Rating: 
Summary: More Junk Food!
Review: If only the text delivered what the luscious illustrations in this book promise! Everyone in our library who saw this book wanted to read it, the pictures and cover are so enticing. However, after reading it I felt like I'd just been served a Big Mac by Julia Child, completely disillusioned. Perhaps the characters are developed in the earlier books, but they ring hollow in this installment; they are as flat as paper dolls and the author resorts to a tired, old vision of the protagonist as Snow White. The 3 kids, who have discovered a 'Faerie Field Guide' that is a hot commodity in Faerieland face off with some nasty goblins and dwarves. The plot is all too predictable and yet we are left hanging in the air at the end of the book, presumably a tactic to sell the 5th book in the series. This series might be fine for elementary-aged kids, if it wasn't for the scary scenes. Surprisingly, the scare isn't from the goblins or other monsters, but from the way the mother of these kids fails to believe and/or protect them. The series is dark like Lemony Snicket and The Awful End, but without the parody and fun the other 2 series offer readers.
Rating: 
Summary: Dwarves, Goblins, and the Not-Jared
Review: It's Mallorys first fencing match and she is extremely nevous. Jared, Simon, and their mother go to cheer her and her team on. Jared finds himself rumaging though Mallory's bag. He draws a knife to the Not - Jared, a farie copy of himself, just as the principle shows up. When the principle sees Jared holding the knife up to the Not - Jared, it's not the Not - Jared that she sees. Instead, she sees a terribly frightend little boy. Then Mallory goes missing, and that begins a chapter called IN WHICH SIMON SOLVES A RIDDLE. Then Jared trades his mathbook for his sister, and the dwarf king says, "you traded for your sister - not your own freedom." Then the big goblin/ ogre has a meeting with the dwarves - which causes the book to have a wonderful yet terrible ending.
Rating:
Summary: A gripping adventure
Review: Mallory is facing her first real fencing challenge since the Grace family came to the Spiderwick Estate, and the twins and Mrs. Grace are going to her school to support her. Nothing strange has happened to the Grace children, and their uncle's "Arthur Spiderwick's Field Guide to the Fantastical World Around You" is still missing. Perhaps the attacks on them by the creatures of the Faerie world have stopped for good. In fact, things have been so quiet that it almost seems as if none of their previous adventures happened at all. Except of course that they have a griffin in their garage still recuperating from an encounter with some goblins. Then the nightmare begins, and it is so strange that Jared wonders if he's losing his mind. While the fencing duels are taking place, Jared observes a boy rummaging through Mallory's bag. On closer inspection he sees that the boy looks like Simon and yet "his" Simon is still sitting in the stands with their mother watching the fencing. Are there now two Simons? Jared goes to investigate and comes face-to-face not with a copy of Simon but with a copy of himself. And yet this duplicate is malevolent and clearly something from the Faerie world. Jared pulls out his knife in self-defense --- just as the Principal arrives. The Faerie creature, or shape-shifter, has in the meantime changed into a sorry looking little boy with blond hair. Now, all that the Principal sees is Jared threatening a terrified child. Jared is in the soup again and this time he knows he is in real trouble. Then, to add to this already unpleasant situation, the twins discover that Mallory is missing. Clues that they find and an ominous message written on a rock that says "TRADE" make it clear that Mallory has been abducted by the Faerie creatures and that they will have to trade the Guide for Mallory in order to get her back. There is a problem, however: the Grace twins don't have the guide anymore. The boys remember that the map they found some time ago said that dwarves lived in the quarry that lies near the Spiderwick Estate. They are sure that the rock with the message on it was from the quarry as well. Clearly this is where they have to go to find Mallory. What follows is a frightening and remarkable adventure in the world of the dwarves, under the ground and far from the reassuring light of day. Once again Tony DiTerlizzi and Holly Black have produced a gripping, somewhat scary, story in their series about Mallory, Jared and Simon Grace. Wonderfully paced, and with new insights into the character of Jared, THE IRONWOOD TREE is hard to put down once one has begun to read it. At the end we are left hanging and with a definite understanding of what the Faerie creatures want. Unfortunately for the Grace children, this desire sounds decidedly unpleasant. (...)
Rating:
Summary: The Ironwood Tree (Book 4)
Review: Mallory, Jared, and Simon are back in the fourth installment of "The Spiderwick Chronicles".
Things aren't as they seem when the children are at school, watching Mallory in her fencing competition. In this book, they encounter: a new shape-shifter (or is it?), another kidnapping, a world of "metal", and some little people who want the same thing that everyone ELSE wants - The Field Guide.
This book is building up to the climax "The Wrath Of Mulgarath". I think, all in all, this book ended at a very good spot, because it leaves off RIGHT where the 5th book begins (I've started reading book 5 already). So, take my word for it - the story continues with NO extended time inbetween.
The illustrations are really great in this fourth book. I loved the pictures of all the "metal" world in the Quarry. Very imaginative.
This book doesn't take long to read (like the others), but goes at just the right pace to keep you turning the pages. I actually read this in one day (not at one sitting though).
I think this series is great for anybody who wants to take a trip away from reality. I'm 27, and I really enjoyed this series, and I've recommended it to my friends as well. Take a chance, and read these books!
Rating:
Summary: 500 STARS!
Review: The Spiderwick Chronicles is an aspiring series for children with big imaginations. However, this book is a disappointment. I tried to read it with my kids as they love "The Spiderwick Chronicles" but several parts left my youngest daughter with nightmares. None of the other books ever gave her dreams.
If you like, you can skip this book and go cruising on to Book 5. You're not missing much.
Rating:
Summary: Leading up to an exciting ending
Review: This is an excellent book that is leading up to an exciting last book. I'm looking forward to the ending. It's nice to see what lengths the boys will go to to save their sister, even if it means Jared getting in worse trouble with his mother (which he only got into in the first place trying to stop someone from stealing from Mallory). Excellent book!
Rating:
Summary: MORE SPiderwick please!
Review: This is my favorite spiderwick book so far and I can't wait to read the next one. I wish it wasn't the last one. I love all of the creatures and the dwarves are so cool. These books are great adventures and I want more of them.
What is going to happen next to the Grace kids? I love the drawings and the letter from Jared's school.This is my favorite series ever!
Rating:
Summary: The Spiderwick Chronicles
Review: this series of books is amazing i am 13 year olds and i love it once you read the first page you go to another world of fantasy and go crazy with all the things in the book I really,really recomend it. yesterdsay i read the first page and I got involved in to page 50 and if it wasn't for my mom I would have already finished it. (...)
Rating: 
Summary: going strong and holding the suspense...
Review: Well, I bought it the second day it was released and had it finished, in a few hours. That's the great thing if you have a few hours you've finished the book, that's also the sad thing... now I have to wait for book 5 til Sept. This series is fun and charming and exciting, regaurdless your age. I teach school and don't always make time for myself. These books are perfect fits into a hectic day and the small amounts of time I save for myself. Since that time is cherished I like making the most of it and Spiderwick books fit into my precious time ... so they have to be good for me, to recommend them. Grandma's do you want a fun read that is as exciting as Harry Potter, that will impress your grandkids and help them remember your activities, something you can do in a few short hours together. This is it! Excited Teacher in Nevada
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