The Field Guide (The Spiderwick Chronicles, Book 1)

by Holly Black

Other authorsTony DiTerlizzi, Tony DiTerlizzi (Illustrator)

Hardcover, 2003

Status

Available

Series

The Spiderwick Chronicles (1)

Genres

Fantasy

All Topics

Fiction

Publication

Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers (2003), Edition: 1st, Hardcover, 107 pages

Description

When the Grace children go to stay at their Great Aunt Lucinda's worn Victorian house, they discover a field guide to fairies and other creatures and begin to have some unusual experiences.

User reviews

LibraryThing member xicanti

Three children move to a creepy new home.

I wanted to love this, but I just couldn't. It's got all the right ingredients, but there aren't enough of them. It's like someone's invited you to a really good supper, then served you teeny, tiny portions of dishes that vaguely resemble what you feel like

but don't really make the grade. And just when you're getting into the groove of the meal, just when you're starting to enjoy yourself after all, it ends.

Part of the problem is that the book is so durned short. The story's over as soon as it's begun. The authors do a pretty good job of showing the stages the children go through as they come to accept the new world unfolding around them, and they've done some decent things with the familial issues, but nothing goes deep enough. Ideas are introduced, expounded upon, and finished with in record time. Yes, I realize that it's a children's book, but I don't think that's any sort of excuse. Just look at all the amazing children's lit that's out there right now. This one doesn't really stack up.

And WHERE, may I ask, are all the faeries? They're in rather short supply for a book that's marketed as a creepy faerie story.

But maybe the next few books add more to the story. I might pick 'em up if I happen to be having a dry couple of weeks, but I can't say as they're a priority right now. I was pretty disappointed with this. I do seem to be in the minority, though, so perhaps it'd be worth reading just to see what you think of it.

(A slightly different version of this review originally appeared on my blog, Stella Matutina).

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24 more

LibraryThing member Smiler69

The Grace children; Mallory, 13; twins Jared and Simon, 9, and their mother, recently divorced, move into a dilapidated old victorian house. On the first night, Jared hears some strange rustling sounds in the walls. When he goes investigating, he discovers a book of faeries hidden in the attic,

though no one believes him when strange and unpleasant things start happening that it's one of the creatures described in the book, and not he, that is responsible for the evil tricks. A very fun beginning to a series of short and sweet books illustrated in pen and ink I discovered, when looking up illustrator Tony DiTerlizzi at the library.

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LibraryThing member lisa211

Well.. I saw this book while shopping and it caught my eye, but I couldn't bear to buy it since it is pretty much a children's book and I was shy. A friend lent it to me

LibraryThing member amf0001

I read this so I could discuss it with my son, who loves it. Sweet and simple, with uncloying characters. Jared, a twin, is getting into trouble but it's not his fault, it's the boggles. Jared discovers a secret room with magic books and he and his twin brother Simon and older sister Mallory delve

into its mysteries. It really is a children's book (unlike the far too complex Harry Potter) which my 10 yo can read and delight in.

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LibraryThing member zodox5

It's a fantastic book about two boy's that find something in a wall and a book!

LibraryThing member raeoh7

This book is series it goes until book5. When I read it, it was just shooting to my head. This story is fiction and it is fantasy and adventure so it made me curious so that made me to read a lot more. this book is really addicting! Please Try!!!~!~~

LibraryThing member Brandie

My 8 year old loved it so much we read it in one day! My 5 year old liked it too, but she flitted in out of the room more - which is fine, it's not really a 5 year old book. We are so excited about these books. I may have to buy them to have them in our house permanently! We checked all five out at

once so we could read the entire series straight through!

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LibraryThing member klarsenmd

This was a great quick but fun kids book. It leaves the ending open to continue with the story. Great for middle grade school kids.

LibraryThing member burningtodd

This is an interesting book. Similar to "A Series of Unfortunate Events" in style and copy, this book none the less tells an interesting story. This is the first book of the series about the Grace family and how when they move into a new home, they discover that they are not alone. Their world is

inhabited by Brownies, Bogarts, Trolls and other Fae folk who seem poised to torment the children all because they have been discovered. This is a delightful and quick read.

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LibraryThing member tjsjohanna

I feel like this was hardly begun before the book was over!! Now I'll have to read all the rest of the books to know what happens. Beautiful illustrations. I'm guessing this will join my physical library soon.

