Beyond the Spiderwick Chronicles

Book 1 The Nixie's Song

by Tony DiTerlizzi and Holly Black

Modern Fantasy

Novel

Beyond the Spiderwick Chronicles is the sequel series to the beloved children's fantasy, The Spiderwick Chronicles.  The Nixie's Song, is the first book in this sequel series and serves as an introduction to the new adventures that await children who have the "Sight".  The setting takes place in Florida where Nick Varcas's world has changed right before his eyes.  Nick is forced to move in with his hip, older brother Julian after his dad marries Charlene who brings along her daughter, Laurie who is about Nick's age.  Nick hates the change and decides to hate Laurie too.  Nick claims that Laurie is a freak because all she cares about is magical faeries and reads all sorts of books about them.  One day, Nick is forced to show Laurie the neighborhood. Along the way, Nick finds a four leaf clover and can suddenly now see all the faeries Laurie had mentioned. Laurie realizes Nick has the "Sight" because of the four leaf clover so she takes it to see the faeries as well.  They find a nixie lying almost dead and they drag the nixie back to the water.  The nixie gives both of the children the "Sight" without having to have the clover.  The nixie instructs the children to find her sisters because they are lost. The children find themselves in a lot of trouble because of this newfound "Sight". While looking for the nixie's sisters they are attacked by a Giant.  The only way the giant can be stopped from breathing fire all over the neighborhood is if the nixie sings. The nixie is losing her voice so it is up to Nick and Laurie to save everyone.  Along their journeys they find helpers to fight and kill the giant.  They are victorious; however, Noseeum Jack explains that the giants will awake every 500 years and its been 500 years since they last awoke.  Jack and Laurie are left with a lot of responsibility this summer, and it is up to them to work together to save Florida.  I would use this book in my classroom as an example of Modern Fantasy.  I truly think books like this offer children a great opportunity to use their imaginations and really delve into thinking in a nontraditional way that is often times neglected in schools.  I would love for students to take books like this one and read it more as a pleasure read; however, a great way to integrate writing with this book is to have students read the book and then write what they think might happen next.  I would love to have this book in my classroom library.