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Beyond the Spiderwick Chronicles #2
A Giant Problem
Nick and Laurie have a giant problem and it's a lot bigger than they originally thought. When Taloa sent them off to find her sisters, they discovered a single fire breathing giant, but as it turns out, that one giant is just the tip of the proverbial iceberg.
154 pages, Hardcover
First published September 1, 2008
About the author
Tony DiTerlizzi
91 books2,273 followers#1 New York Times bestselling author and illustrator, Tony DiTerlizzi, has been creating children’s books for twenty years. From fanciful picture books like The Broken Ornament and The Spider & The Fly (a Caldecott Honor book), to chapter books like Kenny and The Dragon and The Search for WondLa, DiTerlizzi imbues his stories with rich imagination. With Holly Black, he created the middle-grade series, The Spiderwick Chronicles, which has sold over 20 million copies, been adapted into a feature film, and translated in over thirty countries. He teamed up with Lucasfilm to retell the original Star Wars trilogy as a picture book and his collaboration with celebrated author Mo Willems created the bestseller The Story of Diva & Flea. The Norman Rockwell museum’s retrospective, “Never Abandon Imagination”, featured artwork from the beginning of DiTerlizzi’s career as a contributing artist for Dungeons & Dragons and broke attendance records. He has been featured in Time magazine, USA Today, CNN, PBS, NPR the BBC and The Today Show.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 314 reviews
November 1, 2025
"... the more Nick concentrated on the game, the less he had to think about the nixie waiting in her pond for him to find the rest of her sisters, or all of the giants that might be waking up, or how some tough old guy thought that they could do anything about it."Nick and his stepsister, Laurie, barely survived their last encounter with a giant, only to find out that the true problem will be the giants ( plural ) that will soon overtake the land.
Nick wants nothing more than to just duck his head in the sand and pretend that nothing supernatural is going on...but when the giants start breathing fire, he knows it's up to him and Laurie to find a way to stop them - or risk losing everything.
I'll admit it - I am impressed with how Holly Black and Tony DiTerlizzi are continuing the series.
Every one of Spiderwick and Beyond the Spiderwick books has rocked so far - it feels so rare to be on the seventh book of a series and enjoy it as much as you did the first.
I feel like the characters are so strong in this series - I like how human Nick and Laurie are, and how they are working to do their best in this series.
I also freaking love the art - all of the portraits and drawings really bring this series alive.
And (of course) the scary faeries are truly the star of the show - the intricate world created by DiTerlizzi and Black is so freaking amazing. I almost (almost) wish I could live in it (in reality...I would probably be eaten by some bog witch).
Overall - excited to read the next one, but also sad that that will be the last of the series.
April 23, 2026
Things escalate quickly in A Giant Problem as Nick Vargas and his stepsister Laurie realize that the single giant they faced before was only the beginning. With fire-breathing giants waking up across Florida, they turn to the eccentric giant-hunter Noseeum Jack for help while still trying to fulfill their promise to the nixie Taloa.
Along the way, they encounter dangerous creatures, unstable sinkholes, and uneasy alliances with merfolk, all while trying to stop the growing destruction.
The story leans heavily into action and chaos, sometimes at the expense of clarity, but it keeps moving at a fast pace. It’s imaginative and tense, even if it feels a bit crowded and rushed at times.
RATING: 4 out of 5 stars. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Along the way, they encounter dangerous creatures, unstable sinkholes, and uneasy alliances with merfolk, all while trying to stop the growing destruction.
The story leans heavily into action and chaos, sometimes at the expense of clarity, but it keeps moving at a fast pace. It’s imaginative and tense, even if it feels a bit crowded and rushed at times.
RATING: 4 out of 5 stars. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
August 15, 2019
OMG! Another 5 star read. Loved this book even more. It had a nice plots and mermaids. I freaking adored it. It was everything I needed.
December 27, 2022
Actual rating: 3.5
Not quite as good as the first book but still a lot of fun!
Not quite as good as the first book but still a lot of fun!
