Spider. Die große Reise eines kleinen Hundes

by Andy Mulligan, Uwe-Michael Gutzschhahn (Translator), Felicitas Horstschäfer (Illustrator)

Der Hund senkte den Kopf. Seine Ohren zuckten und das Fell im Nacken stellte sich Haar für Haar auf. Er spürte ein seltsames Kribbeln, und seine Schwanzspitze wurde ganz heiß. "Tom ist in der Nähe", sagte er leise. "Und er braucht mich. Ich spür es."

Spider hat bei seinem Herrchen Tom ein richtiges Zuhause gefunden. Wenn doch bloß nicht so viel schief gehen würde! Spider ist nun mal wild und unerfahren und bringt immer wieder alles durcheinander! Dabei hat Tom schon genug Sorgen – die Trennung seiner Eltern, eine neue Schule, und dann noch dieser Junge, der ihm das Leben schwer macht ... Vielleicht hat die Spinne doch Recht, und Spider wird gar nicht von Tom geliebt. Vielleicht hat die Katze Recht, und Spider sollte einfach davonlaufen?
Spider muss einen langen und abenteuerlichen Weg gehen, um zu verstehen, dass sein Platz an Toms Seite ist –, der ihn nicht nur über alles liebt, sondern ihn auch dringend braucht!

Ein neues Buch vom Gewinner des Guardian Children's Fiction Prize

Genres: Childrens, Fiction, Adventure

304 pages, Hardcover

First published October 26, 2017

About the author

Andy Mulligan was brought up in the south of London. He worked as a theatre director for ten years before travels in Asia prompted him to retrain as a teacher. He has taught English and drama in India, Brazil, the Philippines and the UK. He now divides his time between London and Manila.

Reviews

[Dmitrijus Andrušanecas · Rating 3 out of 5]

ANDY MULLIGAN kūrinys ŠUO.

Be to, kas yra parašyta knygos ketvirtąjame viršelyje, pasakysiu – tai labai žemiška istorija. Berniukas, kuris randa už ko užsikabinti. Tėtis, kuris mėgina kalbėti vaiko kalba. Mama, kuri, rodos, niekada nepasiduos, nes kitaip sielvartas ją sužlugdys ir ji sau niekada neatleis. Klasės draugai ir priešai, kurie atsiranda ir prapuola, supranta ir užmiršta, pamina ir išaukština.

Ir yra šuo. Lengvai manipuliuojamas aplinkos veiksnių, tačiau visada žinantis kur link turi sukti savo snukutį. Giliai širdy visi turime teisingą atsakymą, teisingą pasirinkimą, teisingą būdą. O labiausiai įstrigo – savitarpio dermė/draugystė. Kai vaizduojamos ir įsivaizduojamos priešingybės yra drauge. Kai vienas be kito yra neįmanoma. Pusiausvyra. Net ir blusa šuniui ant snukučio turi savo vaidmenį.

Rekomenduoju, nes gyvenimo pažinimas per literatūrą yra ne ką mažiau vertinga nei gyventi ir bandyti, bandyti ir gyventi. Elementaru, kad rasite – empatijos, draugystės, drąsos, ryžto, užsidegimo, tvirtumo, savęs paieškų. Gausu to, kas yra žmogiška. Ir aišku, tarsi ant lėkštutės padėta. Lieka tik mėgautis. Malonaus!

[Fantastiškų KŽL · Rating 2 out of 5]

Net nenoriu rašyt trijų... Knyga gal ir gerai surėdyta, bet jau tokia niūri
knyguziurkes.wordpress.com/2019/11/28...

[Katy Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Moving story for dog lovers

This did remind me of 'The Art of Racing in the Rain', for a younger audience. It tells the story from both a dog's and boy's points of view. Spider is chosen as a gift for a bullied boy called Tom. They swiftly form a bond.

Spider is made to feel insecure about his appearance, Tom's love for him and his own worthiness. Behaving badly by accident, and believing Tom angry with him and about to send him away, he runs away.

The story then follows them both - as Spider realises that Tom may still want him, and as Tom faces more bullying at school and tries to find his beloved pet.

