The End (A Series of Unfortunate Events, Book 13) (by Lemony Snicket)

But everything eventually washes up on this island, and not only is Olaf still scheming, but the island is intimately related to the Baudelaires' parents and history. Even Ishmael is not what he seems. Much will finally be revealed -- and much will not.

Fans of the A Series of Unfortunate Events books have probably already read THE END, and those new to the series won't understand much of it. Adults love the mordant humor. Kids love the melodramatic adventure. And plenty of people, both kids and adults, just don't get what all the fuss is about.

Part mystery, part Dickensian melodrama, with a few touches of fantasy, all served up with a sort of glum hilarity, A Series of Unfortunate Events is like Oliver Twist narrated by Eeyore. With frequent witty explanations of vocabulary, extended cockeyed metaphors, and much tongue-in-cheek woe and misery, it's the kids' version of a mock-tragedy, a literary jape that even those who don't get the joke can enjoy. Anyone worried about the verbal and literary acuity of today's generation can relax -- judging by the popularity of this smart series, something must be going right after all.