October 2, 2022
I felt kinda jealous reading this ngl
I wish I had these problems
I wish I had these problems
April 14, 2019
Irgendwie spukig ist das verwinkelte viktorianische Haus, in das die Zwillinge Jared und Simon mit ihrer Schwester Mallory einziehen. Merkwürdige Dinge geschehen, kleine Bosheiten, die allesamt Jared in die Schuhe geschoben werden. Doch ausnahmsweise ist es nicht Jared, der seiner Schwester im Schlaf die Haare am Bett festknotet und Simons Kaulquappen im Eisfach schockgefriert. Das Haus birgt ein Geheimnis! Versteckte Aufzüge gibt es dort, eine geheime Bibliothek – und ein altes, abgegriffenes Buch, das von magischen Wesen und ihrem Treiben berichtet. Die Geschwister ahnen: In diesem Haus sind sie nicht allein …
Mein Leseeindruck:
In diesem zweiten Band der Kinderbuchreihe wird Simon von Kobolden entführt, so dass Jared und Mallory sich auf die Suche nach ihm machen. Unerwartet bekommen sie dabei Hilfe von einem Troll. Mir hat dieser zweite Band wieder sehr gut gefallen. Die Reihe richtet sich an Kinder ab 8 Jahre, und ich denke, vorher sollte das Buch wirklich nicht gelesen oder vorgelesen werden. Für ein Kinderbuch ist es, glaube ich, schon recht gruselig teilweise. Ich hatte auf jeden Fall viel Spaß mit der Geschichte und finde sie unglaublich fantasievoll und auch spannend! Ich freue mich auf die Fortsetzung!
Mein Leseeindruck:
In diesem zweiten Band der Kinderbuchreihe wird Simon von Kobolden entführt, so dass Jared und Mallory sich auf die Suche nach ihm machen. Unerwartet bekommen sie dabei Hilfe von einem Troll. Mir hat dieser zweite Band wieder sehr gut gefallen. Die Reihe richtet sich an Kinder ab 8 Jahre, und ich denke, vorher sollte das Buch wirklich nicht gelesen oder vorgelesen werden. Für ein Kinderbuch ist es, glaube ich, schon recht gruselig teilweise. Ich hatte auf jeden Fall viel Spaß mit der Geschichte und finde sie unglaublich fantasievoll und auch spannend! Ich freue mich auf die Fortsetzung!
June 10, 2015
I liked this book it is the second book I have read of Spider Wick and I would like to read the third one it was really interesting how they had to make the Giants listen to the mermaids sing. They had to give the mermaids a fish so that they could sing for the giants. The Giants crashing up Nick's house so that they had to stay in a hotel. Jack leaving with his son to another place because he got hurt by a Giant so his son decided to take him where he lives. They had to go and steal the fish from nicks girlfriends house so they had to do it without the girlfriends dad knowing because he could of killed his daughter because he loved his fishes really much. They had to escape from the Giants so that the Giants would not eat them.
November 3, 2020
Enjoyable
June 22, 2009
What a delightful book this is. This was the first book I’ve read in the Spiderwick Chronicles and I quickly found myself immersed in the story of Nicholas Vargas and his sister, Laurie. Add to this Noseeum Jack, a humorous character with a huge walking stick, a sharp machete and lots of advice on tracking giants.
I fell in love with the mischievous and voracious hobgoblin Sandspur and allowed myself to drift away on the magical songs sung by the wise, but tricky, Merpeople. Although Nick seemingly outwits the giants and saves the world at last, as I turn the final page, I wonder whether Nick’s triumph will see us well into Book Three. I hope so. I hope to read more of the Spiderwick Chronicles in the coming months.
I fell in love with the mischievous and voracious hobgoblin Sandspur and allowed myself to drift away on the magical songs sung by the wise, but tricky, Merpeople. Although Nick seemingly outwits the giants and saves the world at last, as I turn the final page, I wonder whether Nick’s triumph will see us well into Book Three. I hope so. I hope to read more of the Spiderwick Chronicles in the coming months.
February 28, 2025
I’m curious to see how this ends. I like the addition of characters that have the sight, and the new creatures, but there is just something missing from this second round of stories to make it as chaotic, mischievous, and whimsical as the first ones.
August 4, 2016
An easy read of a book I didn't get around to reading when I was younger.
May 23, 2024
My daughter and I really like these books.
The relationship between all of the kids is great. The way they banter and argue and fight, its so reminiscent of my relationship with my siblings. I appreciate that this series seems to be a step up from the prior, and my daughter does too.
There's so much suspense in this one that we had a hard time putting it down at bedtime and finished it in two days. We'll be jumping into the next one as soon as possible.
This world is always so much fun.
The relationship between all of the kids is great. The way they banter and argue and fight, its so reminiscent of my relationship with my siblings. I appreciate that this series seems to be a step up from the prior, and my daughter does too.
There's so much suspense in this one that we had a hard time putting it down at bedtime and finished it in two days. We'll be jumping into the next one as soon as possible.
This world is always so much fun.
January 2, 2024
4.75
These are so GOOD oh my GOD
These are so GOOD oh my GOD
July 27, 2025
The characters are much better in this one, it helps to have the extra cast for sure.
The fish scene had me seeing red though! The surprise twist at the end of oh uhhh maybe we shouldn't have done that is so funny.