LibraryThing member TofuMoisturizer

This is a wonderful and imaginative series of books. The first book begins with the Grace children moving to an old Victorian home in the north east with their mother. Once there they all discover a fantastic mystery of a world behind the veil, which sets the premise for the rest of the series.
All

three children are easy to relate to and each have a unique quality about them.
This series is wonderful for children because it opens their eyes and imaginations to new possibilities. It may even do the same for those adults who read it!

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LibraryThing member mchrissanti

Jared, Simon, and Mallory Grace have just moved into an old house that once belonged to their crazy aunt. They find a book that contains information of faeries and they've just discovered that living with them is a boggart. This is just the beginning of an adventurer for the three siblings.

LibraryThing member macfly_17

I enjoyed this book about twins Jared and Simon and their older sister Mallory. They move into a spooky old house and discover that is is already occupied by a mean faerie. This book is about their adventures and discoveries in the new house up to the point where they meet this faerie.

LibraryThing member wstull

first Jared Grace moves to a there ant's old house. then they acedentaly destroyed a animal nest. Later that night Mallory(Jareds sister) woke up with her hair tied to her bed. When there mom was gone they found this secret library with a hidden door. Later jared found a book in the addic that

tells about boogarts, and if you wrek your home they will go crazy. He told Mallory and finally they belived him so they made the boggort a new house. The boggort loved it and told Jared get rid of that book or they will be coming after you.

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LibraryThing member imagrtdnlvr

This modern fantasy book is about the Grace children; Mallory, Jared, and Simon. Jared and Simon are identical twins with different personalities. Jared discovers a field guide that was written by his great aunt's father, Arthur Spiderwick. Discovering this field guide opens up a whole new world

for the Grace children.

This is the first book of five and was also turned into a movie. My oldest son loved the movie, but I have enjoyed reading the series. I love the unique details that have been put in the book, including the tattered pages and cover. I used this book for my third hour of reading and the students really enjoyed the pictures and story.

As an extension, I would have the students create drawings of how they think the creatures looked, along with a description of their personalities. I would show the movie in class and then have the students compare/contrast the book and movie. I would include this series in a weekly reading to the students and also use it as an introduction of poems. One of the creatures, a mannikin by the name of Thimbletack, talks and writes in riddles and poems.

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LibraryThing member mtrudell

The Field Guide is the first volume in The Spiderwick Chronicles. Nine year old twin brothers Jared and Simon move to a strange new house, far from the city, with their mother and thirteen year old sister Mallory. When the kids start exploring their new home they find a dumbwaiter, disturb the nest

of a mischievous boggart, and discover a spooky attic room once used by their relative, Arthur Spiderwick. This attic library houses one very special book, Arthur Spiderwick's Field Guide to the Fantastical World Around You, which opens a door to a mystical realm they may not be ready for.

This book has the special ability to be completely fantastical and yet wonderfully real at the same time. It's written in a way which could be enjoyed by both older and younger children; easy to read without being too simple. I found the illustrations a little distracting, and they tended to change how I imagined the book. The plot is quick and witty, the relationships between the siblings are funny and honest, and I look forward to picking up the next volume in this series.

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LibraryThing member storybook2

Delightfully more enjoyable than expected. Some failures in terms of plot progression, but Jared adequately created to represent the boy who gets all the blame but whom elicits empathy and sympathy from the reader. Note dedication to Arthur Rackham

LibraryThing member StefanY

I wasn't too sure what I was getting into when I started this book and I must say that I was much more than pleasantly surprised. The story centers on a mother and her three children, a set of twins and their older sister, who have just moved into the old dilapidated house that has been in the

family for years. Very soon after moving in, strange occurrences begin to happen and the children dedicate themselves to solving the mystery.

This is a well written introduction to the series and the style and illustrations really add to the feel of the story. The characters are likable and there are a few minor twists and turns that keep things interesting. This isn't a very long book so naturally it didn't take too long to read, that being said however, I did find it difficult to put down. I think that kids of all ages would be able to follow the story and enjoy solving the mystery along with the children in the story. It was an enjoyable read and I am looking forward to book 2 once I purchase it.

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LibraryThing member tapestry100

The Field Guide, the first book in Holly Black and Tony DiTerlizzi's The Spiderwick Chronicles, does a good job of setting up the main characters and plot ideas that the rest of the series will be built on. There are just enough answers given and just enough new questions revealed to want to draw

you in to the rest of the series.

The Chronicles follow the adventures of the Grace children after they discover their great uncle's Field Guide to the Fantastical World Around You, a map to the creatures and wonder of the land of Faerie. They are warned of the troubles that can come to them if they continue reading the book, but like most children, they can't help themselves.