The episodic structure of Spider's side of the story allows for many animals to interact with the dog, as the young animal learns what friendship is. The author doesn't shy away from some distressing scenes of animal cruelty - this is NOT for young readers/listeners who will likely be very upset by a scene involving a fox hunt in particular, but also some nasty bullying.

A moving, exciting story about a boy, his dog and their mutual love. The bullying storyline is quite intense, readers who have read Mulligan's previous work (Trash, Liquidator) will know that it isn't 'happy endings' for every character.

One for ages 10 and above.

[Nora|KnyguDama]

Nežinau kaip jūs, bet kai aš pamatau knygas su gyvūnais ant viršelių, apie gyvūnus, pavadinime minimas gyvūnas – išsigąstu tos knygos. Nes esu jautri šiom temom. Kaip ir daugelis žmonių, dvikojų nelaimes kūrybiniuose dalykuose (knygose, filmuose, spektakliuose) sugebu toleruoti padoriai, bet neduok Dieve kas nors nuskriaudžia kokį gyvūną – ašarų kalnai, pergyvenimas ir aplinkinius juokinantys pasikūkčiojimai. Kai pireš daug metų, mokykloje skaitėme liūdnuosius Biliūno kūrinius ir „Robotą ir plaštakę“, man visko buvo tiesiog per daug. Visus kartus išbėgau iš klasės apsipylus ašaromis, nubėgdavau pas mamą (ji dirbo mokytoja kitoje klasėjė) ir slėpdavausi likusią dieną už spintos. Mane neįtikėtinai liūdino ir skaudino tie kūriniai. Tiek, kad ir dabar negalėčiau ramiu veidu jų net atsiminti. Bet dabar dalykai pasikeitė. Jau ne kartą ir pažįstamų mokytojų girdėjau, kad šiomis dienomis nei Brisius nei kliudyta katytė jokių emocijų vaikuose neišprovokuoja... Negana to, atsiranda ir tokių, kurie iš kūrinių ir liūdnos lemties veikėjų šaiposi, juokiasi. Paklausius tų pasakojimų suprantu, kad visgi, rinkčiausia, kad mano vaikas geriau reaguotų kaip aš, negu visai nereaguotų. Žiauru. Labai žiauru, kad empatija nyksta ir mažųjų nejaudina silpnesnieji. Tai ir nežinau ar įspėti dėl šios knygos skirtos jaunimui ar ne. Man ji pasirodė skaudi ir žiauroka. Būdama vaikas, ašaras būčiau liejusi ir liejusi. Bet gal šiais laikais viskas jau nebe taip?

Tomas gyvena su tėčiu ir namo kambario nuomininku Filu. Mama jam skambina ir skambina, tačiau vaikas su ja kalbėtis atsisako. Jis vienišas, skriaudžiamas mokykloje ir niekeno nesuprastas. Tačiau jau seniai jis turi vieną norą ir pagaliau jis išsipildo! Tėtis į namus parneša šuniuką, kurį berniukas netrunka pavadinti Voru. Voras nėra veislinis, nėra labai gražus, tačiau jis toks laimingas, kad pagaliau yra reikalingas! Ir jis pasiryžęs būti pačiu geriausiu šuniuku, kokį tik pasaulis yra matęs. Tačiau jo letenos ne visada grakščios, kartais numeta daiktus, kurių negalima liesti. Jo instinktai dar sunkiai valdomi ir kartais, visai nenorom, jis ima siautėti. Tomo tėtis labai sunkiai dirba ir ne visada randa laiko ir kantrybės savo sūnui, tai ką jau kalbėti apie Vorą... Kartą, Voras peržengia ribas ir visas šuns pasaulis vėl apsiverčia aukštyn kojom.

