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The Boy with the Spider Face
A transformative science fiction and horror novella about acceptance, reflection, and revenge.
Jeff Pritchet isn’t much different from other teenage boys, with one exception. His monstrous, spider-like appearance and loner persona make him a target for bullying, when all he wants is a friend who sees beyond the surface.
Enter transfer student, Aarav Jain. Thoughtful, accepting, and insightful, he sparks an untapped hope in Jeff, transforming his life. But as the boys grow closer, their deepening relationship becomes hijacked by a darkness Aarav can’t escape and a life-altering secret Jeff can barely contain.
The unconventional pair find themselves marked for hatred, and when his bond to Aarav is threatened, Jeff discovers a sinister side he never knew he had, proving that, when pushed too far, emotions can be deadlier than venom.
Jeff Pritchet isn’t much different from other teenage boys, with one exception. His monstrous, spider-like appearance and loner persona make him a target for bullying, when all he wants is a friend who sees beyond the surface.
Enter transfer student, Aarav Jain. Thoughtful, accepting, and insightful, he sparks an untapped hope in Jeff, transforming his life. But as the boys grow closer, their deepening relationship becomes hijacked by a darkness Aarav can’t escape and a life-altering secret Jeff can barely contain.
The unconventional pair find themselves marked for hatred, and when his bond to Aarav is threatened, Jeff discovers a sinister side he never knew he had, proving that, when pushed too far, emotions can be deadlier than venom.
122 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 26, 2021
About the author
A.J. Franks
6 books12 followersAJ Franks is an American author and playwright. He has authored more than thirty short stories, including "We All Scream" which is featured in Shallow Waters Volume 6: A Flash Fiction Anthology by Crystal Lake Publishing.
His debut horror collection, Keep You Cold: Chilling Tales, was a multi-category finalist in the American Book Fest 2019 Best Book Awards. The follow-up collection, Colder in Hell: More Chilling Tales is now available.
He wrote the stage play, Bereavement, which debuted at the 2015 Fertile Ground Festival and was a semi-finalist in FiLMLaB’s 2013 Script-to-Screen contest with his original short screenplay, Sometime Over Coffee. He is a member of the Horror Writers Association and currently resides in Portland, Oregon.
His debut horror collection, Keep You Cold: Chilling Tales, was a multi-category finalist in the American Book Fest 2019 Best Book Awards. The follow-up collection, Colder in Hell: More Chilling Tales is now available.
He wrote the stage play, Bereavement, which debuted at the 2015 Fertile Ground Festival and was a semi-finalist in FiLMLaB’s 2013 Script-to-Screen contest with his original short screenplay, Sometime Over Coffee. He is a member of the Horror Writers Association and currently resides in Portland, Oregon.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews
January 15, 2022
Original review here:
(Check out THE MORT REPORT)
https://www.uncomfortablydark.com/bla...
Prejudice vs. Tolerance
This is a short-ish story that actually says a lot about society and the times we are living in.
Jeff Pritchet is a normal boy in almost every sense, except for the fact that he his the face of a spider. As a teenager, he’s been a constant target of bullying by not only his peers, but adults as well. If there is one thing he has learned in his short life, it is that nothing is fair.
When a transfer student arrives at his school, Jeff is shocked and elated to find the boy doesn’t look down on him like he is a freak, and for the first time in his life, he makes a friend.
But nothing can be as simple as that. His new friend, Aarav, is a foreigner, and Jeff is about to find out about his own parents’ biases. The bubble in which he has grown up is about to burst. The consequences will be dire.
***
We are all guilty of it in some way, shape or form. Preconceptions (which are often misconceptions) gives us an excuse to dismiss or ignore - and sometimes even fight – the things we don’t understand and, more often than not, fear.
I grew up in apartheid South Africa. As a Caucasian male, it was easy to “hate” when you have nothing to do with others. This is not only reference to racism, but often sexism and all those other wonderful -isms.
It took me a little more than 20 years before the bubble I grew up in finally burst – and it happened when I made my first black friend. We met during a pool game (and he beat me), and it finally dawned on me that he is not only a better person than me, but a better person than MOST.
I have not uttered a racist slur of any kind in more than 20 years, and I can only hope that will be the case for the rest of my life.
There were some valuable lessons to learn. When I look back, I am stunned to see how different I thought as a child. And how much, so obvious to somebody on the outside looking in, I missed.
I was never the most athletic, even though I am skinny. Add to that I am short and very pale – the sun hates me, my skin is either very white or painfully red. I lost myself in movies and television as a child, and later in books. I was also never very sociable.
During my youth, I was often called “gay” (I use the “ because I refuse to use the actual terms) because I was never a man’s man – and I often called others the same if they did something unmanly. I was often called weak or a coward because I was never a fighter and avoided confrontation whenever I could. I was often called lots of different things – one of my nicknames before my teens was Landing Flaps because my ears were so big (they still are, but my head grew into them a little more). Today I can laugh about it – it was quite original – but some people may be stunned to learn it was actually a teacher who gave me that nickname.
So, this is what I learned:
There are good people and bad people, there are honest people and dishonest people, there are assholes, bitches, dicks and morons in every race, sexuality, religion, nationality and any other walk of life. In this broken world of ours, everyone deserves to be judged on merit. You don’t have to like everybody just because they are the ‘same’ as you, just like you don’t have to dislike those who are not.
This story carries that lesson loud and clear. My only criticism is that the characters felt a little cookie-cutter for the message, so there could have been a little more depth to some of the characters.
Recommended for coming-of-age horror fans who likes the feels.
(Check out THE MORT REPORT)
https://www.uncomfortablydark.com/bla...
Prejudice vs. Tolerance
This is a short-ish story that actually says a lot about society and the times we are living in.
Jeff Pritchet is a normal boy in almost every sense, except for the fact that he his the face of a spider. As a teenager, he’s been a constant target of bullying by not only his peers, but adults as well. If there is one thing he has learned in his short life, it is that nothing is fair.
