“We’re okay,” Laurie said. “Jules is inside. He’s okay too.”
Nick’s dad put his arm on Nick’s shoulder awkwardly, then bent down to wrap his arms around Nick and Laurie and Charlene. “You’re okay,” he echoed. “I’m so glad you’re all okay.”
Charlene and Nick’s dad signed a bunch of forms, and then the three kids were released. They said good-bye to Cindy and her parents, who seemed inclined to forgive everything, although they glowered at Jules when Cindy gave him a very lengthy parting hug. When Nick’s family walked over to Jared, Simon, and Mallory, Nick saw that they were standing with their father. Mr. Grace was a tall, handsome man with oddly white teeth. He looked confused, but managed to shake everyone’s hand anyway. They said more good-byes and made more promises of calling and e-mailing and seeing one another in places where there would be absolutely no faerie activity. Then Nick, Laurie, and Jules headed for the parking lot with Nick’s dad and Laurie’s mom. Charlene pushed Jules’s wheelchair, although he insisted that he could walk with a crutch.
“I brought my car,” Charlene said. “So, Laurie, I can take us back to the hotel and—”
“Um,” Nick said, interrupting her, “I just wanted to say that I’m ready for change or whatever it was the counselor said. I want Laurie and Charlene to live with us. You know, in the future when we have a house.”
“Me too,” said Jules.
“Me three,” said Laurie.
Dad looked at Charlene hopefully, and she smiled.
“I think we could do that,” she said. “When we have a house.”
“You do remember you promised me whatever bedroom I wanted, right?” Laurie said.
Nick groaned.
As they walked through the parking lot, Nick and Laurie lagged behind the others. The rain had stopped, and the sun was already high and bright in the sky. Nick blinked into the light.
“Look,” said Laurie softly.
There, at the edge of the lot, was a single giant walking toward a copse of mangrove trees. As though it knew the kids were there, the giant turned to them, its stony face tranquil. Then it continued on its slow way into the wood.
About TONY DiTERLIZZI . . .
Tony DiTerlizzi is the author and illustrator of Jimmy Zangwow’s Out-of-This-World Moon-Pie Adventure, as well as the Zena Sutherland Award–winning Ted. In 2003, his brilliantly cinematic version of Mary Howitt’s classic poem “The Spider and the Fly” received stellar reviews, earned Tony his second Zena Sutherland Award, and was honored as a Caldecott Honor Book. He followed that with the nonsense picture book G Is for One Gzonk! His recent novel, the New York Times bestseller Kenny & the Dragon, is his first chapter book. Tony’s art has also graced the work of such well-known fantasy names as J. R. R. Tolkien, Anne McCaffrey, Peter S. Beagle, and Jane Yolen as well as Wizards of the Coast’s Magic: The Gathering. He resides in Amherst, Massachusetts, with his wife and daughter. Visit Tony at diterlizzi.com.
and HOLLY BLACK
Holly Black’s first novel, Tithe: A Modern Faerie Tale, was published in the fall of 2002. It was a YALSA Best Book for Young Adults and made YALSA’s Teens’ Top Ten booklist for 2003. A companion novel, Valiant: A Modern Tale of Faerie, won the Andre Norton Award for young adult fiction from the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America. Her most recent solo venture is a New York Times bestselling companion to Tithe and Valiant entitled Ironside: A Modern Faery’s Tale. She has also contributed to anthologies by Terri Windling, Ellen Datlow, and Tamora Pierce. Holly lives in Amherst, Massachusetts, with her husband, Theo, in a house with a secret library. Visit Holly at blackholly.com.
hus ends the tales of Spiderwick.
A balance has been struck.
This peace between the worlds should last
(with any bit of luck).
Two cycles showed us wonders that
were closer than we thought
and evils which grew bigger than
the last one that was fought.
But through it all our heroes learned
a lesson from their plot:
That friends and family form a bond
which cuts through any knot.
It’s time to close the book upon
these chronicles you’ve read.
But rest assured the faerie realm
is nowhere close to dead.
The world of the fantastical
has tales left still to share
of boggarts, nixies, sprites—those who
surround us everywhere.
The Grace kids and the Vargases
are not the only six
who’ll have adventures magical
(and messes then to fix).
New stories need an author and
they’ll need a hero, too.
So hone your senses, stay alert—
these tasks might fall to you.
Please keep a pen with you to write,
a pad, a brush, and ink.
Because your faerie tale just might . . .
start SOONER THAN YOU THINK!
BOOKS BY
THE SPIDERWICK CHRONICLES
BOOK 1: The Field Guide
BOOK 3: Lucinda’s Secret
BOOK 4: The Ironwood Tree
BOOK 5: The Wrath of Mulgarath
THE SPIDERWICK CHRONICLES
Notebook for Fantastical Observations
Arthur Spiderwick’s Field Guide to the
Fantastical World Around You
THE SPIDERWICK CHRONICLES
Care and Feeding of Sprites
THE SPIDERWICK CHRONICLES
Deluxe Collector’s Trunk
The Chronicles of Spiderwick: A Grand Tour of the Enchanted
World, Navigated by Thimbletack
BEYOND THE SPIDERWICK CHRONICLES
BOOK 1: The Nixie’s Song
BOOK 2: A Giant Problem
BOOK 3: The Wyrm King
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Tony and Holly would like to thank
Kevin, our faithful, fantastical guide
for this grand adventure;
Linda, for mapping out Mangrove Hollow (and the spaghetti!);
Cassie, Cecil, Kelly, and Steve,
for their smarts;
Barry, for all his help;
Ellen, Julie, and all the folks at Gotham;
Scotty and Johnny Lind, for keeping the art on track;
Will and Joey B., for keeping Tony on track;
Theo, for all the patience and encouragement;
Angela (and Sophia)—more Spiderwick!
More endless nights of discussion!
At least it was on a beautiful, sunny Florida beach—
and all the wonderfully talented folks at S&S for
all of their support in bringing the last chapter
in the Spiderwick tale to life.
The text type for this book is set in Cochin.
The display types are set in Nevins Hand and Rackham.
The illustrations are rendered in pen and ink.
Managing editor: Dorothy Gribbin
Art director: Lizzy Bromley
Production manager: Chava Wolin
THE UNIVERSE IS FULL
OF MAGICAL THINGS
PATIENTLY WAITING
FOR OUR WITS
TO GROW SHARPER.
—EDEN PHILLPOTTS,
A SHADOW PASSES (1918)