Kad tai knyga skurta jaunimui supranti jau iš pirmų skyrių: gyvūnai ten šnekasi tarpusavy, kartu patiria nuotykius ir pan. tad jei galvojat, kad tai bus kažkas panašaus į Garth Stein „Mano šuniškas gyvenimas arba kaip aš tapau šunimi“ ar „Marlis ir aš“, tai teks nusivilti. Knyga labiau primena „Šarlotės voratinklį“ arba filmą „Kelionė namo“. Bet man tai joks nusivylimas, mat paaugliškas knygas labai mėgstu. Kaip ir minėjau, žiaurumo knygoje yra. Ir tikrai, kai kurias vietas skaičiau net susiraukusi – nesu tikra ar visų jų tiek reikėjo... Istorija graži, turi savo moralą, bet kai kada man ji atrodė kiek per plokščia. Aišku, gal čia mano priekabios akys taip vertina, galbūt jei būčiau skaičiusi prieš dešimt metų, net nepastebėčiau tų niuansų. Taip pat, man kiek pritrūko Tomo ir Voro ryšio. Buvo ganėtinai mažai bendrų momentų. Pabaiga irgi labai holivudiška, bet tai nėra blogai – juk knyga jaunesnei auditorijai. O mano galva, tokias knygas vaikai skaityti turėtų, kad formuotų empatiją, skatintų jautrumą ir atjautą. Daug tokių knygų dabar nėra, gal tai viena iš priežasčių, kodėl kai kurios nelaimės vaikams atrodo juokingos, ar blogi veiksmai neatrodo blogi? Brt kuriuo atveju, džiaugiuosi, kad knyga išleista ir tikuosi, kad ją savo vaikams nupirks ar iš bibliotekos paims kuo daugiau tėvelių. Skatinkim meilę keturkojams, auginkim mąstančius ir mylinčius žmones.

[D'ale lui Damian · Rating 5 out of 5]

✍️Nu găsești fericirea decât atunci când încetezi s-o mai cauți. Și atunci apare asa,de nicăieri .

Acest volum o să fie ca o trecere de la lumea de basm, la lumea reală...autorul nu a fost blând cu personajele din această carte, părinții lui Tom s-au separat, el suferind extraordinar de mult, tatăl datorită programului și neexperientei nu reușește să se ocupe de aspectul exterior, precum și de starea interioară a copilului, câinele constituind un surogat. Problemele pe care le are cu 2 colegi de școală, datorită încăpățânarii lui de a discuta cu adulții, sunt prea mult pentru Tom, el având deseori coșmaruri, de aici și starea de conflict verbal, nervozitatea.

Câinele Păianjen, un câine atipic datorită înfățișării sale, reușește să fie adoptat de familia lui Tom. Atracția este reciprocă.

Primul "prieten" al lui Păianjen a fost un Păianjen-destul de antipatic, crud, nemilos, care l-a făcut să aibă o stimă de sine scăzută, care l-a îndemnat să fugă de acasă, lucru pe care Păianjenel l-a și făcut. Un alt prieten a fost pisica "Luna", dar dacă ea nu ar fi fost, nu ar fi întâlnit minunata vulpe-ce poate fi considerată primul lui prieten, vulpe ce se oferă să-l ajute să ajungă acasă, dar din păcate o sa aibă un sfârșit tragic înainte de a-l ajuta.

O carte despre trădare, speranță, luptă, iertare, bullying, prietenie...și o carte în care lucrurile se așează frumos la sfârșit, deci cu happy-end.

✍️Să aștept până la sfârșit...când iubești pe cineva, îl aștepți toată viața, nu? Nu poți fi întreg fără el.

[Deborah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Definitely more middle school than primary read. There are some serious themes including violence, hurting animals, bullying, separated parents. The narrative is told by both the animals and Tom, the boy owner of Spider the dog. Lots of adventure and fast-paced, with a lot of humorous dialogue from the animals. Satisfying ending too.

[Rasa|Knygų princesė · Rating 4 out of 5]

Prisipažinsiu, kad visų pirma sužavėjo mane šios knygos viršelis. Gyvūnai ir istorijos apie gyvūnus visad jaudina. O dar ča toks tiesus pavadinimas. Kadangi gėda skaityti vienai vaikiškas knygas, tai skaitėme kartu su vaikais.

