service of humour rather than seriousness ... It is a storyline which could easily fall into whimsy, but Maguire's insight into the child's mind and his ability to convey that insight in dialogue that sparkles with wit ensure that bathos is kept at bay. There is, as he knowingly says at one point, 'rare spiderish emotion, not seen much outside the best of children's books': but there is as well a wise understanding of young inquisitive minds, of gender differences and of that curious process called education.' - Children's Books in Ireland
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