The Field Guide (The Spiderwick Chronicles, Book 1)

**This review was created for an assignment at Texas Woman's University**

Book Review: The Field Guide (The Spiderwick Chronicles, Book 1)

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY
DiTerlizzi, Tony & Black, Holly. 2003. THE FIELD GUIDE (THE SPIDERWICK CHRONICLES, BOOK ONE). New York: Simon and Schuster.
ISBN: 0689859368

2. PLOT SUMMARY
The Field Guide is the first book of five written about the Grace children, Mallory, Jared, and Simon and the Spiderwick Manor. The children have moved with their mother from New York City to their great-aunt Lucinda’s old Victorian home after their parents divorce. Strange and spooky occurrences begin in the home shortly upon their arrival. Jared hears a noise that sounds that make him think there might be a creature of sorts living inside the walls of the dilapidated home. The children are curious to find out more about where the sound is coming from.

Mallory cracks a hole in the wall and they discover evidence that some kind of animal or being is really living there. Jarod stumbles into a mysterious study that contains a trunk with a field guide inside which detailing the existence of fairies and other creatures at the Spiderwick manor. Strange things start happening in the Grace home as Jarod takes the blame for the unexplainable destruction. Book one ends abruptly with the appearance of a creature who tells the children to dispose of the book warning that harm may come to them. Readers will have to tune into book two to find out what happens to the Grace children.

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
DiTerlizzi and Black have created short and engaging work of fantasy that brings readers into a world of excitement and curiosity. The inclusion of boys and girls as the main characters in the story will make this book appealing to both genders. Mallory, Simon, and Jarod are all characters that students can relate to. They are playful, mischievous, and interested in finding out the unknown.

The plot of the story is outlined at the beginning of the book, and moves in a logical progression that young readers can follow. The style of writing in this book will hold the interest of readers with the anticipation that builds as Jarod ultimately discovers The Field Guide to the Spiderwick Manor and begins reading about creatures such as pixies, nixies, and boggarts.

The setting is well-detailed allowing readers to visualize the details of the home and it’s surroundings. The house was is described as looking as if, “… a dozen shacks had been piled on top of one another. There were several chimneys, and the whole things was topped off by a strop of iron fence sitting on the roof like a particularly garish hat,”

The language of the book includes vivid details of the home. When Mallory looks into the contents found inside of the wall the description is as follows, “Straight pins poked into the wooden beams on either side, making a strange upward-snaking line. A Doll’s head lolled in one corner. Dead cockroaches were strung up like garlands.” The drawings done by DiTerlizzi offer a form of visual appeal that also helps establish and enrich the setting and plot of the story.

The end of the book comes suddenly when the children receive a warning about the dangers that come with reading the book from a "mannikin the size of a pencil" who appears to them in manor library. He warns, “All who have kept it have come to harm.” The authors leave a lot of wondering up to the imagination of readers, which will surely be an appeal and a hook factor for students to explore the next book in the series.

4. REVIEW EXCERPT(S)
Publishers Weekly: “Appealing characters, well-measured suspense and an inviting package will lure readers on to The Seeing Stone.”

School Library Journal: “The fast, movie-like pace will grab young readers.”

5. CONNECTIONS:
*Students can discuss and write their own ending to the story and then compare their story with other classmates.
*Students can begin to predict what might happen to the Grace children in the second book.
*The second book in the series can be read following the first book to continue interest in the series.

AWARDS:
North Dakota Flicker Tale Award in the Intermediate Book Category
Colorado Children’s Choice Book Award
Pennsylvania Young Readers’ Award

Web Resources:
http://www.spiderwick.com/