Iki kol knygą aptikai bibliotekoje, pasiskaičiau įvairiausių atsilipiemų. Ne visi buvo aikčiojimai, kokia tai puiki knyga. Vis dėl to viršelis ir anotacija nugarėlėje viliojo perskaityti.

Tai istorija pasakota šuniuko akimis. Šuo patiria daug nuotykių, sutinka savo šeimininką. Šuniuko "asmenybė" labai pamokanti - kaip nepasiduoti kitų įtakai, kaip rasti draugų, kaip įgyti pasitikėjimo savimi. Tik pradėjęs pasitikėti savimi, tik pasikliaudamas savo nuojauta, jis padaro didžius darbus.

Berniukas Tomas yra nelabai laimingas vaikas. Tėvų skyrybos, griežtas tėvas, pinigų trūkumas šeimoje... O dar kur patyčios mokykloje. Berniukas padaro klaidų, priima ne kokius sprendimus, bet vis stengiasi ištaisyti padėtį. Tai mažas berniukas, kuris trokšta meilės, kuris yra labai vienišas.

Vis dėl to istorija kiek niūri. Atrodo Tomą ir Vorą vis persekiojo nelaimės. Tai vienas, tai kitas dalykas nutikdavo draugams. Norėjosi nors kiek linksmesnių akimirkų. Vieksmas taip pat kiek ištęstas. Labai jau blaškė rašytojas veikėjus ir kankino mus, skaitytojus.

Vis dėl to vaikams patiko ir su nekantrumu laukė kasvakariių istorijų apie Tomą ir Vorą. Piktinosi katės elgesiu ir aptarinėjo veikėjų poelgius, liūdėjo kartu su Tomu. Tai pamokanti knyga, tik iki to "Wow" truputį trūksta.

[Solomon · Rating 1 out of 5]

um, actually 🤓☝️ dogs can't speak 🗣️

[Jessica Ferroni · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read this not knowing what to expect.
A book written from a dog’s perspective, started off a bit cute but then headed into a weird and magical world where all creatures could talk and communicate.

It delved into a pet’s mind, in this case a puppy’s mind, when being adopted and taken home. About learning how to be a ‘good boy’ and the unconditional love and loyalty dogs have.

Was filled with action, suspense, sadness, worry, confusion, frustration and hope.

A lovely story about how amazing dogs really are. Makes me want to hug and hold my dog close and let him know he’s a good boy and that he is loved and wanted.

[Pauline · Rating 4 out of 5]

Andy Mulligan doesn’t hold back from tackling some tough issues and gritty topics such as bullying and animal cruelty. This novel is a dual narration from the point of view of Spider the dog, and his new owner Tom. Reminiscent of the characters in Charlotte’s Web, Spider gets some advice from a variety of animals including spiders, moths, cats, dogs and a gorgeous fox called Jesse. Spider is the runt of the litter and as such does not feel that he is worthy; although he loves Tom, Spider is impetuous and makes some very big mistakes. Tom is struggling in every aspect of his life. As an impoverished scholarship winner in a prestigious school he is bullied at every turn. His mum has left and his father is emotionally absent. When Spider runs away after he feels he is no longer wanted both Spider and Tom have to find their way back to each other. Animal lovers will enjoy reading about life from Spider’s perspective. Scenes of school yard bullying and animal cruelty, such as a distressing fox hunt and animals stolen and taken to a meat factory make this a story suitable for older readers.

Suitable for 11+

[Selina · Rating 3 out of 5]

When I started this book I was expecting a heartwarming story of a dog and a boy being united again, something like "Pax". What I got, however, was a story packed with a lot of dark and serious topics. I got the impression that the author wanted to address as many issues as possible and the critics loved it for it. For example, the boy is being bullied at school, his parents are divorced and he hates his mother and doesn't want to speak to her, his father is overworked and short tempered, they do not have a lot of money and the boys clothes are used and dirty. I have no idea why they got a dog in the first place, because this dog is causing way too much trouble. And the dog? He meets a lying and sadistic spider, an abusive cat, an overly aware fox and - wait for it - he even gets into a meat fabric where stray cats and dogs get killed for meat. This was just too much for a childrens book in my eyes. So, I liked the book, but I wouldn't recommend it for 10 year old kids.