Not a challenging read, but a fun one. The illustrations throughout by Tony DiTerlizzi are amazing and really add to the depth of the story. This would be a great book for any kids interested in Faerie or fantasy.

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LibraryThing member debnance

Another series that was recommended by Grow-a-Reader Boxers. A bit mysterious. A bit about fairies. A little scary. Perfect for kids.

LibraryThing member Sclarke23

This book is about twin brothers named Jared and Simon Grace, and their older sister Mallory. Their parent’s gout a divorce and they had to move with their mother to a decaying Victorian house. There they discover a secret room, and clues which eventually lead them to an old, handwritten and

illustrated book, called “Spider wick’s Field Guide to the Fantastical World Around You”.
The book is filled with details about faeries, boggarts, brownies and at first only Jared is interested, but strange and destructive things are start happening around the house. Jared’s mother blames him for the thinks that are happening but his sidling don’t think
I loved this book because it lets the student use their imagination. I also liked this book because at the end it gave you a moral that the students can live by. The illustrations in the book were great because it gave a face to the characters and one of the monsters.
A great class assignment would be to have the students write what they thing is going to happen the next spider wick Chronicle book.

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LibraryThing member mysteena

I read the series to the boys and we all just love them. Great story, great writing and amazing art.

LibraryThing member mysteena

I read the series to the boys and we all just love them. Great story, great writing and amazing art.

LibraryThing member drebbles

After their parents divorce, Jared Grace, his twin brother Simon, their older sister Mallory, and their mother move into their great-aunt Lucinda's run down house. People think Aunt Lucinda is crazy because she insists that little men bring her food. But soon the Grace children are discovering

mysterious things in the house including nests built into the wall, a secret room, and a puzzling letter. When pranks are pulled everyone think it's Jared acting out and he tries to convince his family that he's not the culprit. Soon the Grace children find out the house is more mysterious than any of them realized.

"The Field Guide", the first book in "The Spiderwick Chronicles", is a delightful fantasy. It is aimed at children seven and up but readers of all ages will enjoy it. The idea of an old house filled with secret rooms and fantasy creatures will delight young children. The book isn't all fun and games - the divorce has hurt the whole family and is treated realistically in the book, especially the reaction of the children who have had to switch schools and the mother's worrying about money. All of the children are well written and well developed, especially Jared from whose viewpoint the story is told. Jared took the divorce especially hard, getting into fights at school and is blamed for being the mischief-maker when things start happening around the house. The relationship between the three children is well done - they love each other, but still have their petty fights. The illustrations in the book are wonderfully done.

"The Spiderwick Chronicles" was originally designed as a five book series, although the authors have started a "Beyond the Spiderwick Chronicles" series. The next book in the first series is The Spiderwick Chronicles (The Seeing Stone, Volume 2). Enjoy!

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LibraryThing member elizabethholloway

The Field Guide is the first book in DiTerrlizi and Black's series, The Spiderwick Chronicles. In this book, the Grace siblings and their mom move into their crazy aunt's broken down old house. There are tensions within the family: the parents are separated. Jared, one of the twin boys, has been

particularly affected: he was kicked out of school for aggressive behavior. Their first night, the children hear strange noises in the wall and decide to try to capture what they think is a squirrel. Malory, the oldest, breaks a hole in the wall where the find a strange collection of items: torn strips of cloth, pieces of mirror, a doll's head. The next strange intelligence they gather on the house is when they send Jared up in the dumbwaiter where he discovers a secret room and clues that lead to a secret book; Arthur Spiderwick's Field Guide to the Fantastical World Around You. This book, which describes a variety of faries, offers an explanation for the strange things that keep happening in their house and perhaps to their aunt's rantings.

The book successfully weaves fantasy elements with realistic ones. The children are understandably skeptical of the book. Other explanations of what could be fairy behavior are pursued and discarded. They plan to keep their new found knowledge within the realm of childhood: they do not plan to tell their mother. Moreover, the rules the authors establish about fairies are consistently followed, giving the story logic and credibility. The realistic elements are also compelling. because of Jared's earlier issues, he is blamed for these strange events. Discovering the fairies is only way to get Jared out of trouble. This story has elements are fantasy, adventure, and coming of age. The illustrations are engaging and add context for the reader. The only draw back to the book is that the end really is just a cliffhanger to read the next book. The ending is not satisfying and requires reading the next book. This novel would be appropriate for grades 2 through 7.

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