Book Title: A Series of Unfortunate Events: The Bad Beginning.
Author(s) and Artist(s)--if applicable: Lemony Snicket, illustrated by Brett Helquist
Publisher: HarperCollins
Copyright Date: 1999
Selection Choice: A book from A Series of Unfortunate Events
Brief Annotation: The three Baudelaire children live a happy life with their loving parents until an unexpected, horrible tragedy happens-- their parents are killed in a house fire. Fourteen-year old Violet, twelve-year-old Klause, and baby Sunny are sent to live with their creepy, greedy uncle, and their lives start to spiral downward.
Your Rating: 4 stars. This book is entertaining, creative, and has rich vocabulary that is defined within the story. Instead of the predictable story with a happy ending, this book leaves the reader wondering what will happen next.
Readers who will like this book: Readers who enjoy books with a darker theme, or a less predictable story line. Readers who would enjoy a story about resourceful, resilient children.
Question to ask about this book before reading: What does it mean to be resourceful?
Question to ask about this book during reading: What do you think the significance of Count Olaf’s eye symbol is?
Question to ask about this book after reading: How did the Baudelaire children exhibit resourcefulness during the story?
Optional, but noted as extra effort:
1. Interest Level (age): 11-13
2. Grade Level Equivalent (grade): 6.1
3. List awards: the Colorado Children’s Book Award, the Nevada Young Readers Award, and the Nene Award.
You have a natural talent for writing questions that get kids thinking. I love the idea of considering the word "resourceful" before reading--a concept that applies to many characters in this book, not just the protagonist, right? And getting kids to think about symbols in stories in one way to extend the idea of how readers infer.
ReplyDeleteOn another topic, I've been thinking lately about how many books for kids at the upper-elementary level have characters with at least one parent missing (deceased or off somewhere unknown) or they're orphans (for the same reasons listed). Here's my current list, in no particular order:
Everything on a Waffle
Because of Winn Dixie
The Higher Power of Lucky
When You Reach Me
Walk Two Moons
The Hunger Games
A Series of Unfortunate Events
Harry Potter
I could go on, but I'll stop there. Just wanted to give you something to think about so that maybe we can continue the discussion in the future. It's all so Charles Dickens with the orphaned/abandoned children and the lecherous adults who are out to get them!
I have noticed this parent-less theme as well in children's book, and you're right Dr. K., the list goes on and on. Do you think this is because it creates empathy with the reader? They may attach themselves to the characters more easily? Or maybe it's because the authors themselves have experienced this loss and it has spurred them to write about it, albeit in a fictitious format.
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