Reviews: (by author)

(3 reviews)

DiTerlizzi, Tony, and Holly Black. The Spiderwick Chronicles: Book 1. New York: Simon and Schuster, 2003. $9.95. ISBN 0-689-85936-8. 107 pp.

Visit www.diterlizzi.com and www.blackholly.com.

Book 1, "The Field Guide," in The Spiderwick Chronicles is a fantasy-based novel about the children of the Grace family.   Mallory, Jared, Simon, and their mother just moved into their Aunt Lucinda's old Victorian house, and they begin to discover that it is inhabited by fairies.   Not long after their move, they first discover a nest in the walls and they disturb it.   Next, Jared discovers a field guide written by their late uncle, Arthur Spiderwick.   The guide includes information about the fairies present in the home, and ways to discover their presence.   Strange events begin to occur in the house; the Grace children later discover that the nest they discovered was that of a Boggart, a type of fairy.   Book 1 ends with them encountering the Boggart and realizing that their journey is just beginning.

Tony DiTerlizzi and Holly Black utilize simple language and detailed illustrations intriguing for any seven- to ten-year-old.   This first of five novels is a quick read that manages to keep your interest from start to finish.

DiTerlizzi and Black open the novel with two letters.   The first letter is to the reader explaining that the authors share a love for children's literature and the fairy world.   The second letter is said to have been written by the Grace children.   The letter was written to the authors asking for their story to be told, which is the basis of The Spiderwick Chronicles .  

Recommended
Whitney Kuroyama, May 2004

 

DiTerlizzi, Tony, and Holly Black . The Spiderwick Chronicles: Book 3. New York: Simon and Schuster, 2003. $9.95. ISBN 0-689-85938-4. 108 pp.

Book 3 in The Spiderwick Chronicles jumps right into the action.   The children wake up to find out that the house's water has been contaminated and tastes like poison.   Mallory and Simon are beginning to think that they should destroy the field guide, but Jared refuses to let that happen.   In hopes of getting all their questions answered, the children decide to have their mom take them to the home for mentally disturbed individuals to meet their aunt Lucinda.   Lucinda used to live in the house that the Grace family is now inhabiting.   When their mom leaves the room to talk with a nurse, the children immediately begin asking Lucinda about the fairy world.   The children discover that their aunt is not disturbed at all; people just did not believe her about the fairy world when she tried telling them.   After their visit, the children decide to follow a map that is in the field guide.   In the woods, they end up encountering elves who reveal that they captured their uncle Arthur, and he is still alive in a timeless world of theirs.   The book ends just like the previous two keeping you anxious to find out what will happen to the Grace children.

This book was well needed.   I think it was time to introduce another character, and aunt Lucinda is quite the character.   She brings much excitement and mystery to the story.   Again, the graphics in the book are perfect.   Lucinda's description is fully brought to life by the detailed graphics, and the elves are beautifully depicted.   DiTerlizzi and Black have a wonderful way of keeping the reader interested and intrigued with the plot.   The children's encounter with their aunt was one step closer to solving everything.   I cannot wait to see how it all ends!

Recommended
Whitney Kuroyama, June 2004

 

DiTerlizzi, Tony, and Holly Black. The Spiderwick Chronicles: Book 4. New York:Simon and Schuster, 2003. $9.95. ISBN 0-689-85939-2. 114 pp.

Book 4 is loaded with adventurous scenes.   The field guide is missing, and the Grace children are pretty sure that a fairy creature took it.   The house's contaminated water is killing all of the plants and animals all around.   This book introduces a shape-shifting character that has been imitating Jared at school and shows up at Mallory's first fencing match.   Jared sees the shape-shifter rummaging through Mallory's bag and cannot believe his eyes as he also watches his brother sit with his mom.   Jared and Simon realize soon after that their sister has been kidnapped.   Desperate and determined to rescue Mallory, the two boys enter another world located beneath a quarry through a series of clues.   In the otherworld, Jared and Simon find Mallory.   The creatures of the fairy world want to trade Mallory for the field guide, but the Grace children no longer have it.   The book leaves the reader with the thought that Mallory may be the new queen to this otherworld.

The details in this book are tastefully written.   The details are graphic enough to capture your imagination, yet they are not too much for a young reader.   This book involves the largest amount of fairy world characters so far.   These characters are very mystical and make this series so fantastic.   Like the previous three books, the ending leaves you in shock and completely excited about the next book.   I am dying to know how the series will be wrapped up in the last book.

Recommended
Whitney Kuroyama, June 2004

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