Tarantulas on the brain

by Marilyn Singer

Lizzie's scheme for getting a pet tarantula backfires.

Genres: Fiction, Middle Grade, Childrens

184 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1982

About the author

Marilyn Singer was born in the Bronx (New York City) on October 3, 1948 and lived most of her early life in N. Massapequa (Long Island), NY. She attended Queens College, City University of New York, and for her junior year, Reading University, England. She holds a B.A. in English from Queens and an M.A. in Communications from New York University.

In 1974, after teaching English in New York City high schools for several years, she began to write - initially film notes, catalogues, teacher's guides and film strips. Then, one day, when she was sitting in the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, she penned a story featuring talking insect characters she'd made up when she was eight. Encouraged by the responses she got, she wrote more stories and in 1976 her first book, The Dog Who Insisted He Wasn't, was published by E.P.Dutton & Co.

Since then, Marilyn has published over seventy books for children and young adults. Her genres are many and varied, including realistic novels, fantasies, non-fiction, fairy tales, picture books, mysteries and poetry. She likes writing many different kinds of books because it's challenging and it keeps her from getting bored. She has won several Children's Choice and Parents' Choice Awards, as well as the following: the Creature Carnival, Lee Bennett Hopkins Poetry Award Honor Book, 2005; I Believe in Water: Twelve Brushes with Religion, New York Public Library's "Best Books for the Teen Age," 2001; Stay True: Short Stories for Strong Girls, Popular Paperbacks for Young Adults, 2000 (YALSA); On the Same Day in March, Booklist's Top Ten Science Books of 2000; NCSS-CBC Notable Book, 2000; Deal with a Ghost, finalist, YA category, Edgar Award, 1998; It Can't Hurt Forever, Maud Hart Lovelace Award, 1983; The Course of True Love Never Did Run Smooth, ALA Best Book for Young Adults, 1983; Turtle in July, NCTE Notable, N.Y.Times Best Illustrated and Time Magazine Best Children's Books of 1989; Turtle in July was also a Reading Rainbow review book.

Marilyn currently lives in Brooklyn, NY, with her husband Steve; their standard poodle Oggi, a cousin of their beloved and recently departed poodle Easy, seen in the home page photo; a cat named August ; two collared doves named Jubilee and Holiday; and a starling named Darling. Her interests include dog training, reading, hiking, bird-watching, gardening, meditation, playing computer adventure games and going to the movies and the theatre. She's also a major Star Trek fan.

Reviews

[Richard · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a highly engaging story about Lizzie, a very smart girl age 10 or so, who doesn't think she's "pretty" (and doesn't care much) using her brains and innate gumption to pursue her life goals. It's one of those books that should be on required-reading lists for middle-grade, all genders. Basically, Lizzie wants a pet tarantula and being scientifically minded, proceeds methodically to get one. And first she needs some money, so with her slightly older friend Tessa, she sets out to do that. They develop a chart of steps in the process. Lizzie has her flaws, certainly, but they're mostly endearing quirks that make us smile and like her even more. Along the way she makes a few mistakes of course, and learns a lot. The book is full of interesting tidbits for curious readers to follow up.

Yesterday, in one long comfy sitting, illuminated only by waning winter sunlight, I read the hard cover first-edition. I got it via mail-order for three dollars, in good condition, library binding and the usual "withdrawn" stamp -- it seems to have only been checked out half a dozen times between 1984 and 1991.

Unfortunately for many potential readers, this book is entirely out of print, and also not available as an e-book. (Side bar: While looking for a copy, I saw on the 'Zon a couple of copies listed for over $500 apiece; today one is listed for $941.12. What's with that? Runaway pricing algorithms, I suppose.)

The book was first published around 1982, so none of the characters have cell phones, tattoos, or pierced anythings. One social aspect that most struck me is the way nobody freaks out about two little girls going off alone (repeatedly) with zany unconventional Uncle "Buster" who likes to dress in costume. He's apparently the real brother of Tessa's mom, so I guess everyone thought nothing of it in those days, but in the 21st century this would probably get slapped with a trigger warning about a man dressed as Buster Keaton; and someone would Photoshop cell phones into the illustrations.