[Cameron Henry · Rating 4 out of 5]

I believe that animals can really heal people. Dogs bring a lot of positive emotions and it has a good effect on health. I read that some sanatoriums use Siberian Huskies as an anti-stress for clients. In such places dogs are fed with the best food on this site. It is very cool that animals and people can benefit each other. I hope it will always be like this.

[Jasper · Rating 4 out of 5]

Umm going into this I was not expecting what happened. This book is supposedly a children's book, but is so grim and depressing that I was often very shocked. I am above the recommended age, so I was able to deal with the dark themes of this book, but I don't know if a younger me would've. I think as a child, this book would've upset me a lot. Don't get me wrong, it's a good book, but that is from the perspective of a teen rather than a child.

I spent most of this book thinking, 'why am I reading this?'. This book was just so dark, so depressing, that I lost the point of it. What's the point of a book if everyone dies?? I get that there can be lessons to learn from it, such as with Romeo and Juliet, but this just felt sad with no redemption. But the ending makes it better.

The characters of this book are a mixture. There are a lot of characters I don't like, such as Thread and Moonlight, who are able to get away with their manipulation and mistreatment of Spider. At least by the end Thread frees the moth in his web to go back to his partner. I was honestly quite surprised as the rest of this book had been so grim with no apology that I was not expecting the moth to be freed, so it was a nice surprise.
Buster and the Flea were nice additions to this story who also unexpectedly didn't die! I found the whole scene with Spider being taken to be dog food a bit extreme, however.
I think characters like Jesse were, at least for the reading age, a bit innapropriate to include. Not that Jesse the fox was inherently a bad character, just that her death was very violent and upsetting. Even I was shocked and horrified by her death, so I wouldn't like to think how a young child would react.

I took about 4 or 5 years to read this book. Not that I was reading it that entire time, but I bought it and read maybe the first chapter or two and then left it for years and years. And I am so glad I did. This is not a book I should have read when I was a little child. It deals with concepts like manipulation, abandonment, ableism, cannibalism, violence, severe bullying, and more.

TLDR: This is a good book and I recommend reading it but not at the recommended age because I found it very upsetting at times.

[Roy-James · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this book in the real-life section in the bookshop. And when I started reading it, thought it should have probably been in the animal section instead. However, a week later, I changed my mind and think it definitely belongs in the real-life section. Funnily enough, when I went back into the bookshop, it had been relocated to the animal section.

Why? Because this book is brutaly honest, in the same way a David Attenborough documentary is. It shows what true animal life is actually like, the sheer wildness and kill or be killed mentality that makes the animal kingdom what it is. in the same way Wuthering Heights shows the worst parts of human natures, Dog shows us the very worst of animal-kind and how unforgiving the natural world is. Wait. Did I just compare this book to Wuthering Heights? Very loosely.

At first it seems like this story is a typical troubled-and-bullied-boy-gets-puppy-loses-him-then-reunites tale, and that's the plot, crudely. But what sets it apart is its edge, which is edgier than a twenty-sided die or pogoing on Beachy Head. The author doesn't hold back, not with the animal characters nor the human ones. Jesse the fox recalls a time where she commits genocide in a chicken coop for sheer thrill and blood lust and Tom steals a moped and crashes while narrowly missing an oncoming train, and that's before the climactic ending!

Animal story, perhaps. Future Disney film, definitely not. Bloody brilliant!

[WallofText · Rating 4 out of 5]

A heartwarming and engaging story of a puppy named Spider who tries to find his place in the world. Spider struggles a lot throughout this book, from being overwhelmed by his instincts to his family life as well as all the challenges he encounters after getting lost. A lot of topics are touched upon, from bullying to animal abuse and murder. The animal characters, from dogs to cats to moths and lice are very vivid, definitely more than the human characters. While the animal focused issues are well executed, especially for a children’s book, the human storylines are super simplistic and far from anything resembling realism. Still, this is a lovely and thoughtful story for children and adults alike!

