Parents' Guide to LemonySnicket

LemonySnicket Poster Image

Common Sense Media Review

By Jean Armour Polly , based on child development research. How do we rate?

age 9+

OK, but not as much fun as the books.

Parents Need to Know

Why Age 9+?

Any Positive Content?

Parent and Kid Reviews

age 8+

Based on 4 kid reviews

What's It About?

The Lemony Snicket Series of Unfortunate Events franchise is red hot. Kids love reading about the Baudelaire orphans, Count Olaf, and their bleak yet amusing times. But just who is the mysterious author of these popular books? You'll find clues about him throughout the site, as well as some grainy photos, most of which show Mr. Snicket from behind. Besides information on all of the books and the movie, the site also has two mildly entertaining games, a screen saver, and a downloadable "Unwanted" poster featuring the evil count himself.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say : Not yet rated
Kids say ( 4 ):

The best parts of the site are the printable trading cards that describe each character and the "Reading Group Guide." The latter is a funny take on how a book discussion group might tackle the series. Sample discussion question: "Does anything in your life compare with the anguish the Baudelaire children encounter in The Austere Academy? If so, how terrible for you. If not, how nice. Discuss."

But what's unfortunate is how boring the site is, considering the popularity of the books. Well, Lemony warns users on the front page, "If I were you, I would immediately turn your computer off rather than view any of the dreadful images, read any of the wretched information, play any of the unnerving games, or examine the unpleasant books presented within this Web site." It's not that bad, but it could be improved by the addition of more interactives and games.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about whether there really is a Lemony Snicket -- and, if there is, why he's so reclusive.

Website Details

  • Genre : Fan Sites
  • Pricing structure : Free
  • Last updated : June 19, 2019

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by

LemonySnicket Poster Image

You May Also Like...

Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.

See how we rate