Lucinda's Secret

The Spiderwick Chronicles #3

by Tony DiTerlizzi, Holly Black

As if being attacked by goblins and a bridge troll weren't enough, Jared is now being targeted by Thimbletack. Simon is keeping an injured and very hungry griffin hidden in the carriage house. And Mallory is convinced the only way to get things back to normal is to get rid of the Guide. But that doesn't seem to be an option. With more creatures from Arthur Spiderwick's Field Guide to the Fantastical World Around You popping up, the Guide seems to be the only protection the Grace kids have. But why do the faeries want it so badly? There's only one person to go to for answers -- crazy, old Aunt Lucinda!

Genres: Fantasy, Middle Grade, Childrens, Fiction, Young Adult, Adventure, Magic

128 pages, Hardcover

First published October 1, 2003

About the author

#1 New York Times bestselling author and illustrator, Tony DiTerlizzi, has been creating children’s books for twenty years. From fanciful picture books like The Broken Ornament and The Spider & The Fly (a Caldecott Honor book), to chapter books like Kenny and The Dragon and The Search for WondLa, DiTerlizzi imbues his stories with rich imagination. With Holly Black, he created the middle-grade series, The Spiderwick Chronicles, which has sold over 20 million copies, been adapted into a feature film, and translated in over thirty countries. He teamed up with Lucasfilm to retell the original Star Wars trilogy as a picture book and his collaboration with celebrated author Mo Willems created the bestseller The Story of Diva & Flea. The Norman Rockwell museum’s retrospective, “Never Abandon Imagination”, featured artwork from the beginning of DiTerlizzi’s career as a contributing artist for Dungeons & Dragons and broke attendance records. He has been featured in Time magazine, USA Today, CNN, PBS, NPR the BBC and The Today Show.

Reviews

[Miranda Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Jared Grace took out a red shirt, turned it inside out, and put it on backwards."

After the harrowing rescue of Simon (Jared's twin) from the goblins, life should have gone back to normal.

Except now they have an injured griffin in the old carriage house.

And they need to guard Arthur Spiderwick's Field Guide from any malicious fairies.

AND Thimbletack, the house brownie, has become rather malicious since the events of the last book.

With everything compounding upon one another, the Grace siblings decide that they have to go to their great Aunt Lucinda - even if everyone says she's gone completely mad.

"Right," said Jared. "But we need to ask you something important."

But what if she was never crazy in the first place?

This series is on a roll. I am having so much fun with it.

I really like how the authors are doing such a great job of balancing the smaller book arcs with the overarching series plot. It's fabulous the way each book adds another piece to the puzzle and I cannot wait to see how this will all turn out.

One thing that worked really well is adding Aunt Lucinda to the cast - she was barely a presence in the first two books but here she shines. I love the little bits of lore that are added to the overall story as her own past is revealed.

And as always, the illustrations in this book really bring it up a notch. Such a great vision for the world of fairies in here and I'm so loving it.

I'm highly recommending this series!!

[MissBecka Gee · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my favourite so far.
They are super fast, easy and entertaining!

[Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read the Spiderwick Chronicles back when I was quite young, maybe eight or nine. My sister and I read the crap out these books (we must have read them 15 times, no joke) and I've been wanting to revist this series and the wonderful fantasy world that Holly and Tony created for awhile now but I've finally gotten around to it.

The writing partnership of Holly Black and Tony DiTerlizzi is remarkable and this series is by far some of the most well written literature that I've ever read.
The three main characters, Jared, Simon, and Mallory, are so relatable and realistic. I can relate to each of them in a different way and I think most readers will feel the same.

I loved the illustrations and artwork a lot. There's wasn't really any descriptions on the creatures so I had to rely on the illustrations a lot.

I loved the new creatures that were introduced in Lucinda's Secret. My favorite was the phooka. I mean, I really, really love that creature. It's so insanely awesome and I wish it had a bigger role in this book.

Overall, I loved this book and I highly recommend this series to readers of all ages. It's such a great fantasy series and it's amazingly well written. I can't wait to continue rereading this series.

