The Field Guide (The Spiderwick Chronicles, Book 1) by Holly Black Summary and Reviews
|
List Price: Our Price: $1.90 You Save: $9.09 (83%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Buy Used: from $0.01 (click here) Category: Book See more book details and other editions |
|---|
Book Reviews of The Field Guide (The Spiderwick Chronicles, Book 1)
Book Review: OK
Summary: 3 Stars
This book is OK but not anything fantastic. I recomend it to any fantasy reader. I bought this book and had never heard of It but I thought it would be good for me. And after reading the book I was comfortably happy with it.Book Review: Wonderful - Like a book from a Bygone Era
Summary: 5 Stars
The Spiderwick Chronicles are the most charming little books imaginable. There is something almost Victorian about the quality of their presentation. Beautifully designed covers, outstanding illustrations and a watercolour frontispiece piece all help conjure an aura of days gone by, when faeries were the standard reading matter for the young.The writing has a clarity that will suit young readers whilst not being overly simple for slightly older readers. The vocabulary is good, but not off-putting for those still feeling their way through books alone. Pages are small - less than half the amount of words per page found in a standard children's book, enabling younger readers to really feel that they're progressing.
Each book is divided into 7 chapters - making it ideal for a week of bedtime stories. Furthermore, what really makes these little books special is the stunning quality of the line illustrations. The artist dedicates his work to Arthur Rackham - and it is clear that Rackham has been his inspiration. There is hardly a double-page-spread without some little picture and there are plenty of highly detailed full page illustrations too - yet again making it perfect for bedtime reading.
Although the style of the books is intentionally retro, the story is anything but. The plot of the first book: 'The Field Guide' revolves around the three Grace children; nine-year-old twins Jared and Simon, and their older sister Mallory. They move into their Great Aunt Lucinda's derelict house - and soon discover that it is not quite as empty as they thought. While trying to trace the source of the mysterious noises within the walls, Jared discovers a strange hidden room in which he finds an old hand-written book belonging to his long-lost Uncle, Arthur Spiderwick, which contains the terrible truth about the faerie world. Once he opens it, his life will never be the same again.
This book is the first in a series of five. Although the stories revolve around the magical inhabitants of the faerie world - don't assume that these books are just for girls. Jared, the main character, is very much a boy - into fighting, getting expelled from school and generally being difficult! Even the faeries are not the twee Enid Blyton variety - neither are they the like the feisty gun-toting elves of the Artemis Fowl books. No, they seem much more realistic: Strange, magical, slightly dangerous and determined to stop at nothing to protect their world and reclaim Arthur Spiderwick's powerful book. Subsequent stories include a whole menagerie of mystical beasts, including: goblins, griffins, unicorns, boggarts, ogres, dwarves and elves. The Spiderwick story continues with: Book 2 - 'The Seeing Stone'
Book Review: For growing imaginations
Summary: 4 Stars
This first book of The Spiderwick Chronicles introduces young readers to the world of fantasy in a fun and easy to read format. It is written in simple language, and is short enough and exciting enough to hold the attention of even the most restless reader. The three main characters are the children of the Grace family, Jared, Simon and Mallory, who move into a dilapidated mansion, and stumble upon a world of magical folk.
With the aid of the Field Guide of the title, which Jared discovers after solving a riddle he finds in a secret room, they begin their adventures in the faerie world, realizing that they have just glimpsed the tip of the fantasy iceberg.
Though not a challenging read for older folk, this book provides good groundwork for future forays into the world of Narnia, Lemony Snicket and Artemis Fowl, though not necessarily in that order.
Magically lure your 6 to 10 year olds into the world of fantasy - get them The Spiderwick Chronicles today.
Amanda Richards
Book Review: The Field Giude (Spiderwick Chronicles)
Summary: 5 Stars
My seven year old son read this book and enjoyed every single word of it. He was so excited about what happened next we had to buy the next book immediately. I was intriqued so I read it too, and I could see why he enjoyed it so much. Although it is fantasy the children seem real in the way that they talk to one another. The characters are great and the drawings really help to bring it alive. Excellent book.Book Review: The Spiderwick Chronicles, book 1
Summary: 5 Stars
The Spiderwick Chronicles is a great series of five fantasy adventures featuring three normal kids, Jared, Simon and Mallory Grace and their adventures with all sorts of different creatures including elves, goblins, trolls, brownies and ogres. I thought this was a brilliant book and have now read the whole series. I am looking forward to more books coming out soon!