false 277191 14 After a brief breather in book three (<I>Lucinda's Secret</I>), the Spiderwick Chronicles heat up with doppelgangers, then dwarves, then a dastardly double-cross, as this five-part series approaches its dramatic end.<p> The Grace kids (9-year-old twins Simon and Jared, and 13-year-old Mallory) might think that things have finally quieted down for them, but the nefarious faerie world has many more surprises in store. In the second chapter, titled, "IN WHICH the Grace twins are triplets," a mysterious and menacing shape-shifter shows up at Mallory's fencing match--and before Simon and Jared can suss out what's up, their sister disappears, presumably kidnapped. Eager to recover Mallory, the two descend into a strange subterranean world beneath a nearby quarry, only to find themselves prisoners and then privy to a wicked (and almost unbelievable) plan. The twins do end up tracking down Mallory, but only in very peculiar circumstances--not the least of which that she's wearing a dress.<p> Author Holly Black once again skillfully manages to weave in plenty of creepy details (including a bloody final chapter) without whitewashing <I>or</I> leaving young readers feeling too creeped out--and she gets able assistance from Tony DeTerlizzi's ever-evocative pen-and-ink drawings (especially in the looming menace of the Mulgarath). Fans of the series will have a hard time waiting for the final installment, titled fittingly, ominously, <I>The Wrath of Mulgarath</I>. (Ages 6 to 10) <I>--Paul Hughes</I> 1603405 book 6 4 2004 The Ironwood Tree (The Spiderwick Chronicles, Book 4) total:3358|5:984|4:1153|3:1005|2:193|1:23| 3358 12956 4073 164 5 0 false false Thu Aug 06 12:57:56 -0700 2009 Thu Aug 06 13:47:41 -0700 2009 more...]]> 5 0 false false Wed Nov 11 00:00:00 -0800 2009 Tue Nov 10 12:51:01 -0800 2009 Thu Nov 12 12:39:54 -0800 2009 ...more...]]> 4 0 false false Tue Jun 09 00:00:00 -0700 2009 Fri Jun 05 06:10:21 -0700 2009 Wed Jun 10 13:31:37 -0700 2009 more...]]> 5 0 false false Fri Sep 19 05:57:36 -0700 2008 Wed Nov 05 13:27:12 -0800 2008 more...]]> 4 0 false false Wed Jul 30 07:49:36 -0700 2008 Wed Jul 30 07:50:17 -0700 2008 more...]]> 3 0 false false Sun Mar 15 00:00:00 -0700 2009 Sun Mar 15 17:09:30 -0700 2009 Sun Mar 15 17:32:50 -0700 2009
Because each volume is short and there are plenty of side characters, some don't make it into each book - aunt Lu...more...]]> 1 0 false false Thu Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2009 Tue Jan 13 18:36:59 -0800 2009 Tue Jan 13 18:38:57 -0800 2009 more...]]> 3 0 false false Thu Oct 16 00:00:00 -0700 2008 Fri Oct 17 11:19:36 -0700 2008 Fri Oct 17 11:30:23 -0700 2008 more...]]> 3 0 false false Fri Jul 03 19:43:17 -0700 2009 Fri Jul 03 19:46:27 -0700 2009 more...]]> 5 0 false false Thu Nov 06 10:09:54 -0800 2008 Thu Nov 06 10:10:05 -0800 2008
I have always enjoyed fantasy books of all kinds, and not only those that span to be 500 pages or so (although I can't complain much when they do.)...more...]]> 4 0 false false Sat Nov 01 00:00:00 -0700 2008 Tue Dec 09 11:00:49 -0800 2008 Tue Dec 09 11:01:03 -0800 2008 5 0 false false Wed Jan 14 19:09:35 -0800 2009 Wed Jan 14 19:10:52 -0800 2009 2 0 false false Sat Feb 07 00:00:00 -0800 2009 Fri Jan 30 09:24:43 -0800 2009 Tue Feb 10 09:56:34 -0800 2009 more...]]> 5 0 false true Wed Apr 01 00:00:00 -0700 2009 Sat May 02 04:56:18 -0700 2009 Sat May 02 04:57:30 -0700 2009 4 0 false false Sat Jan 03 13:40:11 -0800 2009 Sat Jan 03 13:40:52 -0800 2009 4 0 false false Sat Jun 13 00:00:00 -0700 2009 Fri Jun 12 22:35:36 -0700 2009 Fri Jun 12 22:36:33 -0700 2009 3 0 false false Wed Dec 03 00:00:00 -0800 2008 Fri Dec 05 07:54:26 -0800 2008 Fri Dec 05 08:02:46 -0800 2008 5 0 false false Tue Jun 30 12:40:18 -0700 2009 Tue Jun 30 12:41:00 -0700 2009 4 0 false false Wed Apr 01 00:00:00 -0700 2009 Sun Mar 29 21:36:41 -0700 2009 Sat Apr 11 17:21:51 -0700 2009 Liked how the conflict has become personal (oh no, his mother doesn't trust Jared) and spanning more than one book.]]> 2 0 false true Sat Aug 16 00:00:00 -0700 2008 Wed Jul 30 17:14:28 -0700 2008 Mon Aug 18 17:20:44 -0700 2008
Another thing that I didn't like was that n...more...]]> http://www.goodreads.com/book_link/follow/8?book_id=277191