[Praise Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

A visit to an unexpected ally changes everything in Lucinda's Secret, as Jared, Simon, and Mallory Grace seek help from their great-aunt Lucinda to understand the strange events surrounding them. Lucinda reveals the truth about Arthur Spiderwick’s disappearance and the dangerous interest Mulgarath has in the field guide, raising the stakes for the siblings.

As they piece together what happened in the past, the story deepens the mystery while adding a more emotional layer through Lucinda’s history.

It’s still quick and easy to read, but this installment feels more focused than the earlier ones. It’s engaging and slightly darker, even if it ends on a note that leaves you wanting more.

RATING: Four out of five stars. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Reem Alkhalaf · Rating 5 out of 5]

وتستمر المتعة

[Faseeh Ilahi a.k.a Sunny · Rating 5 out of 5]

So far all of the books in this series has been 5 out of 5 🌟 for me. This one was no different. This was also really amazing and we also met some more creatures like elves and phooka. I am loving this series so much.

[Jenny Baker · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm binge-reading this series, but I can't help myself. haha

[P · Rating 3 out of 5]

เนื้อเรื่องค่อยๆเผยมาทีละนิดทีหน่อย สำหรับเล่มนี้เราได้รู้ความลับของอาร์เธอร์ สไปเดอร์วิกและได้รู้ว่าหนังสือเล่มนั้นมีความสำคัญยังไง เล่มนี้การผจญภัยไม่ค่อยน่าตื่นเต้นเท่าไร แอบเซงตรงนิสัยของจาเร็ดนิดๆ ยึดติดหนังสือยังไม่เท่าไร พอมีอะไรชอบโทษมัลลอรี่พี่สาวตัวเองนี่สิ ! แต่ชอบฉากตรงที่เด็กๆไปคุยกับป้าลูซินด้านะ ดูขลังดี

จาเร็ด ไซม่อนและมัลลอรี่เดินทางไปหาป้าลูซินด้าเพื่อที่จะพบว่าอาร์เธอร์ สไปเดอร์วิก ผู้เขียนหนังสือตำราภาคสนามได้หายตัวไปอย่างลึกลับ หลังจากนั้นพี่น้องตระกูลเกรซก็ได้พบว่าหนังสือได้หายไป ซึ่งน่าจะเป็นฝีมือของทิมเบิลแท็คแน่ เมื่อเด็กๆกลับมาบ้าน พวกเขาก็ได้พบแผนที่ที่ซ่อนเอาไว้ซึ่งเป็นเส้นทางไปสู่ป่าของเอลฟ์ พอไปถึงที่นั่น...เอลฟ์ก็เรียกร้องให้สามพี่น้องสั่งหนังสือของอาร์เธอร์มาให้พวกเขา แต่โชคร้ายที่เด็กๆไม่มีหนังสือ เป็นผลทำให้จาเร็ดถูกเอลฟ์จับตัวเอาไว้ ด้วยเล่ห์กลและสติปัญญาของจาเร็ดจึงทำให้เขาหลอกล่อเอลฟ์ให้ปล่อยตัวพวกเขามาได้สำเร็จ

[Neide Parafitas · Rating 3 out of 5]

3,5🌟

[Nikki]

This was very exciting! I enjoyed going to the hospital and meeting the not-at-all-crazy Aunt Lucinda. I do hope that, in the end, the children and Aunt Lucinda can reveal the fairy world and let everyone (primarily their family) know the truth. I enjoyed meeting the elves in the forest, and, while I was not surprised at the reveal that Arthur is still alive, I think it's very exciting. I am loving this series and appreciate that not only does it have a great story that adults can appreicate, but that it is told so specifically for children. There are some children's books (i.e. the latter in the "HP" series) that I think require a lot of consideration about what age-group they are appropriate for. I'm not saying that there's anything wrong with books with heavier/serious/darker/more mature content, but I think it's good and fun for kids to also have well-written books they can just jump right into at any age.

[Labeba Salameh · Rating 5 out of 5]

أحببت التفاعلات العائلية في هذا الكتاب أكثر من الجزء الذي سبقه

مبدئيا هذه مراجعة مرئية
https://youtu.be/FhwIVPoz-eA
.............................
العمة لوسيندا تعرف
من المؤكد أنها تفعل
ربما لديها نصيحة ما بخصوص ما يواجهه هؤلاء الأبطال الصغار
وماذا عن والدها؟..هل حقا خذلها وهجرها أم أن للمخلوقات الغريبة يدا في الموضوع
وهل تستطيع تقديم نصيحة جيدة لأطفال عائلة سبايدرويك!!
.............................
إن لم تكونوا ترغبوا في قراءة السلسلة يمكنكم مشاهدة الفلم
لكن القصة تحوي رسوما توضيحية جميلة أيضا

[Cami L. González · Rating 3 out of 5]

Estuvo bien, se sintió como más tranquilo en comparación a los anteriores, pues se trató más de los hermanos conociendo a la tía Lucinda y aprendiendo sobre su pasado. Hasta antes de esta entrega casi no sabíamos sobre Arthur y su hija.

En este libro conocemos una nueva especie, los elfos, y otras menos importantes que resultaron divertidas. Me recordó un poco a Alicia en el País de las Maravillas, por la aparición de algunos personajes que me recordaron a otros de ese libro y tuvo un poco de ese aire.

Siento que esta entrega se sintió más como un paso intermedio, a pesar de que todos los libros se sienten más como capítulos de una historia más grande, con ese fue más fuerte que con los otros. Es probable que por eso El secreto de Lucinda sea el que menos me ha gustado hasta ahora.

[Evelyn (devours and digests words) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Holly Black truly has the uncanny ability to weave out a good story that circles around the fey folks. I've always enjoyed her fairy themed books. This one didn't disappoint.
Plus, the beautiful artworks Tony DiTerlizzi drew really blended in well with the story.

[♥ Rebecca ♥ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love love love these! These are the kind of books I wish I could have read when I was a kid. When the first book was published I was already in college. But when I was 7-10 I read Boxcar Children and pony books. I was always a huge fan of sci-fi, but didn't like fantasy until I was an adult. Plus I just don't think this kind of books were available to me. I don't specifically remember where I got my books from at that age. Did my parents buy them for me? Did my elementary school have a library? I don't know, but I feel like if I saw these I would have been interested in fantasy sooner. I definitely want to read these to my daughters.

[Carla · Rating 4 out of 5]

Estou a gostar muito desta fantasia.

[Ricardo Marín · Rating 3 out of 5]

Aunque esta tercera parte me pareció muy apresurada, me encanta cómo conforme avanza la trama se incorporan más criaturas a esta historia llena de fantasía.

[Andrew · Rating 3 out of 5]

And so on to a little bit of light and fun read (after all I am not really the target audience of this books - although I am sure if you spoke to some of my friends they may say otherwise).

This is the middle book in the series of 5 Spiderwick stories and as such I am very much in the realms of "mid-series" territory. i.e. the contents of the book are hard to refer to without creating spoilers for the previous instalments. Additionally any questions or plot action are clearly intended to support the final 2 books in the series so even if they do not create additional spoilers the challenge is to try not to create issues which my spoil the "journey"

But what I can say I can compare this (and the entire series to be honest) against the film since I do not really care about spoiling films (not really) but it is always fun to compare (come we already know that books are always better) the film to the book. And in this case spot the differences and order in which events happen in one to the other.

So what I can say is that even though the tones of the film verses the book are totally different the are remarkably similar and surprisingly the book is in places far darker - although that could be just me interpreting them - something I was surprised with and has increased my enjoyment from mere curiosity to something more.

The question is what then will the last two books bring

[Kaytlin Phillips · Rating 4 out of 5]

And this is where the story gets different from the movie...in a good way! I actually really enjoyed the twist the book took! And I love the length of these books...barely over a hundred pages, I could totally binge these if I wasn't reading at like 11 at night.😂

Characters:
Jared is the main character, and I enjoy his POV... his cleverness in this one, and the war with Thimbletack was hilarious...lol...
Mallory and Simon are great siblings, and as I said, the sibling relationships in the book are well done and very realistic!

