Witherwood Reform School, Book 1
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A Lot or a Little?
The parents' guide to what's in this book.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that there's plenty of cartoonish creepiness in Obert Skye's latest series start, and sensitive readers may be more appalled than entertained by this variation on the Hansel and Gretel theme. The 11- and 12-year-old sibling protagonists get dumped at the gates of a spooky house in the dead of night by their own father, after the kids send live tadpoles to an awful doom by putting them in their horrid governess's food. Monsters, locked rooms, dark hallways, dramatic reversals, and zombie-like characters abound, and there's an evil headmaster who keeps everyone in line with mind control. There's some butt-, fart-, and bathroom-themed humor and a non-ending that sets up future adventures.
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What's the Story?
Ever since their mother died, 12-year-old Tobias and 11-year-old Charlotte Eggers have been stuck with one horrible governess after another rather than being cared for by their father, who isn't coping too well. When a dire prank on the governess takes a worse turn, their dad's had it -- and he dumps them in the middle of the rainy night at the gates of WITHERWOOD REFORM SCHOOL. He doesn't really mean to leave them there for long, but his plans go awry, and soon the terrified but resourceful kids are imprisoned by toothy creatures and creepy adults in this strange academy -- not for long, if they can help it.
Is It Any Good?
Kids who have a hard time seeing the funny side of emotionally harrowing situations, from scary monsters to mourning and parental abandonment, might want to pass on this book. But readers steeped in Neil Gaiman and Lemony Snicket will find Witherwood Reform School a fast, entertaining read. Some will gripe that very little is resolved at the end of this volume, which is largely a setup for future installments. Keith Thompson's appealing illustrations bring the characters and their predicaments to life.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about stories wherein parents abandon their kids to awful fates. Which others do you know? Why do you think some people love these stories and others don't want to hear them?
The kids and their father are struggling to cope with the death of the kids' mom as the story opens. Do you know any kids who are dealing with the loss of a parent? How does it change them and their lives?
Why do you think so many scary stories take place in schools? Make up a creepy tale about your own school.
Book Details
- Author: Obert Skye
- Illustrator: Keith Thompson
- Genre: Fantasy
- Topics: Adventures, Brothers and Sisters, Monsters, Ghosts, and Vampires
- Book type: Fiction
- Publisher: Henry Holt & Company, Inc.
- Publication date: March 3, 2015
- Publisher's recommended age(s): 9 - 12
- Number of pages: 240
- Available on: Nook, Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, iBooks, Kindle
- Last updated: July 12, 2017
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