Common Sense Media Review
Siblings discover a fairy world in charming fantasy tale.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 7+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 5 parent reviews
Based on 16 kid reviews
Kids say the first book in this series is engaging and a quick read, making it suitable for young readers despite some darker themes. While some reviews express a preference for the film adaptation and desire for the series to be combined into fewer volumes, the overall consensus is that the story captivates with its mix of adventure and approachable language.
- quick read
- engaging story
- suitable for kids
- darker themes
- mixed adaptations
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
In THE FIELD GUIDE: SPIDERWICK CHRONCLES, BOOK 1, 9-year-old twins Jared and Simon and their 13-year-old sister Mallory move with their mother to a decaying Victorian house after their father leaves them. On their first night, they discover a secret library, and later discover a more house secrets and passages. Their adventures destroy the nest of a brownie (house fairy) named Thimbletack, who takes out his rage on the kids and destroys the kitchen. The kids follow clues that lead them to an old, handwritten and illustrated book, Arthur Spiderwick's Field Guide to the Fantastical World Around You, which Thimbletack warns them is full of danger and not suitable for mortals.
The book is filled with details about faeries, boggarts, brownies, and the like, but these are not your Disney fairies -- for the most part they are neither cute nor friendly. At first only Jared is interested, but strange and destructive things are happening around the house, and though their mother blames Jared, his siblings aren't so sure.
Is It Any Good?
This is a fast, fascinating story and an engaging entry into the world of more mature fantasy storytelling. Also, the way this physical book is designed, with irregularly cut pages and tons of Gothic-style illustrations throughout, is a delight. The Field Guide: The Spiderwick Chronicles, Book 1 is small and lightweight, with an old-fashioned feel and an inviting, detailed map. At 107 pages, the story is short enough to appeal to reluctant readers and fast-paced enough to captivate more mature readers while being without seeming babyish for either audience.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how the siblings get along in The Field Guide: Spiderwick Chronicles, Book 1. The strange goings-on at Spiderwick Estate seem to help them work together toward a common goal; have you ever had a similar experience working with a group?
The kids handle their feelings about their father's absence by channeling their pain into another activity. How have you tried to distract yourself from something you didn't want to think about?
Have you ever thought about what a world of fairies would be like? Why do you think fairy stories are so interesting to readers? What others have your read?
Book Details
- Authors :
- Illustrator : Tony DiTerlizzi
- Genre : Fantasy
- Topics : Fantasy ( Magic ) , Adventures , Family Stories ( Siblings )
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Simon & Schuster
- Publication date : July 13, 2003
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 6 - 10
- Number of pages : 107
- Available on : Paperback, Nook, Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Last updated : October 9, 2025
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
Suggest an Update
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate