Entries Tagged '2.5-3 Treasure Chests' ↓
April 24th, 2010 — 2.5-3 Treasure Chests, A-C, Action & Adventure, D-F, Fantasy, YA Genre
by First Mate Keira, guest reviewer
Title: The Ironwood Tree (Book 4: The Spiderwick Chronicles)
Author: Tony Diterlizzi and Holly Black
Format: Hardcover
# of pages: 108
Grade Reading Level: Ages 9-12
Summary: At Mallory’s fencing competition, Jared spies a girl trying to break into his sister’s backpack. When corning the girl, Jared discovers that the girl is fey when she first shapeshifts into Jared’s triplet and then into a young boy. But cornering a shapeshifting fey is not a smart idea as the adults see only what they want to see which leads to Jared’s expulsion. While Simon tries to stand up for him, Mallory is tricked and kidnapped. Will the Jared and Simon be able to save their sister?
Why I Started the Book:
I wanted to finish the Spiderwick Chronicles so I grabbed the two remaining novels. There’s only five in total before the series stops following the Grace children and moves in another direction.
Likes:
- The dwarves are master metalsmiths. What they can do with metal humans can only dream of and they’re very painstaking with their efforts so that every little thing is perfect. They take much pride in their work which is their downfall.
- The metal tree underground in the dwarves’ kingdom (otherwise known as the ironwood tree) and the metal dogs. The illustrations and depictions were great.
- The Knocker that they meet underground during their escape has a feel of Gollum from Lord of the Rings, but without the whole creepy Precious aspect. Luckily, he’s helpful and can hear what stones speak.
Dislikes:
- Mulgarath’s casual genocide of the dwarves when he discovers they’ve been tricked by Jared and Simon and don’t have the Field Guide. He orders the goblins do all the killing. Afterward Mulgarath reveals that he had the guide the whole time. Why would he do that? Hopefully it’s revealed in the next book.
- When the Grace children return home they find their mother has been kidnapped and that Hogsqueal helped. Hogsqueal is now looking like a nefarious character, but he swears he had no choice that it was join or die.
Buy: The Ironwood Tree (The Spiderwick Chronicles, Book 4)
, The Spiderwick Chronicles (Boxed Set; Books 1-5)
Book Rating: 3 Treasure Chests
Keira runs a book review blog for readers by readers on romance novels entitled Love Romance Passion. She’s been reading romance since she was in her teens and began blogging about romance so she could share her passion for her favorite genre. She loves reading paranormal, Regency, historical America, and highlander most of all and completely adores blind and wounded heroes.
Originally posted 2009-12-24 03:42:32.
Online Stores
April 23rd, 2010 — 2.5-3 Treasure Chests, A-C, Action & Adventure, D-F, Fantasy, Guest Review, YA Genre
by First Mate Keira, guest reviewer
Title: Lucinda's Secret (Book 3: The Spiderwick Chronicles)
Author: Tony Diterlizzi and Holly Black
Format: Hardcover
# of pages: 108
Grade Reading Level: Ages 9-12
Summary: Thimbletack has stolen the Field Guide (or so the Grace children believe) and they want it back. However they are not the only ones who want it --- goblins, elves, ogres want it too just to name a few. Whatever will they do?
Why I Started the Book:
This is the last of the Spiderwick books I got at the library. I will need to get more so I can continue the story. They’re still too short, but the illustrations more than make up for it.
Likes:
- The phooka – a half rabbit and monkey creature. It reminds me of the Cheshire Cat in Alice Wonderland.
- All the Little People speak in rhyme which at a quick reading can be tricky to make anything of and leave one a little confused. I like it though and think it’s part of the charm of this series.
Dislikes:
- Crazy Aunt Lucinda might not be so crazy, she’s the only adult that we know of who would believe the Grace children about the fairies because she made friends with some of them, but she certainly isn’t a character who makes a difference to the story. At least not yet.
- The kids barely escape entrapment by the elves. They want the book and they are not above holding hostages to get it. The elves are supposed to come across noble and sinister at the same time and I'm not so sure it works here.
Buy: Lucinda's Secret (Spiderwick Chronicles, Book 3), The Spiderwick Chronicles (Boxed Set; Books 1-5)
Book Rating: 3 Treasure Chests
Keira runs a book review blog for readers by readers on romance novels entitled Love Romance Passion. She’s been reading romance since she was in her teens and began blogging about romance so she could share her passion for her favorite genre. She loves reading paranormal, Regency, historical America, and highlander most of all and completely adores blind and wounded heroes.
Originally posted 2009-12-23 03:39:48.
Online Stores
April 22nd, 2010 — 2.5-3 Treasure Chests, A-C, Action & Adventure, D-F, Fantasy, Guest Review, YA Genre
by First Mate Keira, guest reviewer
Title: The Seeing Stone (Book 2: The Spiderwick Chronicles)
Author: Tony Diterlizzi and Holly Black
Format: Hardcover
# of pages: 109
Grade Reading Level: Ages 9-12
Summary: When Simon is captured by goblins, Jared and Mallory must find a way to get him back. Thimbletack knows what to do but he’ll only rhyme and give clues. Angry, Jared attacks Thimbletack and gets the seeing stone. Suddenly all things fey come to light!
