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This was an interesting concept for a book, however the way it was carried out was frustrated for me.

The plot is set out as if the reader is meant to be able to help solve it, but for me, the solution came out of nowhere and I couldn't engage with the clues. This style was mirrored in A Challenge to the Reader. I was very excited by this idea of finding a hidden message in the illustrations, however I didn't even come close to solving it. I had no idea what I was doing. It was only until I looked at the answer that I figured out the pattern and then was able to solve it. (Also, I struggled to find the supposed answer on the provided website in the book, but was finally able to locate it on Scholastic's Teacher's Activity Guide under Downloads near the bottom.)

The concept was clever and cool, but a lot of the clues were horribly hard to find. There were three that I could not find for the life of me until I looked up what I was supposed to be searching for. Only then was I able to see them. I do think finding the clues gets easier as you go, because you learn where Helquist is likely to hide them (space on walls, panes in windows). I'd recommend looking for all of the clues once you finish the book rather than as you read. It really pulls you out of the story and was just frustrating to me until I figured out what I was supposed to do. It may have been more successful if the prompt had been clearer. For instance, I understood the prompt for odd versus even but interpreted it in a different way than was meant and therefore was very frustrated.

Besides that frustration, I thought the book was good. It was written in an interesting way, had an unique premise, and was a cool way to raise interest in controversies in the art world. I didn't necessarily relate to either of the main characters and they felt pretty flat, but I think you can get away with that in a book meant for younger audiences. The plot itself was okay, a bit slow at times. There were times of suspense, but usually it didn't really pull me in because I couldn't engage with the mystery. It was written as though the reader was supposed to solve the crime with the characters, but there was too much hidden behind the scenes that I couldn't catch on to. Maybe I'm just not great at mysteries, but I mostly felt along for the ride on this one.

Interesting ideas about coincidences and such, but it did feel pretty random once the mystery was solved. I don't really put much faith in coincidences so maybe that just didn't resonate with me, but the final reveal was a bit of a let down and I felt there should have been more to it.

Good attempt with the puzzles and clues, but for me, it was too difficult. The pattern felt nearly impossible to solve until I looked up what I was supposed to be doing. I really enjoy books that allow the reader to solve puzzles such as Emily Rodda's Deltora books, which is geared toward a younger audience, but these ones felt a bit too difficult. You really had to be in the author and illustrator's heads to know what to do, which was frustrating. Fun once I knew what to do, but at the start, I had no hope.

Overall, an okay read. Had good potential, but was a bit flat at the end for me. I'm kind of intrigued that it is a series. May or may not continue if my library has the rest of the books.

The tenth book in this outrageous publishing effort features more than the usual dose of distressing details, such as snow gnats, an organised troupe of youngsters, an evil villain with a dastardly plan, a secret headquarters and some dangerous antics you should not try at home. With the weather turning colder, this is one chilling book you would be better off without. (From Amazon)

The title of this book refers not only to the mountain the Baudelaire children find themselves on but also to the slippery slope that could lead them to become villains. The Baudelaires are challenged to save their sister and find out the secrets of VFD without comprising their principles.

The performance of Tim Curry (who reads the story) is flawless - to the point where I forget who I'm listening to. His portrayal of Count Olaf is deliciously evil.

In The Vile Village, an entire village decides to adopt the Baudelaire orphans. But, instead of taking care of them, the villagers just put them to work. Nothing goes easy for the Baudelaires but they pull together to survive and protect each other. 

From Amazon re: The Hostile Hospital.

In Lemony Snicket's eighth ghastly installment in A Series of Unfortunate Events, I'm sorry to say that the Baudelaire orphans will spend time in a hospital where they risk encountering a misleading newspaper headline, unnecessary surgery, an intercom system, anesthesia, heart-shaped balloons, and some very startling news about a fire.

From Amazon re: The Carnivorous Carnival.

A carnival is a place for good family fun—as long as one has a family, that is. For the Baudelaire orphans, their time at the carnival turns out to be yet another episode in a now unbearable series of unfortunate events. In fact, in this appalling ninth installment in Lemony Snicket's serial, the siblings must confront a terrible lie, a caravan, and Chabo the wolf baby.

 

Throughout the three books, the Baudelaires find more clues about the initials VFD and what happened to their parents. Then again, everything they learn only leads to more questions. Count Olaf continues his villanous behavior and efforts to get his hands on the Baudelaire fortune. The warnings from Snicket to stop reading still make me laugh as do his explanations of what words mean (always set in the context of the story).

The Miserable Mill and The Austere Academy are books 4 & 5 in the series. Both involve the same plotline as books 2 & 3... No one ever recognizes Count Olaf in his ridiculous costumes except the Baudelaires, and no one ever believes them. And in the end, when Count Olaf is finally discovered, he escapes. In the Miserable Mill, the children are forced to work in a lumber mill, and the Austere Academy takes place in a boarding school. At the school, the Baudelaires finally meet some friends their own age who believe them.

In the Ersatz Elevator, the formula finally changes. The Baudelaires are adopted by a wealthy family near where their home burned down. As the back of the book says,

"Even though their new home in the city is fancy, and the children are clever and charming, I'm sorry to say that still, the unlucky orphans will encounter more disaster and woe. In fact, in this sixth book in A Series of Unfortunate Events, the children will experience a darkened staircase, a red herring, an auction, parsley soda, some friends in a dire situation, a secret passageway, and pinstripe suits."

 

I was thrilled at a change and having someone else to root for and someone else to hate. The characters are quirky and outlandish, but fun to read about.

The mystery deepens...

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