When a transfer student arrives at his school, Jeff is shocked and elated to find the boy doesn’t look down on him like he is a freak, and for the first time in his life, he makes a friend.
But nothing can be as simple as that. His new friend, Aarav, is a foreigner, and Jeff is about to find out about his own parents’ biases. The bubble in which he has grown up is about to burst. The consequences will be dire.
***
We are all guilty of it in some way, shape or form. Preconceptions (which are often misconceptions) gives us an excuse to dismiss or ignore - and sometimes even fight – the things we don’t understand and, more often than not, fear.
I grew up in apartheid South Africa. As a Caucasian male, it was easy to “hate” when you have nothing to do with others. This is not only reference to racism, but often sexism and all those other wonderful -isms.
It took me a little more than 20 years before the bubble I grew up in finally burst – and it happened when I made my first black friend. We met during a pool game (and he beat me), and it finally dawned on me that he is not only a better person than me, but a better person than MOST.
I have not uttered a racist slur of any kind in more than 20 years, and I can only hope that will be the case for the rest of my life.
There were some valuable lessons to learn. When I look back, I am stunned to see how different I thought as a child. And how much, so obvious to somebody on the outside looking in, I missed.
I was never the most athletic, even though I am skinny. Add to that I am short and very pale – the sun hates me, my skin is either very white or painfully red. I lost myself in movies and television as a child, and later in books. I was also never very sociable.
During my youth, I was often called “gay” (I use the “ because I refuse to use the actual terms) because I was never a man’s man – and I often called others the same if they did something unmanly. I was often called weak or a coward because I was never a fighter and avoided confrontation whenever I could. I was often called lots of different things – one of my nicknames before my teens was Landing Flaps because my ears were so big (they still are, but my head grew into them a little more). Today I can laugh about it – it was quite original – but some people may be stunned to learn it was actually a teacher who gave me that nickname.
So, this is what I learned:
There are good people and bad people, there are honest people and dishonest people, there are assholes, bitches, dicks and morons in every race, sexuality, religion, nationality and any other walk of life. In this broken world of ours, everyone deserves to be judged on merit. You don’t have to like everybody just because they are the ‘same’ as you, just like you don’t have to dislike those who are not.
This story carries that lesson loud and clear. My only criticism is that the characters felt a little cookie-cutter for the message, so there could have been a little more depth to some of the characters.
Recommended for coming-of-age horror fans who likes the feels.
July 16, 2024
So this was a really pleasant surprise. Such a unique story, and woven (Oh yes, I had to make that joke.) together perfectly, in a tight 120-page tale. I have very little interest in high school/adolescent characters, but I really liked Jeff from the start. I also hate spiders with a passion, so a big kudos to AJ Franks for writing this all so well, as to win me over on both fronts. This poor kid, Jeff, is in such a messed up situation. Things just become increasingly unhinged and he just wants to figure out what the hell is going on. And he just keeps getting beaten around by everything out of his control. In many ways, it perfectly described puberty and going through adolescence. Well, except for being half spider. If anyone reading this is half arachnid, I apologize and mean no disrespect. I would’ve liked to get a bit more closure with Aarav, and a little more background on Jeff’s condition, but neither exclusion hurt the story much. I loved the finale and it was exactly what I wanted to see happen. The ending was also just perfect, too. There was enough gore and creature development in this to please my inner horror fan, but even without all that, it was a very solid story and strong showing from AJ Franks.
Read
December 29, 2021(I don't rate books with stars-Please read the review)
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Review originally published at Cemetery Dance Online:
https://www.cemeterydance.com/extras/...
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In this young adult, coming-of-age horror novella, AJ Franks imagines what life would look like for a teenage boy with an actual spider-face. The story unfolds rather quickly with the protagonist, Jeff Pritchet, struggling to lead a normal life but realizing that nothing will be easy for a boy with his unique condition. At school, Jeff befriends “the new kid” which introduces a combination of subtle queer themes and very heavy-handed racism.
Jeff’s parents and the parents of his new friend are disapproving of their boys hanging out together. Things escalate quickly as the story winds down to its violent climax. Franks leaves the door open for the potential to position this novella as an origin story in order to develop a certain storyline further.
Due to the style of the writing and the use of familiar body horror tropes, The Boy with the Spider Face would have maybe been better served as a graphic novel. The descriptions of Jeff’s mutations, like an emerging thorax, were tough to visualize, leaving the reader to fill in the gaps with their own imagination. It was confusing to understand how Jeff’s human form and arachnid parts functioned as a whole. Equally confusing were Jeff’s parents. The character development just didn’t have enough time in the oven for readers to buy into some of the over-the-top hostility and violence, again suggesting this story would make a kick-ass comic. As a novella, it just falls really short of reader expectations.
.
Review originally published at Cemetery Dance Online:
https://www.cemeterydance.com/extras/...
.
In this young adult, coming-of-age horror novella, AJ Franks imagines what life would look like for a teenage boy with an actual spider-face. The story unfolds rather quickly with the protagonist, Jeff Pritchet, struggling to lead a normal life but realizing that nothing will be easy for a boy with his unique condition. At school, Jeff befriends “the new kid” which introduces a combination of subtle queer themes and very heavy-handed racism.
Jeff’s parents and the parents of his new friend are disapproving of their boys hanging out together. Things escalate quickly as the story winds down to its violent climax. Franks leaves the door open for the potential to position this novella as an origin story in order to develop a certain storyline further.
Due to the style of the writing and the use of familiar body horror tropes, The Boy with the Spider Face would have maybe been better served as a graphic novel. The descriptions of Jeff’s mutations, like an emerging thorax, were tough to visualize, leaving the reader to fill in the gaps with their own imagination. It was confusing to understand how Jeff’s human form and arachnid parts functioned as a whole. Equally confusing were Jeff’s parents. The character development just didn’t have enough time in the oven for readers to buy into some of the over-the-top hostility and violence, again suggesting this story would make a kick-ass comic. As a novella, it just falls really short of reader expectations.
