The Seeing Stone (The Spiderwick Chronicles #2) [Deckle Edge] [Hardcover]

Holly Black (Author), Tony DiTerlizzi (Author, Illustrator)

Book Description

we said no

still you looked

now instead

someone gets cooked

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

In the Spiderwick Chronicles' second book, things get even more exciting--and kind of scary--for the Grace kids, as the strange faerie world hinted at in The Field Guide blooms to full life around them.

After making tentative peace with Thimbletack (a coveralled house brownie who's "the size of a pencil"), Jared chooses to ignore the creature's pleas that he destroy his great-great-uncle's mysterious tome, Arthur Spiderwick's Field Guide to the Fantastical World Around You. Thimbletack warns, "You kept the book despite my advice./Sooner or later there'll be a price." Sure enough, the brownie soon sniffs out a "fell smell in the air," and the disappearance of Simon's new cat starts to make sense. And if the chapter titled "IN WHICH Mallory Finally Gets to Put Her Rapier to Good Use" doesn't get your heart racing as fast as the kids', just wait till you get a load of the troll. ("Cooome baaack. I haaave something for youuu.")

The series' already-fast pace picks up quickly in the second installment, and we can begin to imagine what other sorts of trouble these three will turn up as they learn the rules to this odd (and dangerous) new world--while, of course, trying to explain away the strange goings-on to their mother. Next up, book three, Lucinda's Secret. (What's her secret? I want to know. Now! (Ages 6 to 10) --Paul Hughes

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

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 128 pages
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books For Young Readers (May 1, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0689859376
• ISBN-13: 978-0689859373
• Product Dimensions: 7.1 x 4.8 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (73 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #270,546 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Still processed cheese, but with a little kick (3.5 stars), March 7, 2004

By 

J. Williams "wispofacloud" (the depths of Lake Erie) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Seeing Stone (The Spiderwick Chronicles #2) (Hardcover)

The second book of the series tries very hard to grab the reader with its kidnapping plot, but it failed to capture my imagination. Better than the first book in some ways, The Seeing Stone doesn't have to introduce everyone as fully as The Field Guide. The children are somewhat more real and substantial, though their mother is still a flat character. However, I find I cannot really care for the children despite their troubles.
This story is no longer appropriate for very young readers; there are disturbing illustrations and depiction of cruelty to animals. This makes the book more exciting then the first, but it falls short of the chart of the Series of Unfortunate Events.
Altogether, the book was an interesting read, but still not very engaging. Even with more suspense added into the mixture, it lacks something.

11 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Just as strong as the last one!, May 21, 2003

By 

Nancy E. "Nancy" (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Seeing Stone (The Spiderwick Chronicles #2) (Hardcover)

Jared's life has changed very much since he moved into his crazed Aunt Lucinda's Spiderwick manor. He's found a secret room and in this room he's found a book called Arthur Spiderwick's Field Guide to Fantastical World Around you, which tells you all about the world of faeries. He's discovered that his new home is inhibited by a Brownie named Thimbletack, who doesn't seem to like to see Jared with the Feild Guide at all, and there are many amazing creatures that live inside the walls of this house. In the Seeing Stone, something horrible happens. His twin brother Simon has been kidnaped by goblins while he was looking for his missing cat. Now Simon and his older sister Mallory must track down these goblins. Unfortunately human eyes cannot see goblins so how will they possibly find him? The answer is the seeing stone. The seeing stone will give Jared the ability to see faeries. Unfortunately that's just the beginning of their newest adventure.

Just like The Field Guide, this book is barely over one hundred pages and filled with many detailed illustrations of our heroes and the magical creatures in action. The first book was a mere introduction to the series but this book actually takes the three into their real adventures. It's not quite as entertaining as the last one, possibly because the story line seems like it should have been expanded a little more, but it's still very entertaining and a fun book. Although it's short and filled with pictures it's not just for kids. Teenage and adult fans who are fans of such books like Artemis Fowl, A Series of Unfortunate Events, and The Thief Lord will really enjoy this. If you've read The Field Guide and enjoyed it like me, read this book. It's very suspenseful and exciting. I can't wait until the third book in the series, Lucinda's Secret hits stores.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good but Scary, March 6, 2008

By 

drebbles (Arlington, MA USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Seeing Stone (Spiderwick Chronicles) (Hardcover)

Jared, Simon, and Mallory Grace are still adjusting to their new life after their parents' divorce. Not only do they have to adjust to a new school (Jared especially is having a hard time with this) but they are living in a house and area inhabited not only by humans but hobgoblins, trolls, fairies, and griffins. When Simon's cat disappears he goes looking for it and soon he also disappears. Jared and Mallory set off to help Simon, but they'll need some help in order to find him in time.

"The Seeing Stone" is the sequel to The Field Guide (The Spiderwick Chronicles, Book 1) and is the second book in "The Spiderwick Chronicles" series and for the most part it is pretty good fun. Children will love the fantasy elements of the goblins, trolls, fairies, griffins, etc. especially the rhyming Thimbletack. The Seeing Stone (which helps them see the Goblins) is a nice addition to the series and authors Tony DiTerlizzi and Holly Black invent a funny if somewhat gross way for the children to see the goblins without the seeing stone. What kept me from entirely enjoying the book is that I felt some of the scarier moments were a bit too scary for young children. I found the goblins especially bothersome with their cages full of kidnap victims. And the hint of what might have happened to Simon's cat may be traumatic for younger children.

"The Seeing Stone" is a good fantasy but parents may want to read it first to make sure their children can handle it.