Language:
One use of a** as in referencing a donkey, not sure why donkey wasn't used, but that was it.

Romance:
N/A

Overall:
I really enjoyed this one! The Phooka had me tickled, I mean, besides, his use of the a word... but other than that, this book was good.
The elves were cool, as was the shifting sod! Like cool concepts, and I'm excited to see what happens in the next book!
Age recommendation still 7+ with parental explanation needed for the a word.

[Tawfek · Rating 3 out of 5]

ازاي بيعرفوا يظبطوا كل جزء انه يبقي 108 صفحة بالظبط xD
الجزء الثالث من السلسلة
الاطفال بيزوروا خالتهم لوسيندا في مستشفي المجانين
و بيعرفوا انها مش مجنونة لانها بتؤمن بالجنيات و عندها ثلاث جنيات بيهتموا بيها و بياكلوها
بيروح الاطفال في رحلة تانية في الغابية و بيقابلوا جنيات اقزام و من الواضح انهم خطفوا ارثر سبايدرويك و منعوه يرجع لعالم البشر تاني
و حاجة مضايقاني الحقيقة قاعدين بيتكلموا قد ايه البشر بشعين و بيدمروا الغابة و و و مع انهم باين قوي و هما بيتكلموا انهم عندهم استعداد يدمروا حياة اي حد لمجرد انهم يحصلوا علي الكتاب
كمان بيظهر حصان وحيد قرن لاول مرة في الرواية و عنده قدرات ذهنية بيخلي الاطفال يشوف حاجات بشعة حصلتله
اعتقد الجزء الجاي في الغالب هنشوف ارثر لاول مرة

[Aly · Rating 3 out of 5]

These are so short that it surprises me when the audiobook ends. I do enjoy watching the siblings interact with the fae and get in and out of trouble. This time Jared gets captured and Simon has to do some quick thinking to get him back. The kids also get to meet their aunt Lucinda and it was nice to meet an adult who knows about the guide and the various magical creatures.

We also got a bit more information about their uncle's disappearance and I'm excited to see if they find out what happened to him!

The audiobook is narrated by Mark Hamill and he does a fantastic job! I highly recommend listening.

[hillary · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[ℓιѕєη · Rating 4 out of 5]

☆☆☆☆

[Melcat · Rating 4 out of 5]

The third installment of The Spiderwick Chronicles series is still a fun ride. I can't wait to read these books to my children one day. The series balances charm and mystery, making each book enjoyable. These short stories are a perfect way to relax, even if you’re an exhausted adult who usually reads more "serious" books. I highly recommend them, but keep in mind they're meant for kids, so set your expectations accordingly.

[Mara · Rating 4 out of 5]

These books are quickly becoming my evening treat.

[Maria · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book with my son as part of his summer reading, and I asked him to describe the book for my review. He responded that this is a book that is difficult to describe. He liked the mystery, and really enjoyed how the whimsical illustrations supported elements of the narrative. He found this book (number 3 of 5) to be interesting because of the mysteries that are introduced: The reader is finally introduced to Aunt Lucinda and the Wood Elves make their first appearance. There is less action, and this is very much a middle book in the series. He also said that this book would be perfect for fourth and fifth graders.

I have read many reviews in which readers have complained that the books in this series are very short, and that these books feel more like five novellas that should be one longer book. I have to say that I like the way the story is broken into five smaller portions: It captures the serial nature of Victorian storytelling convention, as well as building the suspense for what will happen next. While this might not be enough for the more sophisticated young reader, it would definitely be appealing to the reluctant reader, who would find the narrative a little less daunting for being broken into smaller bits. The art is also beautiful and engaging, and my son and I spent a decent amount of time analyzing the illustrations for additional information. I was also lucky enough to pick up a bargain copy of The Arthur Spiderwick Field Guide to the Fantastical World Around You, and my son is having a blast with all of the additional information. He says the books are that much more interesting to read!

