"The Bad Beginning"- The Baudelaire children have lost their parents, but that's just the tip of the iceberg. Count Olaf becomes their guardian and he is more interested on getting his hands on their fortune than caring for the children. He enlists the help of the scary friends from his theater troop, including the man with a hook for a hand and the one that looks like neither a man or a woman.
AR level 6.4
pts 4.0
"The Reptile Room" book 2- The orphans have barely escaped from Count Olaf, though he has vowed to get their fortune if it's the last thing he does! They are now put into the care of herpetologist Montgomery Montgomery (Uncle Monty) who loves his snakes and treats the children decently. Before their trip to Peru, his assistant resigns and Uncle Monty hires "Stefano" to take his place. There's something too familar about this "Stefano" character.
AR level 6.3
pts 5.0
"The Wide Window" book 3-Aunt Josephine has new guardianship over the orphans. She is kind to them, but a little too trusting of "Captain Sham." She has unusual fears of stoves (cold soup for dinner, yuck!), telephones, and lakes, however she has a passion for grammar.
BL 6.3
pts 5.o
"The Miserable Mill" book 4- The orphans' new guardian has an unpronouncible name and he puts the children to work in his dangerous lumber mill, where the employees are paid in coupons and given 5 minute lunch breaks to chew their piece of gum, then back to work! The orphans are miserable again but also wondering what Count Olaf is up to; he hasn't come after them, but they know he's out there.
AR level 6.2
pts 5.0
"The Austere Academy" book 5- The orphans are sent to boarding school, where Vice Principal Nero makes them sleep in the Orphans shack that has fungus dripping from the ceiling and territorial crabs scurrying across the floor trying to pinch their feet. Their teachers are horrible and Sunny is made to work as Vice Principal Nero's secretary. At least they have made friends for the first time in a while. Can their new friends help them escape from Count Olaf?
AR level 6.7
pts 6.0
"The Ersatz Elevator" book 6- The new guardians are the wealthy Esme and Gerome Squalor, who live in an enormous penthouse on Dark Ave. Esme agrees to guardianship because having oprhans is "in," as well as auqeous martinis, stairs, parsley soda, and ocean decor.
AR level 6.6
pts 7.0
"The Vile Village" book 7- Mr.Poe is having trouble finding a new guardian for the orphans, since may people have heard about some of the terrible fates of their other guardians. They are adopted by a village under the idea that "it takes a village to raise a child." However, this village has about 20,000 rules and only wanted the orphans to do all of their chores. All the while, the Beaudalaires are trying to find their friends, the Quagmire triplets and trying to solve the mystery of V.F.D.
AR level 6.7
pts 7.0
"The Hostile Hospital" book 8
AR level 6.9
pts 6.0
"The Carnivorous Carnival" book 9
AR level 6.6
pts 7.0
"The Slippery Slope" book 10
AR level 7.1
pts 9.0
"The Grim Grotto" book 11
AR level 6.5
pts 8.0
"The Penultimate Peril" book 12
AR level 7.4
pts 7.0
"The End" book 13
AR level 7.3
pts 9.0
We have book 1 and rented book 5 -7, the rest we have only listened to, but I would like the collection one day. The first two on audio books are read by Tim Curry who does a convincing portrayal of Mr. Poe and his chronic cough. Lemony Snicket does the 3rd and 4th, and I expected more with the author reading it. Tim Curry actually does better. Lemony Snicket's voice does end up growing on you, though.
