Details
Synopsis
Heavily reminiscent of the dry, lofty humor in the Series of Unfortunate Events books and THE MYSTERIOUS BENEDICT SOCIETY, this book by veteran children's writer Lois Lowry is a witty outing with endless references to literature, brainy children, and hilariously evil parents. The vile parents of the four precious Willoughby children scheme to discover ways to rid themselves of their children, and leaving them in the clutches of a nanny is one of them. Selling off the house is another. At the same time, the children discover a baby on their steps and dream up ways to become orphaned. With a bibliography and a glossary, this amusing outing is certain to please Lemony Snicket fans. A Kirkus Reviews Best Children's Book of 2008.
| Size | | Height: | 5.8 in | | Width: | 5.0 in | | Thickness: | 0.8 in | | Weight: | 4.2 oz |
Industry Reviews
"Lois Lowry, who casts her noble and enviable shadow wide across the landscape of children's literature, from fantasy to realism, here turns her quick, sly gaze to parody, a word which in this case means 'a short novel mocking the conventions of old-fashioned children's books stuffed with orphans, nannies and long-lost heirs.'"
(02/04/2008)
"Lacing her narrative with references to classics from the hoariest corners of the canon, Lowry channels her inner Snicket to great effect...Readers who are willing to give themselves up entirely to the sly foolishness will relish this sparklingly smart satire, which treats them with collegial familiarity."
(02/15/2008)
"Many are the ways used by children's novelists to get their protagonists' parents out of the way, but Lowry's solution here is particularly inventive and wickedly amusing."
(02/15/2008)
"The tone of this darkly dry pastiche is consistently witty, and it's chock-full of accessible parodic references to...classic children's texts...Lowry crafts a tidy plot out of ludicrous circumstances...."
(04/01/2008)
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