This is a book that starts out badly, gets worse and never gets better. The Baudelaire children -- 14-year old inventor Violet, bookish 12-year old Klaus and baby Sunny -- suddenly lose their parents and home in a tragic fire, and are sent to live with the ghoulish Count Olaf, who hatches a plot to steal the children's fortune, which is held in trust. The mysterious author -- with the unlikely moniker Lemony Snicket -- makes no apologies for the bleakness of the plot; rather he revels in it. In witty Dickensian addresses to the reader he warns of the inevitably unhappy events to come and peppers his prose with challenging vocabulary used in most interesting and amusing ways.

The book has a English gothic/Victorian feel, emphasized by the stylized cover illustration and an executor named Mr. Poe, but some details give readers a modernist jolt, such as walkie-talkies used to perpetuate the dastardly plot to hang baby Sunny out of a high tower in a bird cage. A most unusual but worthwhile chapter book for readers who are tired of typical children's fiction. Ages 9 and up.

Violet, Klaus, and Sunny Baudelaire are intelligent children. They are charming, and resourceful, and have pleasant facial features. Unfortunately, they are exceptionally unlucky.

In the first two books alone, the three youngsters encounter a greedy and repulsive villain, itchy clothing, a disastrous fire, a plot to steal their fortune, a lumpy bed, a deadly serpent, a large brass reading lamp, a long knife, and a terrible odour.

In the tradition of great storytellers, from Dickens to Dahl, comes an exquisitely dark comedy that is both literary and irreverent, hilarious and deftly crafted. Never before has a tale of three likeable and unfortunate children been quite so enchanting, or quite so uproariously unhappy.

Ages 10+

This book introduces us to Violet, Klaus, and Sunny Baudelaire, who lose their parents and their house to a terrible fire. Now orphans, they are sent to live with the horrible Count Olaf, who makes their lives miserable while trying to steal the Baudelaire fortune. In each book in the series, the children are sent to a different foster parent, only to have Count Olaf find them. The children outwit him, and he gets away without the fortune. The stories are a little predictable, but they're fun -- and only take a couple of hours to read.

Lemony Snicket is often despondent, mostly about his published research, which includes A Series of Unfortunate Events and The Composer Is Dead.

Dear Reader,

I'm sorry to say that the book you are holding in your hands is extremely unpleasant. It tells an unhappy tale about three very unlucky children. Even though they are charming and clever, the Baudelaire siblings lead lives filled with misery and woe. From the very first page of this book when the children are at the beach and receive terrible news, continuing on through the entire story, disaster lurks at their heels. One might say they are magnets for misfortune.

In this short book alone, the three youngsters encounter a greedy and repulsive villain, itchy clothing, a disastrous fire, a plot to steal their fortune, and cold porridge for breakfast.

It is my sad duty to write down these unpleasant tales, but there is nothing stopping you from putting this book down at once and reading something happy, if you prefer that sort of thing.

With all due respect,
Lemony Snicket

Book 1