November 21, 2021
(in Italian in the first comment below)
At first, I would thank Crystal Lake Publishing for the opportunity to read an ARC of this novella.
A hard story that features a little boy whose face is half that of a monstrous spider.
A small, bigoted and hypocritical neighborhood in which he slowly approaches adolescence, a school where he is targeted by bullies, where parents are too distracted by their having to be good parents to be really good parents and where a new friend makes ignite a new heat that warms Jeff’s heart.
Jeff's life is changing at a speed that doesn't give him time to figure out how to behave and how to deal with it.
He is not the monster that everyone sees when the gaze rests on his aspect of him, he does not understand why the world does not see him for what he is and judge him without knowing anything.
Here, Stephen King had tried a little bit with Carrie to speak in a horror key of the same topics: bullying, self-acceptance, sexuality, relationship with parents, with friends, body transformations.
I really appreciated the style of writing, the story and its unfolding but maybe it was put into the cauldron a little too much all at once.
The brevity of the story leaves no room for a more in-depth and 360-degree investigation of the characters and events that follow one another, leaving instead a sense of anxiety and haste which nevertheless leads to a conclusion that I loved and that I found very original and well successful.
In short, monsters we are not born.
At first, I would thank Crystal Lake Publishing for the opportunity to read an ARC of this novella.
A hard story that features a little boy whose face is half that of a monstrous spider.
A small, bigoted and hypocritical neighborhood in which he slowly approaches adolescence, a school where he is targeted by bullies, where parents are too distracted by their having to be good parents to be really good parents and where a new friend makes ignite a new heat that warms Jeff’s heart.
Jeff's life is changing at a speed that doesn't give him time to figure out how to behave and how to deal with it.
He is not the monster that everyone sees when the gaze rests on his aspect of him, he does not understand why the world does not see him for what he is and judge him without knowing anything.
Here, Stephen King had tried a little bit with Carrie to speak in a horror key of the same topics: bullying, self-acceptance, sexuality, relationship with parents, with friends, body transformations.
I really appreciated the style of writing, the story and its unfolding but maybe it was put into the cauldron a little too much all at once.
The brevity of the story leaves no room for a more in-depth and 360-degree investigation of the characters and events that follow one another, leaving instead a sense of anxiety and haste which nevertheless leads to a conclusion that I loved and that I found very original and well successful.
In short, monsters we are not born.
November 18, 2021
WOW! What an AMAZING treatise of Horror on the various faces of Monstrosity! Hatred, bullying, victimization, bigotry, ethnic racism, are all intertwined in this story of a boy who is born "a little different" to two "normal" parents in a truly cookie-cutter community. Jeff is accustomed to his "deformity," and too many years of insults and bullying, until at age fifteen he finally makes a friend, then faces a different kind of hatred. Suddenly he finds himself transitioning, and readers watch with breath suspended while the true nature of Monstrosity erupts everywhere and the thin veneer of civilized life is stripped away. Twists and unexpected complications ensue at breathtaking speed, finally subsiding in an absolutely perfect ending.
November 22, 2021
I have mixed feelings about The Boy with the Spider Face, which held my attention in its early stages, but I found myself with unsatisfactorily answered questions as the plot progressed. On one level, the story involves several big themes, including homophobia, racism and bullying, but the manner it is framed is preachy and rather heavy-handed. Readers do not need to have it spelt out that racism is bad or that homophobia is unacceptable, but this book seems to do this. On occasions, I was unsure whether this is aimed at adults or YA, as much of it has the maturity of a teen novel with a school-age protagonist until the ending, which is more adult orientated.
You can read Tony's full review at Horror DNA by clicking here.
You can read Tony's full review at Horror DNA by clicking here.
October 21, 2021
This short novella looks like it would be a creature feature but what it is, really, is a YA version of Metamorphosis that takes on both homophobia and racism. Quite a lot for such a brief story. Quite ambitious.
I'm not entirely sure it can be classed as YA, it certainly appears to have been intended as regular adult reading, but it does seem young. There are novels with young characters that read mature and there are those that read young and this is distinctly the latter. The writing is decent as is the final gory showdown. The middle is somewhat overwhelmed by the well-intentioned heavy-handed message.
Overall, a decent quick read (slightly uprated here) with an excellent cover. Out November 26th, but the publisher offered a preview copy, so many thanks for that. It's best suited for October reading anyway.
I'm not entirely sure it can be classed as YA, it certainly appears to have been intended as regular adult reading, but it does seem young. There are novels with young characters that read mature and there are those that read young and this is distinctly the latter. The writing is decent as is the final gory showdown. The middle is somewhat overwhelmed by the well-intentioned heavy-handed message.
Overall, a decent quick read (slightly uprated here) with an excellent cover. Out November 26th, but the publisher offered a preview copy, so many thanks for that. It's best suited for October reading anyway.
January 14, 2022
I really enjoyed this coming of age story about a boy with a spider face. I liked how the author intertwines issues like racism and sexuality into this book. I got a kick out of the gory moments and the ending was satisfying.
*Thank you to the publisher for an e-arc in exchange for my honest review.
*Thank you to the publisher for an e-arc in exchange for my honest review.
November 30, 2021
** Edited as review is now live on Kendall Reviews! **
Oftentimes I head into a book without having read the synopsis. I know that sounds odd if you’re someone who is meticulous about what they read, but occasionally, like this book, a book gets recommended to you by a few people and it gets offered up for review, so you get an ARC and dive in.
For me, personally, even if I’d read the synopsis I’d have come away with the same ultimate experience. Feeling underwhelmed. Feeling that there was so much potential that was squandered.
A shame, because this book, at its core, was sweet, caring and made me want to read it. But the lack of depth and fluff that seemed to occur really tossed a lot of the positive aspects under the bus.
