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The Wide Window (A Series of Unfortunate Events, Book 3)

(1999, Fiction - Adventure, Written by Lemony Snicket, Illustrated by Brett Helquist)
  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 8, age appropriate for kids over 9; suggested age 9.
  • Is it any good?

    4.0
  • Common Sense says

    The least subtle book thus far in the series.

Why We Rated This on for Ages 9 and Up

What to watch out for

  • Messages:

    The children steal a sailboat from evil Olaf, then set out in a storm.
  • Violence:

    Though presented as farce, Olaf's violence is real. He pushes Aunt Josephine to her watery grave, for example, and menaces the children almost nonstop. Olaf's return, especially his confrontation with the children at sea, involving an attack by a school
  • Sex:

    Not an issue.
  • Language:

    Not an issue.
  • Consumerism:

    Not an issue.
  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    Not an issue.
 

What Parents Need to Know

About The Wide Window (A Series of Unfortunate Events, Book 3)

Parents need to know that Snicket's ability to pile crisis upon catastrophe upon bum luck without the story collapsing under the weight of its relentless misfortune is brilliant, and a surefire attention-catcher.

Did this review help you decide?

Families Can Talk About

  • Families can talk about tone and the darkly humorous appeal of the books in the series. Why do readers find the adventures of the Baudelaire orphans funny although they're constantly plagued by misfortune?

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Our Members Say

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  • What did you think about The Wide Window (A Series of Unfortunate Events, Book 3)?
  •  I think this book is

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See all 6 member reviews

Most Recent Reviews

  1. Adult Reviewer
    I rate this title iffy for age 9 and give it 3.0
    • My highlights are:
    • Good role models

    An okay book

    This book was good but not one of my favorites.

  2. Kid Reviewer Age 12
    I rate this title off for age 2 and give it 3.0
    My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence

  3. Adult Reviewer
    Lives in Florida
    I rate this title on for age 11 and give it 5.0

  4. Teen Reviewer Age 16
    Lives in Utah
    I rate this title on for age 2 and give it 5.0

    Bravo!

    We last left the three orphans watching Uncle Monty's reptiles being taken away, not a very cliff-hanging ending. Fan's of the series will want to move onto the next book though: The Wide Window. The three orphans move in with very cautious Aunt Josephine, who's house is dangerously built above Lake Lachrymose. A catchy storyline. I strongly recommend it.

  5. Teen Reviewer Age 16
    Lives in Maryland
    I rate this title iffy for age 2 and give it 2.0

    I lost 6 brain cells reading this!

    I didn't really enjoy reading this becaisse the author kept on talking about himself and what the words mean so it didn't really seem like a story it was more like a grammar source with a story to go along with it.

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