The Field Guide Book 1 of the Spiderwick Chronicles

The Field Guide Book 1 of the Spiderwick Chronicles

Author:  Tony  Di Terlizzi and Holly Black

Publisher:  Simon and Schuster Books for Young Readers  Year:  2003

ISBN:  978-0-689-85936-8

Genre: Fiction/Fantasy

This book is for Ages: 8 up

AR Points:      1.0

Subjects/Themes: Family Life, Fairies

Plot Summary:  After their father leaves the family, the Grace Children Jared, Simon and Mallory and their mother move from New York City to the old Aunt Lucinda’s house.  The old Victorian house is falling apart and there are creatures living in the walls.  Soon the children discover a dumb waiter, a secret room and a curious field guide written by Lucinda’s father. The field guide is all about fairies, brownies boggarts and other magical creatures.  The field guide says they are all real.

Review: Filled with color and black and white illustrations that bring the story to life The Field Guide is a great book.  The characters are intriguing, the family dynamics are believable.  The idea of interacting with fairies is engaging as these creatures are quite mischievous.This is a series that could get you hooked.

If you like this book you may also like:  More books in The Spiderwick Chronicles or the movie Fairy Tale: A True Story, Rated PG (1997). 

A Tale of Two Castles by Gail Carson Levine

Title:   A Tale of Two Castles

Author:  Gail Carson Levine

Publisher: Harper       Year:  2011

ISBN:  978-0-06-122965-7  

Genre: Fantasy Fiction

This book is for Ages: 10-14

AR Points:     9.0

Subjects/Themes: Dragons/Royalty/Identity

Plot Summary:  12-year-old Elodie is leaving her family to seek a weaving apprenticeship in the Town of Two Castles.  Her parents warn her about dragons, ogres, and white sepulchers.  Elodie arrives in town to find there are no weaving apprenticeships available, unless she can pay for one.  She is not too disappointed because she really wants to be a mansioner- an actress.  But when the head of the acting troupe rejects her because she cannot pay, and her only copper is stolen, Elodie has no place to go.  When the beautiful dragon Menoree offers Elodie food and a warm, safe place to sleep, Elodie accepts.  Even if it means she must act like a servant in the ogre’s castle to help Menoree solve a mystery.

Review:  Gail Carson Levine stays true to her style with this sweet new tale that reminds us not to judge a dragon, ogre, princess or apprentice by how they look.  

If you like this book you may also like:  Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine.

Paranormalcy by Kiersten White

Title:  Paranormalcy

Author:  Kiersten White

Publisher: Harper Teen Year: 2010

ISBN:  978-0-06-198584-3

Genre: Fiction/ Fantasy

This book is for grades: 6 and up    

Awards:  YALSA Teen Top Ten

Subjects/Themes: Fantasy, Fairies, Mysteries

AR Points: 10

Plot Summary:  16-year-old Evie can see through the glamour that fairies, vampires and other creatures use to fool humans.  She has been able to for as long as she can remember and has been working for the International Paranormal Containment Agency (IPCA) since she was eight.  Evie’s best friend is a mermaid and she sort of dated a fairy name Reth.  Now she wants him to leave her alone.  More than anything in the world Evie wants to live a normal life and go to high school.  One day, Evie helps catch an intruder at IPCA who turns out to be a cute 17-year-old boy named Lend.  Lend is trying to solve the mystery about the strange creature that has been killing vampires and other magical creatures.  Solving the problem of the creature becomes a big worry for Evie, especially when she discovers she and the creature are linked by a fairy prophesy.

Review:  Evie is a fantastic, smart, girl with a quirky fashion sense.  She loves pink and her favorite High School TV show Easton Heights.  Evie is definitely someone you would want to have as a friend, cousin or sister.  Lend seems like a normal (almost) teenage guy.  He is not really sure who he is, but he is a great guy. The other characters fairies, vampires, werewolves, mermaids, water sprites and yes humans are all interesting.  White gets rid of the silly romance that usually surrounds vampires in the first chapter.  Paranormalcy has plenty of humor to relieve the tension from the mystery and the suspense will keep you reading all night long. White creates an alternate universe that is believable and refreshing although not without flaws. This is a great book for older ‘tweens to adults.

If you like this book you may also like:  Supernaturally by Kiersten White,

The Fairy's Mistake by Gail Carson Levine

Title:  The Fairy’s Mistake

Author: Gail Carson Levine

Publisher: Scholastic, New York Year: 2000

ISBN: 0-439-17911-4

Series: The Princess Tales

Genre: Fiction/Fables

This book is for Ages: 8 up

Subjects/Themes:  Kindness/Selfishness

Rosella is a kind girl who is always fetching water.  One day she meets an old woman at the well, the fairy Ethelinda in disguise.  As a reward for Rosella’s kindness in giving the woman a drink, Ethelinda puts a spell on Rosella so jewels drop from her mouth whenever she speaks.  Her lazy twin sister, Myrtle, goes looking for the fairy hoping for a similar gift.  When Ethelinda appears to Myrtle as knight, Myrtle is selfish and unkind.  Ethelinda punishes her by having bugs and snakes come from her mouth when she speaks.  A prince asks Rosella to be his wife.  Rosella accepts and is mostly unhappy as the prince and her ladies-in-waiting are blinded by her gift.  Myrtle uses her gift to make the villagers give her whatever she wants because they do not want her unleash snakes and bugs into their lives.  Somehow the Fairy Ethelinda has made a mistake. Can she fix it so everyone can live happily ever after?

This is a humorous retelling of a traditional folk tale. Gail Carson Levine is surprisingly able to create characters who are not all good or all bad.  This book is a quick read, perfect for younger tweens who enjoy fairy tales and for students who need a fast AR point.  Myrtle is a strong female character who uses her punishment for her benefit and teaches Rosella how to stand up for herself.  While you may think that Myrtle is a mean character in the end she is the true heroine of the story for Rosella and for the people of her village.
 

If you like this book you may also like:  Princess Sonora and the Long Sleep, Ella Enchanted, Goose Chase.