I'm still like meh about it overall. Spiderwick was mysterious and it had the family drama tangled in it. And this is just kids live in this area where there's monsters. Which can be fun, but nothing more than that really.
The fish scene had me seeing red though! The surprise twist at the end of oh uhhh maybe we shouldn't have done that is so funny.
I'm still like meh about it overall. Spiderwick was mysterious and it had the family drama tangled in it. And this is just kids live in this area where there's monsters. Which can be fun, but nothing more than that really.
January 7, 2026
Ich glaube man hätte es wirklich nach den ersten fünf Büchern sein lassen können lol.
March 11, 2011
So this middle book in the three-part "Beyond the Spiderwick Chronicles" series ostensibly tries really hard to improve on the first one, and to broaden and expand the scope of the characters and plot, but in the end it just falls flat. Story-wise, basically there are giants wreaking havoc all over Florida, and it's up to a group of step-siblings (plus or minus a girlfriend or a trio of recalls from other series) to figure out how to get rid of them.
The authors thankfully managed to keep themselves out of the book this time, but at the last second couldn't resist blurring the lines between this series and the original Spiderwick series as the Grace kids make another appearance, which just comes across as unnecessary throwback. It seems like they're really trying to develop these characters, but it's just not working for several reason(s): They are inconsistent; their progression is unnatural and abrupt; they all still feel really bland and shallow; Nick is still just really unpleasant! In fact, all of the kids are deceptive and disrespectful to their (obviously) clueless and negligent parents. Some characters make appearances for no apparent reason--Noseeum Jack had a lot of potential, but disappeared just as suddenly as he appeared at the end of the previous book. The parents in the picture are utterly ineffective, presumably because they have to be in order for the kids to run around fighting giants and whatever, but there has to be a better way to write these relationships. The writing is probably even weaker than in The Nixie's Song (speaking of, the nixies are pretty much absent throughout). The poor kids seem just as flat in character as the singular-minded giants. There were some arbitrarily-inserted new creatures, but even when they're supposed to be threatening and tricky, they more often than not they don't follow through with their eerie warnings, or they disappear entirely. The mysteries and clues presented throughout aren't very well-developed or -placed, or even referred to very often, which makes their reappearance as the missing piece of the puzzle seem random and confusing (I had to go back and re-read parts to even remember if certain elements were even mentioned earlier). And then the whole plan to actually defeat the giants seems so bewilderingly simplistic it's kind of insulting. The deal with the mermaids doesn't even make sense, but could have been a really awesome plot element, especially regarding Julian. It's like a five-year-old concocted out a plan (which is sort of the idea, but it has to at least make sense and be a little believable), and the teenagers involved just went right along with it. And then, just like the nixies and their disappearing/reappearing act, the last page indicates that basically the entire conflict and plot of this book was filler, totally unnecessary. They spent the entire book figuring out how to get rid of the giants, and going through with this murky and implausible plan, only to discover they have to bring them back.
The attempts to address heavy themes are still here, though sort of in the background, but the language is a little more age-appropriate. Unfortunately, not even the design seemed as polished or impressive this time around. I'm starting to lose interest in this DiTerlizzi a little bit. It's just not as attractive as the first time around for some reason. This world has potential, but it's being squandered by opportunistic spin-offs. Why should kids' books be poorly-written and weakly-structured?
Also, that's one sturdy microcassette player to be completely submerged in seawater, then resurface in perfect working order...
The authors thankfully managed to keep themselves out of the book this time, but at the last second couldn't resist blurring the lines between this series and the original Spiderwick series as the Grace kids make another appearance, which just comes across as unnecessary throwback. It seems like they're really trying to develop these characters, but it's just not working for several reason(s): They are inconsistent; their progression is unnatural and abrupt; they all still feel really bland and shallow; Nick is still just really unpleasant! In fact, all of the kids are deceptive and disrespectful to their (obviously) clueless and negligent parents. Some characters make appearances for no apparent reason--Noseeum Jack had a lot of potential, but disappeared just as suddenly as he appeared at the end of the previous book. The parents in the picture are utterly ineffective, presumably because they have to be in order for the kids to run around fighting giants and whatever, but there has to be a better way to write these relationships. The writing is probably even weaker than in The Nixie's Song (speaking of, the nixies are pretty much absent throughout). The poor kids seem just as flat in character as the singular-minded giants. There were some arbitrarily-inserted new creatures, but even when they're supposed to be threatening and tricky, they more often than not they don't follow through with their eerie warnings, or they disappear entirely. The mysteries and clues presented throughout aren't very well-developed or -placed, or even referred to very often, which makes their reappearance as the missing piece of the puzzle seem random and confusing (I had to go back and re-read parts to even remember if certain elements were even mentioned earlier). And then the whole plan to actually defeat the giants seems so bewilderingly simplistic it's kind of insulting. The deal with the mermaids doesn't even make sense, but could have been a really awesome plot element, especially regarding Julian. It's like a five-year-old concocted out a plan (which is sort of the idea, but it has to at least make sense and be a little believable), and the teenagers involved just went right along with it. And then, just like the nixies and their disappearing/reappearing act, the last page indicates that basically the entire conflict and plot of this book was filler, totally unnecessary. They spent the entire book figuring out how to get rid of the giants, and going through with this murky and implausible plan, only to discover they have to bring them back.