What I liked: The story follows a kid with the face of a spider. Every other kid treats him like junk and calls him names. The adults are no better, with only one teacher who treats him with kindness and respect. One day, a new kid arrives and they immediately connect, neither caring about how each other is different. The new kid, Aarav is middle Eastern and this causes issues of its own.
I really enjoyed seeing Jeff and Aarav connect and develop this instant friendship. It actually really reminded me of how my nephew, Gabe, who has just entered high school, has now found a great friend. Gabe has high functioning autism and struggled to make any friends in elementary school. But now, in high school, with more kids who share his interests, he’s made a connection. It has warmed my heart, and reading how Jeff made this connection and how his mom was so excited, really was great.
I also really enjoyed seeing how Jeff’s teacher cared so much for his student and was willing to help answer any questions about Jeff’s differences.
What I didn’t like: As I mentioned, everything ultimately came off feeling underwhelming. It was a repetitive refrain to let the reader know that Jeff is different, that Aarav is different, that Aarav’s father thinks Aarav is ‘different’ and that Jeff needs to stay away. We even get Jeff’s dad losing his cool, flipping a table and yelling “no son of mine will be friends with a foreigner!”
I really wanted this to work, but we got no character development, no seeing how things were and how they could be better or could change if this and this were done. It was just rammed down our throats that they were different and that was bad. It all became a bit much.
Why you should buy this: For me, the story didn’t connect, but as I said before, I wanted to know what happened, wanted to see Jeff’s story through and I was glad I did. I don’t know if the ending/epilogue really worked for me personally, but I’m one reader. This may very well work for you and you’ll enjoy a coming-of-age story of a boy who has a spider face and finally meets a friend. I know that was the part of the story that worked best for me.
Oftentimes I head into a book without having read the synopsis. I know that sounds odd if you’re someone who is meticulous about what they read, but occasionally, like this book, a book gets recommended to you by a few people and it gets offered up for review, so you get an ARC and dive in.
For me, personally, even if I’d read the synopsis I’d have come away with the same ultimate experience. Feeling underwhelmed. Feeling that there was so much potential that was squandered.
A shame, because this book, at its core, was sweet, caring and made me want to read it. But the lack of depth and fluff that seemed to occur really tossed a lot of the positive aspects under the bus.
What I liked: The story follows a kid with the face of a spider. Every other kid treats him like junk and calls him names. The adults are no better, with only one teacher who treats him with kindness and respect. One day, a new kid arrives and they immediately connect, neither caring about how each other is different. The new kid, Aarav is middle Eastern and this causes issues of its own.
I really enjoyed seeing Jeff and Aarav connect and develop this instant friendship. It actually really reminded me of how my nephew, Gabe, who has just entered high school, has now found a great friend. Gabe has high functioning autism and struggled to make any friends in elementary school. But now, in high school, with more kids who share his interests, he’s made a connection. It has warmed my heart, and reading how Jeff made this connection and how his mom was so excited, really was great.
I also really enjoyed seeing how Jeff’s teacher cared so much for his student and was willing to help answer any questions about Jeff’s differences.
What I didn’t like: As I mentioned, everything ultimately came off feeling underwhelming. It was a repetitive refrain to let the reader know that Jeff is different, that Aarav is different, that Aarav’s father thinks Aarav is ‘different’ and that Jeff needs to stay away. We even get Jeff’s dad losing his cool, flipping a table and yelling “no son of mine will be friends with a foreigner!”
I really wanted this to work, but we got no character development, no seeing how things were and how they could be better or could change if this and this were done. It was just rammed down our throats that they were different and that was bad. It all became a bit much.
Why you should buy this: For me, the story didn’t connect, but as I said before, I wanted to know what happened, wanted to see Jeff’s story through and I was glad I did. I don’t know if the ending/epilogue really worked for me personally, but I’m one reader. This may very well work for you and you’ll enjoy a coming-of-age story of a boy who has a spider face and finally meets a friend. I know that was the part of the story that worked best for me.
November 24, 2021
This book starts off feeling like a YA horror story, but the final chapters are anything but. Great characters and a lesson in what happens when we treat people cruelly, they turn into the monster we think they are.
February 8, 2022
I adore spiders. I find them completely fascinating and terrifying, yet majestic in both appearance and action. My obsession has officially grown deeper after reading "The Boy With The Spider Face" by AJ Franks. A story of acceptance, revenge, and a plethora of body horror, this novella was a dream to read and by that I mean a nightmare that I want to have repeatedly. AJ Franks explores several very real social issues through the eyes of a phenomenal main character attempting to figure himself out, while surrounded with abhorrent characters who idolize their own ideas of "normal" and demonize anything outside of those created parameters while forming and maintaining divides. The pressure starts from the very first page and gradually builds until the reader is caught in a tight web, both begging for their life and dying to see what's waiting in the dark, knowing that the only relief is turning the page. Even the most modest of horror readers will find themselves rooting for the well written carnage made imperative to the story by a plot seeking to provoke and viciously bite. "The Boy With The Spider Face" won't ever let you forget.
Shout out to Felipe Kroll for the completely gnarly cover art. This has to be one of my favorite cover designs to date!
Thanks again to AJ Franks for writing one of the best novellas I've ever read, and even more thanks for giving your voice to LGBTQ+ characters. It truly feels amazing to experience this representation in the book world, even more so in the horror community! Thanks also goes to Crystal Lake Publishing for getting this title out to us creeps along with several other titles to manically consume!
Shout out to Felipe Kroll for the completely gnarly cover art. This has to be one of my favorite cover designs to date!
Thanks again to AJ Franks for writing one of the best novellas I've ever read, and even more thanks for giving your voice to LGBTQ+ characters. It truly feels amazing to experience this representation in the book world, even more so in the horror community! Thanks also goes to Crystal Lake Publishing for getting this title out to us creeps along with several other titles to manically consume!
