THE SPIDER LADY

A self-taught scientist rose to the challenge when World War II increased demand for spider silk.

Klostermann describes how a botanist neighbor encouraged young Nan Songer to pursue her deep interest in bugs—and spiders. Nan brought live specimens into her bedroom and, later, as an adult, into her whole home to study. When she learned that spider silk was used for crosshairs in surveying scopes, she wondered whether she could make a career selling silk and set out to experiment. Using hairpins and parts from an eggbeater and a toy train, she figured out how to extract the fine filaments. Further questions, and research, followed. Then war broke out. Spider silk was needed to create crosshairs for weapons. Soon thousands of spiders were living, and spinning, in her home! She needed to study the specific silk each species produced to determine which was best for crosshairs. Some problems seemed insurmountable, but she solved them with patience and ingenuity. Sidebars provide information on arachnids and identify the species Nan raised. Klostermann’s brief, engrossing text eschews typical biographical information (Nan’s birthplace, education), focusing instead on her subject’s fascinating work. Lambelet’s meticulously detailed sepia and teal art vividly depicts Nan in pursuit of her passionate vocation.

Weaves an impressive story of arachnid and human accomplishment.