[Ümit Mutlu · Rating 5 out of 5]

Çöplük'ünü biliriz biz senin Mulligan; seni öyle bilir öyle tanırız. Ne gerek vardı aklımızı karıştırmaya?

Gerçekleri, tüm çıplaklığıyla yazan bir adam, bir fabl yazarsa ne olur? Islak Burun olur. Yavru bir köpeğin ağzından, insanlıkla ilgili tüm duygular dökülüverir: dostluk, mücadele, aşk, sevgi, özlem...

Kimlik krizi yaşayan bir köpeğin gözünden, hem duygusal hem de felsefi bir kitap.

[Sally Flint · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a superb read for middle schoolers. It sounds daft to say that it is as really convincingly told from a dog’s perspective, but it was. Spider is a pet who everyone should have. Exploring family, connections and bullying there is lots to discuss and enjoy.

[Anna Davidson · Rating 4 out of 5]

A gorgeous story about loyalty, family and friendship, amongst both humans and animals. Some heavy themes, including bullying, family separation and animal cruelty, make this suitable for upper primary students. I do love a story written from a dog’s perspective!

[Chara · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s brutal honest to its core. Heart warming and heart breaking, this book is a must for dog lovers. If you have ever lost your dog, you can totally relate.
And yes, it’s a fantastic read for children but for adults too.

[Andrea · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was refreshing to read a challenging but accessible children's book. Sometimes Tom didn't seem like an authentic teenager, and I thought the arc of the bullies was a bit too steep to be realistic, but I enjoyed spending time with Spider and the nail biting conclusion.

[Dawn Woods · Rating 2 out of 5]

Very brutal and depressing

[Rebecca Gale · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quite tricky comprehension wise so better for upper ks2/ early ks3

[Andy Verschoyle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great fun, pacy but also considered and earnest about relationships.

[amelia forcina · Rating 5 out of 5]

So good

This was one of the most amazing books I've ever read i never stopped reading since I got this book and reading this book is the only thing I've been doing

[Emma Radford]

DNF.

[Nomeda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gražus pasakojimas apie berniuko Tomo ir šunelio Voro draugystę.

[Edita · Rating 4 out of 5]

Įdomus pasakojimas apie vaiko ir gyvūno draugystę. Knygoje gražiai paaiškintos jauno šunelio niekdarystės.
Tradicinė pabaiga: viskas labai greitai stoja į savo vėžias.

[Indrė · Rating 3 out of 5]

Knygas apie gyvūnus labai mėgstu, bet ši tokia vidutiniška.
Visą laiką buvo balansavimas tarp kvailystės ir žiaurumo. Tai ne pirma knyga, kurioje įvykiai pasakojami ir iš gyvūno perspektyvos, bet šioje knygoje dialogai ir mintys buvo kiek kvailoki. Dar nepatiko tas šablonas, kad šuo neprotingas, o katė labai pikta ir sukta (ant tiek neigiamai ir šablobiškai pavaizduota, kad nemėgau kaip didžiausio blogiečio).
Taip pat įvykiai buvo gan depresyvūs, vienas blogas įvykis vijo kitą, bet gyvenime vien tik juoda ir balta nebūna.
Buvo per daug žiaurumo. Tikrai vaikams to skaityti nereikia.
Tačiau buvo ir gyvenimo pamokų apie meilę, empatiją, draygystę. O pabaiga labai holivudiška, graži ir jautri.

[Greenbear · Rating 1 out of 5]

Wie dieses Buch für 11-jährige sein kann ist mir ein Rätsel. Der Klappentext ließ ein lebensbejahendes Kinderbuch aus der Sicht eines Hundes vermuten. Tatsächlich handelt es sich um ein unfassbar deprimierendes Werk über einen strunzdummen Köter, der nichts versteht, sich permanent manipulieren lässt und wiederholt für das Unglück seiner Freunde verantwortlich ist. Als er tatenlos der buchstäblichen Tötung seiner Fuchsfreundin zusieht habe ich das Buch weggelegt.
Keine Empfehlung.

[Shahid Mahmood]

Simple and easy read - dog and boy's story. If you are into kids books, then this is a good read.