June 2, 2022
I know I primarily review romance books that cover a wide spectrum but for those of you who don’t know I actually love horror novels! So breaking from my usual type of books her is my review for the novella, The Boy With the Spider Face by AJ Franks.
Firstly, the positives. I think the body horror is this story is really well done. Jeff, our MC, is a teenage boy who’s problems go beyond typical teenage issues of pimples and body odor. No, Jeff was born with half is face being that of spider’s. With that grotesque edition comes your typically bullying subplot. Over the course of the story we see Jeff become less teenage boy and more like the creature that’s always been lurking under his skin.
Now on to what I didn’t enjoy. The dialogue and writing style is stilted. This looks and feels like a debut novella and I understand the author trying to make an allegory between a boy’s budding sexuality and turning into a monster but it just felt lack luster. Intolerance is a big theme in this book and it feels as though the story is trying to be an after school special as well as a horror movie, a la The Fly, and fails on both accounts.
Firstly, the positives. I think the body horror is this story is really well done. Jeff, our MC, is a teenage boy who’s problems go beyond typical teenage issues of pimples and body odor. No, Jeff was born with half is face being that of spider’s. With that grotesque edition comes your typically bullying subplot. Over the course of the story we see Jeff become less teenage boy and more like the creature that’s always been lurking under his skin.
Now on to what I didn’t enjoy. The dialogue and writing style is stilted. This looks and feels like a debut novella and I understand the author trying to make an allegory between a boy’s budding sexuality and turning into a monster but it just felt lack luster. Intolerance is a big theme in this book and it feels as though the story is trying to be an after school special as well as a horror movie, a la The Fly, and fails on both accounts.
November 21, 2021
Fifteen-year-old Jeff Pritchet is made to feel like an outcast at school, called names, and bullied because he looks different when what he wants most in the world is to make a friend who likes him for who he is, both on the inside and out.
When Jeff meets the new student Aarav Jain, the two boys become friends, immediately giving Jeff hope that his life has finally changed for the better.
‘But as the boys grow closer, their deepening relationship becomes hijacked by a darkness Aarav can’t escape, and a life-altering secret Jeff can barely contain.’
THE BOY WITH THE SPIDER FACE is the first book that I have read by AJ Franks, and I can’t wait to read more.
TW/CW: Racism, Homophobia
Thank you, Crystal Lake Publishing, for providing me with an eBook of THE BOY WITH THE SPIDER FACE in a request for an honest review.
Scheduled For Release - November 26, 2021
When Jeff meets the new student Aarav Jain, the two boys become friends, immediately giving Jeff hope that his life has finally changed for the better.
‘But as the boys grow closer, their deepening relationship becomes hijacked by a darkness Aarav can’t escape, and a life-altering secret Jeff can barely contain.’
THE BOY WITH THE SPIDER FACE is the first book that I have read by AJ Franks, and I can’t wait to read more.
TW/CW: Racism, Homophobia
Thank you, Crystal Lake Publishing, for providing me with an eBook of THE BOY WITH THE SPIDER FACE in a request for an honest review.
Scheduled For Release - November 26, 2021
December 1, 2021
I felt there was a lot of missed potential with this one. The end was great, and was the kind of thing I’d been expecting with a book like this. I would have enjoyed it more if wish there was more of that throughout the book. Instead, I felt as if there were a lot of blatant messages being shoved in my face at every opportunity, which got old fast.
2.5 rounded up to 3. Maybe I’m being a little harsh, but I’m being honest in the hopes there’s something constructive here.
I received an ARC of this book
2.5 rounded up to 3. Maybe I’m being a little harsh, but I’m being honest in the hopes there’s something constructive here.
I received an ARC of this book
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 4, 2021
Video Review:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JKnRV...
3 1/2
Thanks Crystal Lake Publishing for an advanced copy to check out. My overall impressions, it wasn’t bad. I can say there really wasn’t anything too groundbreaking. There are several things I enjoyed, but a few places it fell a little flat. I felt a little underwhelmed at times.
The Boy With The Spider Face is a Sci-Fi Horror mixture. I think you can say even Dark Fantasy at times. And I think you can place it in the YA category considering our main character Jeff is a teenager, and he has a spider face.
The story explores Jeff’s acceptance, or lack of acceptance among not only his peers but his neighborhood. Jeff makes a friend with the new kid in school, Aarav. And one of the stronger plotlines in this book is watching Jeff’s and Aarav’s relationship grow. Watching it blossom. There is a bond between the 2, and it’s strong. It’s strong enough to withstand the fact that neither of their families want them to be associated with the other.
This is actually an area where I feel like the book could have really taken off, maybe get a little controversial, went a little deeper and compared the situation with the world in which we live in today. Jeff’s father refers to Aarav as a foreigner and doesn’t want Jeff to be around him. Aarav’s father says the words “Your kind” to Jeff and tells him to stay away from Aarav. There is a slight connection with today’s society and how people view other people based on looks and backgrounds, but it’s an area of the book I wished the writer hammered home, instead of just glossing over it. I’m not saying make it a full-blown political story, but maybe more expansion.
There is also a special strong relationship between Jeff and one of his teachers. It was nice to see a connection with an adult because you got the feeling Jeff’s parents were a bit disconnected from Jeff. Like they didn’t know how to treat him, because of his spider face.
The pacing is nice throughout, keeping a flow that will allow you to get through it in one sitting. I would have liked to of seen more layers to the over-all plot, making it more involved, thicker. But we basically get the story we have on the surface.
Fans of coming-of age stories and YA horror/sci-fi mixtures should enjoy it enough. The massacre closer to the end, although not very graphic, made up for some of the short comings.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JKnRV...
3 1/2
Thanks Crystal Lake Publishing for an advanced copy to check out. My overall impressions, it wasn’t bad. I can say there really wasn’t anything too groundbreaking. There are several things I enjoyed, but a few places it fell a little flat. I felt a little underwhelmed at times.
