The Spiderwick Chronicles Book One The Field Guide Book Summary

The Spiderwick Chronicles: The Field Guide (Book One)
By: Holly Black and Tony DiTerlizzi
Publisher: Simon &Schuster Books For Young Readers; 2003
Reading Level: ~ 9-12 yrs
Number of Pages: 107
Genre: Fantasy
Summary: The Grace children and their mother move into their great aunt Lucinda's old house after the divorce. It is a scary old house and the kids think they hear a squirrel in the walls. they find this animal's nest in the wall and a dumbwaiter that goes to a secret room. In this room Jared Grace finds a "field guide" about the "fantastical world around you". It has information on tons of different faeries and their world. The kids meet the house brownie named Thimbletack who turns to a boggart when he gets angry (this was the "squirrel"). He tells them that they need to destroy the book and get rid of it, that it's not safe for them to have it. To find out what happens next you must read book two.
Problems: Mythical creatures and stick situations. Could be a little scary depending on the child.
Reaction: I LOVE SPIDERWICK! I found the story very appealing and very interesting. These books will definitely be in my collection when I have children!
Recommendation: I would recommend to young readers to get them reading more. These books aren't really stand alone books. the problem is never solved in one book. They could easily have been put into one book and read as parts, but I think it was done the way it was done to get kids reading more and have that sense of accomplishment finishing a book and reading and finishing the next and so on. I even think that older kids in like middle school would enjoy these books as well.