AUTHOR: Tony DiTerlizzi & Holly Black
AGES: 7 – 12 years old
REVIEW: I just finished all five of the original Spiderwick Chronicles, and I have to say that I was pretty impressed for such short books. These novels are quick reads and really targeted at second through fifth graders. So, the plot lines are pretty simple, and the language is very accessible for children. For a review of The Spiderwick Chronicles, see Blais' article for USA Today.
While many movie and books sites, such as Cleveland Free Times and About.com, will give you the synopsis of the storyline about faeries, hobgoblins, boggarts, gryphons, dragons and ogres, the main story of Spidewick as us to suspend our disbelief about the world of Fey. As we follow the children's introduction into the Faerie world, we are also initiated into the new world around us. With each book, we delve deeper into the fantastical world.
However, the most real aspect of this book is the much less obvious subplot about "bad dads." As soon as The Field Guide begins, we meet the Graces, who are recovering from the separation of mom and dad. In later installments, we come to understand that Aurthur Spiderwick became obsessed with his field guide and the world of Fey, which caused his disappearance and broke his family. Finally, in The Wrath of Mulgarath, we understand just how self-absorbed Mr. Grace is and how angry the children are at him for collapsing their family and sending them into this dangerous spiral of events.
I believe the books improve over the series. Mulgarath to me is the bes of the five. The action, setting descriptions and emotions are all best portrayed in this book. I would certainly recommend The Spiderwick Chronicles to anyone. They are certainly appropriate for the 7th through 5th grader, but I would encourage a teen to pick through them as well.
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