The Boy With The Spider Face is a Sci-Fi Horror mixture. I think you can say even Dark Fantasy at times. And I think you can place it in the YA category considering our main character Jeff is a teenager, and he has a spider face.
The story explores Jeff’s acceptance, or lack of acceptance among not only his peers but his neighborhood. Jeff makes a friend with the new kid in school, Aarav. And one of the stronger plotlines in this book is watching Jeff’s and Aarav’s relationship grow. Watching it blossom. There is a bond between the 2, and it’s strong. It’s strong enough to withstand the fact that neither of their families want them to be associated with the other.
This is actually an area where I feel like the book could have really taken off, maybe get a little controversial, went a little deeper and compared the situation with the world in which we live in today. Jeff’s father refers to Aarav as a foreigner and doesn’t want Jeff to be around him. Aarav’s father says the words “Your kind” to Jeff and tells him to stay away from Aarav. There is a slight connection with today’s society and how people view other people based on looks and backgrounds, but it’s an area of the book I wished the writer hammered home, instead of just glossing over it. I’m not saying make it a full-blown political story, but maybe more expansion.
There is also a special strong relationship between Jeff and one of his teachers. It was nice to see a connection with an adult because you got the feeling Jeff’s parents were a bit disconnected from Jeff. Like they didn’t know how to treat him, because of his spider face.
The pacing is nice throughout, keeping a flow that will allow you to get through it in one sitting. I would have liked to of seen more layers to the over-all plot, making it more involved, thicker. But we basically get the story we have on the surface.
Fans of coming-of age stories and YA horror/sci-fi mixtures should enjoy it enough. The massacre closer to the end, although not very graphic, made up for some of the short comings.
November 15, 2021
Thanks to Crystal Lake Publishing for an ARC of this terrific novella! Outstanding cover and a compelling story.
Reading this was sheer pleasure. Franks asks the reader to take a hard look at himself/herself and examine how we treat those who are different. It can happen that our own community turns out more monstrous than the so-called monsters. The themes of bullying, (homo)sexuality, and body transformation unfold all at once but never overwhelm the story. The plight of the protagonist, Jeff, the boy with the spider face, is keenly felt throughout the novella, reminding one of Gregor Samsa’s plight – but the ending is very, very different. This is a horror story, after all, and the last few pages, when Jeff struggles to adjust to his new condition and failing utterly, were a bit hard to read. The creepiness of the epilogue was very much appreciated though.
After this, I’ll be keeping an eye out for Franks. Looking forward to reading his next piece.
Reading this was sheer pleasure. Franks asks the reader to take a hard look at himself/herself and examine how we treat those who are different. It can happen that our own community turns out more monstrous than the so-called monsters. The themes of bullying, (homo)sexuality, and body transformation unfold all at once but never overwhelm the story. The plight of the protagonist, Jeff, the boy with the spider face, is keenly felt throughout the novella, reminding one of Gregor Samsa’s plight – but the ending is very, very different. This is a horror story, after all, and the last few pages, when Jeff struggles to adjust to his new condition and failing utterly, were a bit hard to read. The creepiness of the epilogue was very much appreciated though.
After this, I’ll be keeping an eye out for Franks. Looking forward to reading his next piece.
November 12, 2021
This book reads like a YA, which is no bad thing, and is still a very enjoyable read.
It's a coming of age story with a twist!
It follows a boy called Jeff, coming to term's with being very different to his peers. Not only does he have to go through the usual trials and tribulations of being a teenager, like sexuality, bullying, racism, but he has to deal with being part spider too! When Jeff gets angry or scared he realises his body starts to change, and it's scary, like puberty, but so much worse, until he finally becomes what he was always destined to be. But he feels like a monster and things take a dramatic and unexpected turn for the worse come the end.
The only thing that bugs me about this, is we don't find out why Jeff is like this in the first place!
All in all, a great read!
4/5 spooky spiders 🕷🕷🕷🕷
It's a coming of age story with a twist!
It follows a boy called Jeff, coming to term's with being very different to his peers. Not only does he have to go through the usual trials and tribulations of being a teenager, like sexuality, bullying, racism, but he has to deal with being part spider too! When Jeff gets angry or scared he realises his body starts to change, and it's scary, like puberty, but so much worse, until he finally becomes what he was always destined to be. But he feels like a monster and things take a dramatic and unexpected turn for the worse come the end.
The only thing that bugs me about this, is we don't find out why Jeff is like this in the first place!
All in all, a great read!
4/5 spooky spiders 🕷🕷🕷🕷
November 26, 2021
In The Boy with the Spider Face, AJ Franks finds a way to illustrate the tribalism of humanity, and its sometimes fatal consequences, that feels fresh with cozily relatable horrors.
Jeff is a young loner, an outcast. His lives a life of solitude with his periphery steeped in called-out jeers, poisonous glares, and a palpable fear radiating off his peers; both in school and the neighborhood through which he travels to get to and from campus. This may sound like something a lot of us can remember being privy to in our early-teenage years, in one way or another.
I myself was ridiculed to no end in grade school for my stylistic similarities to a certain 90s grunge idol who had an affinity for heroin. The kids in my grade school therefore assumed that my puke green cardigan was worn only to hide the track marks on my 14-year-old arms. Kids, dude. Brutal.
Jeff’s woes stem from something even more tangible and difficult to understand or change than thrift store garb: his entire face. He was born with the eyes, fangs, and facial demeanor or a spider. His body otherwise appears to be normal, at least for now. No one knows why, nor does anyone make any effort to understand him.
Jeff has lived his young life as an island. Until a student named Aarav moves to town and is seated next to Jeff in class. Aarav has lived a nomadic life with his family. A family who was originally from India, something Jeff’s community expresses a quick distrust and overall disapproval of. Aarav, knowing he’s likely to leave town any day, and having experienced the empty fear of being someone different from those around him, couldn’t give a hoot for any of Jeff’s arachnidan qualities. All he knows is that he’s enjoyed Jeff’s company since they met on his first day in class.