Why I Started the Book:
I got three Spiderwick novels at once so I could read them back to back. This is book number two.
Likes:
- The goblin species – part frog in appearance with wicked looking teeth that are not their own.
- Hogsqueal, the hobgoblin. His spit allows the Grace children to see the fantasy kingdom right under their nose.
- The troll in the lake. Good thing he’s not very smart or the kids would be in serious trouble.
Dislikes:
- Tibbs getting eaten. Poor cat! How gruesome!
- Thimbletack the brownie/boggart is one wicked little creature who makes a lot of mischief. I’m not sure he’ll stay as a dislike as I read more of the books, we’ll just have to wait and see what he does.
Buy: The Seeing Stone (The Spiderwick Chronicles, Book 2)
, The Spiderwick Chronicles (Boxed Set; Books 1-5)
Book Rating: 3 Treasure Chests
Keira runs a book review blog for readers by readers on romance novels entitled Love Romance Passion. She’s been reading romance since she was in her teens and began blogging about romance so she could share her passion for her favorite genre. She loves reading paranormal, Regency, historical America, and highlander most of all and completely adores blind and wounded heroes.
Originally posted 2009-12-22 03:46:39.
Online Stores
April 21st, 2010 — 2.5-3 Treasure Chests, A-C, Action & Adventure, D-F, Fantasy, Guest Review, YA Genre
by First Mate Keira, guest reviewer
Title: The Field Guide (Book 1: The Spiderwick Chronicles)
Author: Tony Diterlizzi and Holly Black
Format: Hardcover
# of pages: 107
Grade Reading Level: Ages 9-12
Summary: The Grace children are moving into their crazy aunt’s ramshackle house. It’s so rundown it’s practically falling apart. Of the three, Jared is having the most trouble coping with their parent’s divorce and their father leaving them. When strange and malicious things happen to Mallory and Simon, their mother blames Jared, but he didn’t do it! So… who did?
Why I Started the Book:
I asked the librarian at the reference desk for some series recommendations for kids that were similar to Harry Potter, Artemis Fowl, and Percy Jackson. The Spiderwick Chronicles was one of the series mentioned. The books are shorter and read for a younger age than expected. I would think 3rd and 4th graders, maybe even 5th graders, would find these enjoyable and also more in their reading range.
Likes:
- The world building going on is truly on a phenomenal and epic scale. So much is given in such a short span of time. It’s great!
- The Grace children are a really great group of kids. Jared and Simon are twin boys, age 9. Mallory is the older sister at age 13. She picks on them but also protects them.
- The pen and ink drawings are truly a delight. There are plenty of them, making reading a breeze. I can get through a book in just under an hour.
Dislikes:
- The book reads like a partial story instead of a full story because of how short it is. I would prefer if the multiple books were combined in threes to make the reading experience more novel-like.
Buy: The Field Guide (The Spiderwick Chronicles, Book 1)
, The Spiderwick Chronicles (Boxed Set; Books 1-5)
Book Rating: 3 Treasure Chests
Keira runs a book review blog for readers by readers on romance novels entitled Love Romance Passion. She’s been reading romance since she was in her teens and began blogging about romance so she could share her passion for her favorite genre. She loves reading paranormal, Regency, historical America, and highlander most of all and completely adores blind and wounded heroes.
Originally posted 2009-12-21 03:52:40.
Online Stores
April 16th, 2010 — 2.5-3 Treasure Chests, Action & Adventure, Book Review, D-F, Fantasy, Suspense or Thriller, YA Genre
by First Mate Keira
Title: Silvertongue
Author: Charlie Fletcher
Format: Hardback
Page Count: 464
Grade Reading Level: Grades 5-8
Summary: Silvertongue takes place immediately after Ironhand. George still has one more battle to fight to win his freedom from the Stone. Edie believes her mom might be alive after all. A devil from the black void of the obsidian mirrors follows them back to London, stopping time and awakening the London Stone. The Walker is gone temporarily, locked in the mirrors, but now the children have something worse to face. With two powers of darkness working together war between the Spits and Taints is unavoidable.
Why I started reading this book:
It’s book number three of three in the this unLondon based trilogy.
Likes:
- I liked finding out that the Raven isn't really supposed to be bad, but has been a servant of the Walker for a long time, bound to him by magic. Edie frees the Raven and he repays the debt by taking her through the memories of what has happened to show her more about her mom.
- Clocker was one of my favorite Weirded Ones from Stoneheart, I was glad to see his return.
- Shackleton and the Red Queen are excellent additions to the cast of Spits.
- George's battle with the Dark Knight and Night Mare is excellent and well done.
Dislikes:
- Edie Laemmel's still a bit of a nuisance as far a character goes. She's too stubborn by half and basically refuses to be a part of the group despite wanting to be there. She's my least favorite character in the trilogy.
Buy: Silvertongue (Stoneheart Trilogy, Book Three)
Rating: 3 Treasure Chests
Online Stores
Loading ...