Common Sense Media Review
A cliff-hanging orphan adventure wrapped in black humor.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 9+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 14 parent reviews
Based on 73 kid reviews
Kids say the book offers a captivating mix of suspense and dark themes, successfully engaging older children and even adults, while showcasing the intelligence and resourcefulness of the Baudelaire siblings. However, its dark tone and unfortunate events may not be suitable for younger readers or those seeking happy endings, leading to mixed feelings about its overall message and appeal.
- suspenseful story
- dark themes
- strong characters
- educational value
- mixed reviews
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
A cliff-hanging adventure wrapped in black -- very black -- humor marks "The Bad Beginning," by Lemony Snicket (the pen name of author Daniel Handler) and his equally fiendish illustrator, Brett Helquist. The story follows the grim-fated progress of the recently orphaned Baudelaire children, and their mistreatment at the hands of their abominable distant cousin, Count Olaf, right to the bittersweet, to-be-continued ending.
Is It Any Good?
Snicket successfully negotiates the treacherous waters of gallows humor in this first volume of his Series of Unfortunate Events. Like Edward Gorey, his success is due to the formal, deadpan quality of his fine writing and his understated way with catastrophe. The result is at once grim, sinister, and terrifically entertaining.
The book doesn't get by on ghoulishness alone; it needs a story, and it has a good one. Snicket keeps readers off balance: He states flatly that things won't turn out right for the Baudelaires, then holds out some promise, only to snatch it back. The story is enlivened by Helquist's occasional artwork.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the black humor in this book. Do you enjoy this kind of humor? Does it mix well with the sinister aspect of the story?
How do you like the formal language of the narrator? Do you like learning the many unusual words he includes and explains?
What's fun -- and sometimes funny -- about characters being in danger?
Book Details
- Author :
- Illustrator : Brett Helquist
- Genre : Adventure
- Topics : Fantasy ( Magic ) , Adventures , Family Stories ( Siblings )
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : HarperCollins Children's Books
- Publication date : January 1, 1999
- Number of pages : 162
- Award : Kids' Choice Award
- Last updated : October 1, 2025
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