None of this broods well with their community, and as the dynamics unfold a tinderbox is ignited, fueled by nothing other than assumptions and fear. The book barrels down a path that harkens to the blood-thirsty mob at the end of Frankenstein or an Alt-Right rally. Which lights the fuse that’s been sitting inside Jeff’s coiled ambiance since birth. And things get bloody.
This book exhibits a strong cautionary tale of the human animal’s tendency to create allegiances based solely on manufactured enemies. Because nothing rallies the troops with more fervor than a perceived threat. Even when the only real threat is the idea that there’s any threat at all.
A very well-written story with characters who feel true and 3D, AJ Franks’ The Boy with the Spider Face has come out at the perfect time, when tribal speculations are at a roiling simmer, and threatening to boil over any day.
Jeff is a young loner, an outcast. His lives a life of solitude with his periphery steeped in called-out jeers, poisonous glares, and a palpable fear radiating off his peers; both in school and the neighborhood through which he travels to get to and from campus. This may sound like something a lot of us can remember being privy to in our early-teenage years, in one way or another.
I myself was ridiculed to no end in grade school for my stylistic similarities to a certain 90s grunge idol who had an affinity for heroin. The kids in my grade school therefore assumed that my puke green cardigan was worn only to hide the track marks on my 14-year-old arms. Kids, dude. Brutal.
Jeff’s woes stem from something even more tangible and difficult to understand or change than thrift store garb: his entire face. He was born with the eyes, fangs, and facial demeanor or a spider. His body otherwise appears to be normal, at least for now. No one knows why, nor does anyone make any effort to understand him.
Jeff has lived his young life as an island. Until a student named Aarav moves to town and is seated next to Jeff in class. Aarav has lived a nomadic life with his family. A family who was originally from India, something Jeff’s community expresses a quick distrust and overall disapproval of. Aarav, knowing he’s likely to leave town any day, and having experienced the empty fear of being someone different from those around him, couldn’t give a hoot for any of Jeff’s arachnidan qualities. All he knows is that he’s enjoyed Jeff’s company since they met on his first day in class.
None of this broods well with their community, and as the dynamics unfold a tinderbox is ignited, fueled by nothing other than assumptions and fear. The book barrels down a path that harkens to the blood-thirsty mob at the end of Frankenstein or an Alt-Right rally. Which lights the fuse that’s been sitting inside Jeff’s coiled ambiance since birth. And things get bloody.
This book exhibits a strong cautionary tale of the human animal’s tendency to create allegiances based solely on manufactured enemies. Because nothing rallies the troops with more fervor than a perceived threat. Even when the only real threat is the idea that there’s any threat at all.
A very well-written story with characters who feel true and 3D, AJ Franks’ The Boy with the Spider Face has come out at the perfect time, when tribal speculations are at a roiling simmer, and threatening to boil over any day.
January 12, 2023
I read the newsletter from Crystal Lake introducing author AJ Franks and knew that THE BOY WITH THE SPIDER FACE was a must for me. So, I bought and started reading it the same day.
You may call this horror, and I suppose it is. But it also a coming of age story. Get it, read it and think about it,
Damn good.
You may call this horror, and I suppose it is. But it also a coming of age story. Get it, read it and think about it,
Damn good.
October 27, 2021
My thanks to Crystal Lake Publishing - I read this as an advance copy.
The book pulled me in quickly. I haven't been in high school in a good many years, but social outcast feelings learned in that environment tend to stick around as memories - and I thought the story did a good job of reinforcing those memories. I developed fast empathy for the POV character (Jeff) and his plight at not only appearing wildly different from all of his fellow students, but also going through physical changes that seemed sure to drive an even larger wedge between him and them.
The first half of the story builds a compelling story: a social outcast bullied for his appearance, the discovery of an ally, budding romantic feelings - all things that add up to good YA fiction. The second half shifts everything into high gear, and characters feel as if they are acting out: unexpected racism, homophobia, and quickly escalating violence that erupts in a final bloodbath.
I'm left with mixed feelings. I found the horror elements as well-crafted as the setup, but the end result was losing my empathy for the protagonist - I liked the elements of the story, but less so the whole. While I might understand Jeff cracking under the pressure he was forced to endure, I also wanted some reason in the end to find him something more than a monster. Instead, it is a different character who travels that path from monster to redemption - and for him I felt no empathy at all.
The book pulled me in quickly. I haven't been in high school in a good many years, but social outcast feelings learned in that environment tend to stick around as memories - and I thought the story did a good job of reinforcing those memories. I developed fast empathy for the POV character (Jeff) and his plight at not only appearing wildly different from all of his fellow students, but also going through physical changes that seemed sure to drive an even larger wedge between him and them.
The first half of the story builds a compelling story: a social outcast bullied for his appearance, the discovery of an ally, budding romantic feelings - all things that add up to good YA fiction. The second half shifts everything into high gear, and characters feel as if they are acting out: unexpected racism, homophobia, and quickly escalating violence that erupts in a final bloodbath.
I'm left with mixed feelings. I found the horror elements as well-crafted as the setup, but the end result was losing my empathy for the protagonist - I liked the elements of the story, but less so the whole. While I might understand Jeff cracking under the pressure he was forced to endure, I also wanted some reason in the end to find him something more than a monster. Instead, it is a different character who travels that path from monster to redemption - and for him I felt no empathy at all.
November 19, 2021
On the surface, this book is a straightforward horror story. If you look deeper, however; it is an epistle about bullying and the angst of being fifteen and being different, and I mean way different, from everyone else. The author was, by his own admission, bullied when he was younger (full disclosure - so was I), so he would have first hand knowledge of what it is like to spend your days trying to avoid the people whose life's work is to dump misery onto your very soul.
