The Ironwood Tree (The Spiderwick Chronicles, 4) - Softcover

DiTerlizzi, Tony; Black, Holly

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1442487011 ISBN 13: 9781442487017

Publisher: Simon & Schuster, 2013

Synopsis

The faerie world is in pursuit of the Grace kids in this repackage of the fourth book in the #1 New York Times bestselling Spiderwick Chronicles.

First a pack vile, smelly goblins snatch Simon. Then a band of elves try to entrap Jared. Why is the entire faerie world so eager to get their hands on Arthur Spiderwick's Guide? And will the Grace kids be left alone, now that the Guide has mysteriously disappeared? Don't count on it.

At school, someone is running around pretending to be Jared. To make matters even worse, now Mallory has disappeared and something in the water is killing off the plants and animals. Clues point to the abandoned quarry just outside of town where the dwarves have taken over. Meanwhile, the faerie world's abuzz with the news that a creature with plans to rule the world has offered the dwarves a gift to join with him: a queen.

In honor of the tenth anniversary of the #1 New York Times bestselling Spiderwick Chronicles series, which has more than 12 million copies in print worldwide, this edition of The Ironwood Tree features a larger trim size and an original cover with all-new art from Tony DiTerlizzi.

About this title

Review:

After a brief breather in book three, the Spiderwick Chronicles heat up with doppelgangers, then dwarves, then a dastardly double-cross, in the fourth book, The Ironwood Tree. The Grace kids (nine-year-old twins Simon and Jared, and 13-year-old Mallory) might think that things have finally quietened down for them, but the nefarious faerie world has many more surprises in store.

In the second chapter, "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.

Author Holly Black once again skilfully manages to weave in plenty of creepy details (including a bloody final chapter) without whitewashing or 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 instalment, titled fittingly, ominously, The Wrath of Mulgarath. (Ages 6 to 10) --Paul Hughes, Amazon.com

Review:

"With their evocative gothic-style pencil drawings and color illustrations, rhyming riddles, supernatural lore, and well-drawn characters, these books read like old-fashioned ripping yarns."

-- "New York Times Book Review"

"The books wallow in their dusty Olde Worlde charm: Faeries! Dumbwaiters! Attics! But then, reading has an old-fashioned charm too."

-- "Time" magazine

"Appealing characters, well-measured suspense and an inviting package will lure readers...Youngsters may well find themselves glancing over their shoulders."

-- "Publishers Weekly, " starred review

About this edition

• Publisher: Simon & Schuster
• Publication date: 2013
• ISBN 10: 1442487011
• ISBN 13: 9781442487017
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 108