I think that kids will find it easy to relate to many of the themes of the story. The Grace children are experiencing divorce in their individual ways, and their coping strategies are each called into question at various points, especially young Jared Grace's. Jared seems to be the one who is best able to deal with all of the new and bizarre creatures the children come into contact with, but his inability to control his rage continues to be a problem.

I would recommend this book for independent readers 7-11 years old, but think that readers of all ages will be engrossed in the mystery and clever illustrations.

[Michael Sorbello · Rating 3 out of 5]

Simon, Jared and Mallory pay a visit to their aunt Lucinda after learning that she might not be so crazy even though she’s been locked away in an asylum for quite some time. It turns out that she had troubles with mischievous fairies just like the Grace kids and she offers them some guidance on how to confront the problem.

There were some interesting tidbits revealed about Arthur (the author of The Guide) and his history with the fairy world and we got to meet some royal denizens of the realm. It’s the first time hearing the name Mulgarath who might become the main villain at a later point. And as always, the art is great.

Again, my biggest complaint about the book is that it’s way too short and feels choppy because of it. Certain details and plot points don’t have enough time to stick their landing. It wasn't as intense or dark as book 2.

***

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[Lumpy Space Princess · Rating 4 out of 5]

❝ It is only because of your own curiosity that you have learned so much. ❞

🧚🌿📖
Star Rating ★★★★☆
⋆˚𖤓˖° Thoughts... ⋆˚𖤓˖°

Short, magical and wonderfully nostalgic.

These books are pure fairy chaos. Mischievous creatures, hidden worlds, strange little dangers and that classic childhood wonder that never really fades. They are so easy to fly through, but still packed with charm. I loved how each book adds a little more magic and adventure without losing that old storybook feeling. 🧚✨

•••••••••••••••••••

⋆˚𖤓˖° Pre Read thoughts... ⋆˚𖤓˖°

The Grace children move into the mysterious Spiderwick Estate and quickly discover that the strange things happening around them are very real.

Hidden creatures, magical secrets, dangerous faeries and one very important field guide turn their new home into a much bigger adventure than they expected.

𖤓 Triggers / Tags: fantasy violence, magical creatures, goblins, family conflict, danger, childhood adventure, faeries, middle grade fantasy, sibling relationships

[Siobhan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I can honestly say that this series is one that was really let down by the film adaptation. Back when the film was released I found myself excited for what was to come, only to be extremely disappointed with what we were given. If you’re someone who enjoyed the film then I really do suggest that you read the books to find out just how great they actually are rather than taking the film standpoint on it.

The third book is another great addition to the series, the book which really gets the ball rolling in my opinion. Twists and turns are introduced when the three children decide to consult their Great-Aunt Lucinda who knows about the mysterious world which has been surrounding them. As you would expect, things fail to go according to plan and the children are soon embarking upon the task which continues through the final two books.

[Janeen-san · Rating 3 out of 5]

In yet antoher Spiderwick Chronicel, the kids go visit their Anut Lucinda to ask if she,too, knew about the fairies, and how she can help them get rid of all the trouble they've been getting into. In the proscess, Simon almost ruins his future by eating magical fruit, and Jared and Mallory get into a fight.
Back home, even MORE danger comes their way....

Read this book to find out more!
I really liked it because, bsides talking to trolls, riding griffons and eating cookies, the Grace children argue about real life things like school and homwork. I LOVE how the author squeezed that in the story so it would seem a more lifelike.
If you read this, I hope you like it as much as I did. It was a blast!

[C.P. Cabaniss · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yet another fun adventure with Jared, Simon, and Mallory as they explore more of the faerie world. They meet their aunt Lucinda Spiderwick, hoping to find answers, but things might be more of a mystery than ever. What started out as a fun adventure is becoming more and more dangerous the more the children learn.

For being such short stories, these really pack in a lot and manage to develop the characters very well. Each of the three siblings has their own distinct voice and you can pick that up as you read. You can also see how each of them deals with their frustrations over their situation and it makes them more relatable.

This third installment escalates the mystery that has been building, making me eager to continue onto the penultimate novel.