The attempts to address heavy themes are still here, though sort of in the background, but the language is a little more age-appropriate. Unfortunately, not even the design seemed as polished or impressive this time around. I'm starting to lose interest in this DiTerlizzi a little bit. It's just not as attractive as the first time around for some reason. This world has potential, but it's being squandered by opportunistic spin-offs. Why should kids' books be poorly-written and weakly-structured?
Also, that's one sturdy microcassette player to be completely submerged in seawater, then resurface in perfect working order...
September 4, 2015
Лошо ли е,че харесвам детски книжки? Тони и Холи все повече ми харесват като комбинация. Тази книжка ме зарежда с положителни емоции всеки път щом я отворя,на фона на ужасните неща,които героите преживяват :D Радвам се,че в тази книга освен Ник и Лори се включиха и още няколко - Джулс и Синди например. Бодливко,това малко ядящо тапицерия същество незнайно защо ми напомня на Гроувър от Пърси Джаксън. Доста ми допадна в книжката,че действието се развива супер бързо с типичните за детските книжки неуточнения в разни неща. Хареса ми и края. Веднага почвам третата книжка,за да разбера какво по дяволите ще стане с Ник,Лори,Джулс и Синди,към които се присъединиха трима познати герои - да,точно те - Джерард,Саймън и Мелъри.
March 2, 2017
Holy moly ending!!! Florida is doomed!! Or is it???
November 4, 2020
3.5/5 Stars
June 6, 2023
This was my favorite of the Beyond Spiderwick books. I really enjoyed all the faeries and the gorgeous illustrations. I also loved the interactions between Nick and Laurie, and enjoyed the fact that they were able to overcome some of their differences.
This book felt a lot like the original Spiderwick Chronicles, which I really liked. Getting to have the Grace kids in the plot again was so fun!
This book felt a lot like the original Spiderwick Chronicles, which I really liked. Getting to have the Grace kids in the plot again was so fun!
November 12, 2022
Sympa mais dispensable.
December 13, 2022
Equally an adventure story about fighting giants and a family story about the aftermath of losing your home to a natural disaster, and it manages to cover both topics SO well.
January 16, 2023
Another nice addition to the Spiderwick Chronicles, was a decent read.
February 16, 2025
And then they were fighting GIANTS! What a ride!
September 10, 2026
3.5/5 ⭐️
Not as good as the previous one, but still so magical 🧌🧜♀️
Not as good as the previous one, but still so magical 🧌🧜♀️
February 17, 2022
Character - 4
Atmosphere - 5
Writing - 5
Plot - 5
Intrigue - 5
Logic - 5
Enjoyment - 5
Rating: 4.86 / 3 stars
Atmosphere - 5
Writing - 5
Plot - 5
Intrigue - 5
Logic - 5
Enjoyment - 5
Rating: 4.86 / 3 stars
February 28, 2022
A GIANT PROBLEM
Tony DiTerlizzi
OMG, this is just adorable. If you like giants and mermaids, this is a great find. I loved the story, it is just so cute.
5 stars
Happy Reading!
Tony DiTerlizzi
OMG, this is just adorable. If you like giants and mermaids, this is a great find. I loved the story, it is just so cute.
5 stars
Happy Reading!
July 9, 2016
This is a really gripping story, and far more extreme than the original series.
They have to save Florida this time, not just a field guide and the Grace family and their house.
All of Florida!
More destructive and risky, larger creatures and more dangerous ones.
This one has more of an oceanic theme to it, merpeople and water creatures, not as much the forest fey of the first series which is set in Maine.
This should be a movie too!
They have to save Florida this time, not just a field guide and the Grace family and their house.
All of Florida!
More destructive and risky, larger creatures and more dangerous ones.
This one has more of an oceanic theme to it, merpeople and water creatures, not as much the forest fey of the first series which is set in Maine.
This should be a movie too!
November 16, 2014
I have one book more to finished this series. Yayyyy!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 314 reviews