Common Sense Media Review
By Mary Eisenhart
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Philosophy, trickery in quirky meditation on mortality.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 14+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
What's the Story?
Lemony Snicket finds himself facing an unfortunate event of his own as he finishes off his usual morning meal, only to behold a note announcing "You have had POISON FOR BREAKFAST." Determined to solve the mystery of which food or beverage is about to cause his death, the author tracks each ingredient to its source, while pondering history, suffering, mortality, and other deep and doomy matters. This involves assorted neighborhood wanderings, interactions with persons real, imaginary, and/or long deceased, a sudden swim, and other puzzlements that seem all very well but not exactly helpful. Also a number of thoughts about the nature of storytelling that seem beside the point -- but aren't.
Is It Any Good?
Red herrings, rabbit holes, and shaggy dogs are out in force in Lemony Snicket's meandering exploration of how his seemingly harmless morning meal is out to kill him, and what he can do about it. There are tricks, snares, delusions, and seemingly pointless wanderings, plus meditations on history, art, literature, storytelling, philosophy... When the detective/narrator does his big reveal, some readers will respond with delight, others with outrage, still others with bewilderment (a recurring theme in itself). Meanwhile, stealthily, the author delivers a master class in strategic omission of important facts as a storytelling tool -- and how it can be used to completely hornswoggle the audience.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how Poison for Breakfast fits in with other works you've read by Lemony Snicket. What other stories of his do you like? Do you appreciate a chance to explore a different side of the author, or do you want more of what you know and love?
If you learned you had just been poisoned, would you do the same thing as Mr. Snicket, or pursue a different solution?
As Poison for Breakfast illustrates, leaving out a few facts here and there, possibly to be revealed at a later moment, can really change the story you're telling -- and your audience's sense of what's happening. Try retelling a well-known story while omitting some things and emphasizing others -- how does it change the story, and how people react to it?
Book Details
- Author :
- Genre : Mystery
- Topics : Adventures
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Liveright
- Publication date : August 31, 2021
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 13 - 18
- Number of pages : 168
- Available on : Nook, Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Last updated : September 29, 2025
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