The Bad Beginning

A Series of Unfortunate Events: The Bad Beginning (1999) by Lemony Snicket.
ISBN: 0-06-440766-7

After their parents die in a fire, the Baudeliare kids -14 year old Violet, 12 year old Klaus and their baby sister Sunny, are sent to live with a horrible relative. Count Olaf was a disreputable actor, belonging to an unsavory theatre troupe, who lived in a dilapidated house with filthy rooms. Friendly Justice Strauss lives next door in her lovely house with a big library and takes and interest in the children. Mr. Poe, the banker who's the executor of the estate, thinks the children are just learning to adjust to their new home when they tell him how evil the Count is.

Although the children's fortune could not be touched for a few years, Count Olaf set out to get his hands on it. He schemes to force Violet to marry him by holding Sunny hostage. Good thing Violet is an inventive genius and Klaus has a propensity for reading and research; abilities that aid them in escaping this unfortunate event.

This is the first of thirteen books; the beginning of many unfortunate predicaments to befall the children. These books, with a mix of dark humor, absurd events and odd characters, have a delightful appeal. Each chapter begins with a detailed pencil drawing, evoking more curiousity about the its contents. Snicket uses vocabulary that the reader may find challenging, but cleverly and seamlessly includes a definition to carry the reader. Fun read for 9 to 13 year olds. (I had a 9th grader start reading last year because of these books.)

A Series of Unfortunate Events books and more can be found at Lemony Snicket.

Read-Alikes: If you like A Series of Unfortunate Events, you may like the Roald Dahl books - James and the Giant Peach and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.

Miracle's Boys

Miracle's Boys (2000) by Jacqueline Woodson. 131 pages
ISBN: 0-399-23113-7
(2006) Audiobook read by Dule Hill. New York, NY: Listening Library, download to MP3.

Winner of Coretta Scott King Award 2001

Lafayette is a thirteen year old being raised by his older brother Ty'ree. When their mother Milagra died, their other brother, Charlie, was in Rahway reform school. Their great-aunt Cecil wanted them to live with her, but they wanted to stay in New York. Ty'ree became guardian of his brothers, giving up his acceptance to MIT.

Ty'ree works full time, but there isn't much money. Charlie is back living them, but is a different person than he was before, lost and angry. Lafayette is dismayed and sees him as 'Newcharlie'. Newcharlie has a tendency toward trouble, finds himself at a gang initiation.

Ty'ree provides loving guidance and companionship to Lafayette. They reminisce about their mother and talk about the accident that led to their father's death. Charlie begins to reconnect with his brothers. The boys are loyal to each other; "B-to-B" (brother-to-brother) they say as their expression of love for each other.

This story is realistic, urban drama with authentic characters. The dialague connects the reader with characters' sorrow and anger. Listening to this story puts the reader closer to the drama. Dule Hill, who reads the audio version, brings an urban and ethnic tone that enhances its telling. Good read for 11 to 13 year olds.

If you like Miracle's Boys, you may like other Jacqueline Woodson books , as well as those by Walter Dean Myers