In the Library With A Candlestick

Snicket, L., Helquist, B., & Kupperman, M. (1999). The bad beginning: Book the first, A series of unfortunate events. New York: Scholastic, Inc.

Genres: Dark Comedy, Neo-Gothic, Mystery

Summary: Lemony Snicket, whose own story is shrouded in mystery, relates the tragic events of three orphaned siblings. The Bad Beginning is the first of thirteen woeful novels, introducing the Baudelaire children sitting in the rubble and ashes of their once beautiful home, facing the brutal reality that they will never see their parents again.

While the themes of this book are dark and distressing, the Baudelaire children are resilient, resourceful, and talented. Violet, the oldest, is a brilliant inventor. Klaus, the middle child, has read so many books, he is like a living encyclopedia. And Sunny, the baby who cannot yet walk or talk, has very sharp teeth for cutting or chopping things into bits.

The Baudelaire siblings are sent to live with their distant uncle, the arrogant Count Olaf, who proves to be cruel and selfish and will stop at nothing to seize the Baudelaire fortune. Can the children uncover Count Olaf’s scheme before it’s too late? Can they discover the truth of their parents’ death?

Notes:
Book One of thirteen: A Series of Unfortunate Events.
The Bad Beginning has won multiple literary awards, including the Colorado Children's Book Award, and the Nevada Young Readers Award. Other titles in this series have also been honored with multiple awards and nominations.