My favorite zinger in the book occurs early, on page 3, when Lizzie says if her older sister Rona: "spent more time studying science than looking in the mirror to see if her breasts are growing, she'd know a lot more about life and spiders. And maybe even boys."

[April Thompson Freeman · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favorite books from my childhood. I can remember the first time I read it in sixth grade. Great book!

[Karen GoatKeeper · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh what a tangled web we weave, when first we try to deceive.
Lizzie should have believed this as one lie or half truth leads to another to another until she is in too deep to climb out, or so she believes. And the whole thing starts with wanting a pet tarantula which takes money. But every money making plan has problems.
The book is easy reading. Lizzie's habit of piling one lie on another gets to the point she is maddening. Yet the diverse characters are so much fun. It is a small book that packs a lot in, even a poem by Emily Dickenson.
The book is for a younger audience, but don't let that keep you from picking it up and learning a bit of magic.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of the most important, formative books of my childhood. It is totally smart and the heroine is flawed and learns from her mistakes and it taught me SO much about: tarantulas, swans, magic & magicians & magic tricks, poetry, Emily Dickinson, family relationships, Buster Keaton, you name it. I seriously think this is the epitome of the perfect kids' book. The reader finds a great story and relates to the characters while the author is secretly teaching them all these little facts...I just adored it. Yay!
Sample it here, on the author's web page:
http://marilynsinger.net/books/tarant...

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I first read this in grade school when my friend Tara lent it to me and recently got a copy off of Paperbackswap.com....this is a really cute book about a girl who desperately wants a pet tarantula and she takes a secret job with a magician to earn the money. Very cute! I remember loving this when I was a child and wishing something like that could happen to me because my life was so boring! LOL.

[Don Heiman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Elizabeth (Lizzie) Silver is the main character in Marilyn Singer’s 1982 children’s book “Tarantulas on the Brain.” The book is about a New York City pet shop named Noah’s Ark. The shop has a black and orange tarantula spider for sale. The tarantula captivates Lizzie. However, much to her dismay, she is told by the shop owner that the tarantula spider costs $25 and a spider housing tank will cost an additional $18. Lizzie, who is a 5th grader, has only $5.50 in savings and she is very worried about how to get enough money to make these purchases. The book tells a number of interesting stories about her nefarious money raising strategies and tactics for acquiring the tarantula that she named “Ariandne.” These stories include working for magician “Mankham the Magnificent”, reselling purloined raffle tickets, being deceitful, running away from home, and stressing over her mother’s lost diamond wedding ring which she believed was mistakenly boxed with artificial “junk” jewelry and sold at her fund raising flea market. These are just a few of the many storylines in Marilyn Singer’s book. Her book has a very interesting surprise ending. (p)

[Raquel · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my absolute favorite books as a child, this book is delightfully weird and underscores the importance of being yourself (even if you are a weird kid who loves tarantulas) and of finding like-minded friends who support your goals in being your best self and standing up to bullies. It also includes a subplot in which we get to see eccentric adults acting as role models of a sort showing that you can also be weird in adulthood and remain your best self.

This book was a comfort to me as a very weird little kid who has happily blossomed into an adult fairly comfortable and happy in their weirdness.

[Infamous Sphere · Rating 4 out of 5]

A thoroughly enjoyable children's book that I probably would have loved as a child, and found entertaining, engaging and novel as an adult. I can't say I've ever read a book about a 10 year old girl who desperately wanted a pet tarantula before, and this book definitely lived up to that premise. It's from the 80s but the only thing that didn't age well is the mention of various prices (you aren't going to get a tarantula for $46 today.)

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book taught me about magic, Queen Elizabeth I's "Gloriana" nickname, and the poetry of Emily Dickinson. Only on a 2017 reread did I realize how young Lizzie (our narrator) is - she's 10!! (It makes the marriage comment re: Buster a bit creepy, doesn't it?)

[Mark Anthony · Rating 4 out of 5]

I remember this story from when I was a child. I loved it, when of the first books that grabbed me. Was delighted to find it here.

[Ratene Kiritimati · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love this book, I really adore how Lizzie try to get what she want. Maybe her lies was not a very good idea, but To me she is really having fun.

[Shelagh]

My older sister told me to read this book, I imagine. One of the first fiction books to trip me out on the power of poetry. It has a great section on reading Dickinson's "A narrow fellow."