So this brings us to Jeff, the protagonist in the story, who had the horrific misfortune to be born with the face of a spider. Imagine going to middle school with that albatross around your neck and you can understand why Jeff wants to stay in his room. One day he meets the new kid in school and gets his first friend. As you might suspect, things don't turn out as well as Jeff hoped.
This is a coming of age tale with a frightening twist. For a book aimed at younger readers, it is compelling. It makes its points without becoming preachy.
So this brings us to Jeff, the protagonist in the story, who had the horrific misfortune to be born with the face of a spider. Imagine going to middle school with that albatross around your neck and you can understand why Jeff wants to stay in his room. One day he meets the new kid in school and gets his first friend. As you might suspect, things don't turn out as well as Jeff hoped.
This is a coming of age tale with a frightening twist. For a book aimed at younger readers, it is compelling. It makes its points without becoming preachy.
October 25, 2021
As always, I need to thank Crystal Lake Publishing for the opportunity to receive an ARC of this forthcoming novella.
I honestly don't know where to start. I'm to understand that this is a YA novella, which means I was ready to read an story concerning "coming-of-age", dealing with puberty, etc. I wasn't prepared for everything thrown in; especially for such a short novella.
Franks has bullying, body change (puberty), homosexuality, parental rejection, a healthy dose of racism, and then, just because, a little nod to the negative effects of alcohol/drug usage. A very ambitious attempt, but I think it might have had more of an impact had the story been longer, or less thrown in.
I felt like the story got a little muddled and "preachy" - with more on revenge than any sort of acceptance or redemption.
I've never read anything by Franks, but I did enjoy his writing style, and will seek out more from him.
I honestly don't know where to start. I'm to understand that this is a YA novella, which means I was ready to read an story concerning "coming-of-age", dealing with puberty, etc. I wasn't prepared for everything thrown in; especially for such a short novella.
Franks has bullying, body change (puberty), homosexuality, parental rejection, a healthy dose of racism, and then, just because, a little nod to the negative effects of alcohol/drug usage. A very ambitious attempt, but I think it might have had more of an impact had the story been longer, or less thrown in.
I felt like the story got a little muddled and "preachy" - with more on revenge than any sort of acceptance or redemption.
I've never read anything by Franks, but I did enjoy his writing style, and will seek out more from him.
November 26, 2021
A teenage boy with the face of a spider makes for plenty of drama, especially when navigating the stress of high school. But when Jeff undergoes new arachnid transformations after being provoked and threatened, a new world of horror is unleashed upon his town.
The story owns its message of acceptance, reiterating throughout that being different is not bad. Though heavy-handed at times, it's an enjoyable read. The protagonist is one we can easily identify with, which makes his journey all the more terrifying. The power of emotions and self-discovery are on full display, and Franks shows just how dangerous they can be in one still learning to control them. In the end, it's a story of revenge, resulting from the hatred of those who fail to see the beauty in what makes being different so great.
The story owns its message of acceptance, reiterating throughout that being different is not bad. Though heavy-handed at times, it's an enjoyable read. The protagonist is one we can easily identify with, which makes his journey all the more terrifying. The power of emotions and self-discovery are on full display, and Franks shows just how dangerous they can be in one still learning to control them. In the end, it's a story of revenge, resulting from the hatred of those who fail to see the beauty in what makes being different so great.
October 27, 2021
I enjoyed reading this. I especially loved the creepy family dynamics and eerie neighbourhood, and found them really unsettling.
It did, however, tackle quite a lot of heavy themes, like racism and homophobia, which were perhaps a little too 'on the nose' at times. Some of this is probably intentional, as there are a couple of scenes in the story in which the overt prejudice seems absurd (having a spider face is fine, but being foreign isn't), and this absurdity is darkly funny. I didn't appreciate this on the first read-through.
It did, however, tackle quite a lot of heavy themes, like racism and homophobia, which were perhaps a little too 'on the nose' at times. Some of this is probably intentional, as there are a couple of scenes in the story in which the overt prejudice seems absurd (having a spider face is fine, but being foreign isn't), and this absurdity is darkly funny. I didn't appreciate this on the first read-through.
October 31, 2021
For everyone who ever felt a little different in high school, who was bullied, who never felt comfortable in their own skin.
Now imagine all that when part of your face is that of a spider. Imagine the normal changes to your body as a teen, and how much different they are when you're growing into something totally different.
I didn't expect to enjoy this book as much as I did. It was very well written and probably could find a home to those teens who struggle in their own skin and are viewed as different.
Now imagine all that when part of your face is that of a spider. Imagine the normal changes to your body as a teen, and how much different they are when you're growing into something totally different.
I didn't expect to enjoy this book as much as I did. It was very well written and probably could find a home to those teens who struggle in their own skin and are viewed as different.
November 26, 2021
Are monsters born, or created by their environment?
This is an emotions rollercoaster of a novella! I read a lot and usually skip novellas because I like things more fleshed out and if I like the characters I like to hang with them for awhile. The few novellas and short stories I do read, I rarely remember. But not this one. This one is gonna stick with me for a long time. I highly recommend it!
This is an emotions rollercoaster of a novella! I read a lot and usually skip novellas because I like things more fleshed out and if I like the characters I like to hang with them for awhile. The few novellas and short stories I do read, I rarely remember. But not this one. This one is gonna stick with me for a long time. I highly recommend it!
November 3, 2021
Wow! This starts off like a YA novel and morphs into a full-blown horror show. Lots of gore here. Kudos for tackling racism and homophobia and not settling for any easy resolutions. The final chapter was a surprise.
July 15, 2022
Starts off as a coming of age story dealing with an adolescent who is different and how he deals with it. And then it turns into a Carrie like revenge carnage story with lots of gore. Fun and different. Not for the faint of heart.
January 26, 2022
Thought there could have been a better ending.
April 2, 2022
Well that was bloody brilliant! Fun, heartbreaking, chilling and messed up - I am obsessed!
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