Eleven-year-old Nicholas Vargas has had to make a lot of adjustments since his mother died and their father remarried. For one thing, he has to give up his bedroom to his new stepsister, Laurie. Nicholas doesn't have a lot of patience with Laurie, especially since she believes fairies are real. He tells her that her book about fairies, "Arthur Spiderwick's Field Guide to the Fantastical World Around You" is fiction but she insists that fairies do exist. Much to his surprise, Nicholas finds out that Laurie is right and soon he is involved in adventures far beyond anything he would have imagined.

"The Nixie's Song" is the first book in the three-part sequel to the "Spiderwick Chronicles" fantasy series for children. I was a bit wary about reading it, because I was afraid that it wouldn't capture the magic of the first series, but it does a very good job of doing so. It does at times walk a very fine line that could have been dangerous as it blurs the line between fiction and nonfiction - authors Tony DiTerlizzi and Holly Black appear as characters as do Simon and Jared Grace (with Jared playing a big role towards the end of this book) - but it works out fine. The book deals nicely with the real life issue of a young boy struggling with the loss of his mother and his father's remarriage and dealing with a new stepsister. Nick Vargas is a well-written character - he thinks of himself as a bit of a loser, overweight and resentful of losing his bedroom to his new stepsister. His stepsister Laurie is also well written, a young girl who still believes in magic. All of the magical elements are well done especially the Nixie and the Giant.

Authors DiTerlizzi and Black have written yet another magical book.