YOUNG READERS RATE LEMONY SNICKET

Those poor Baudelaire orphans never seem to get a break, and kids never seem to get enough of their awful adventures.

In September, "The Grim Grotto" was released, finding the Baudelaires again in trouble, this time of a watery variety. As Lemony Snicket, aka Daniel Handler, wrote on Amazon.com, "Unless you are a slug, a sea anemone, or mildew, you probably prefer not to be damp. You might also prefer not to read this book, in which the Baudelaire siblings encounter an unpleasant amount of dampness as they descend into the depths of despair, underwater."

That description hasn't deterred fans of Snicket's "Series of Unfortunate Events," which is the No. 1 children's series, according to The New York Times Bestseller List. In fact, "The Grim Grotto" is currently the best-selling children's book on Amazon.com (as of Oct. 14).

Amy Beverland Elementary in Lawrence Township recently fashioned its fall Literacy Celebration around "The Grim Grotto." As part of the festivities, seven children won copies of the book, but there was a catch: Because they were the first to read the book, they had to write reviews of it, which we have excerpted.

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Zachary Boyle Bowman is a fifth-grader who likes mystery books, the Harry Potter series in particular. He's read all of the Snicket books and likes to follow the villainous Count Olaf: "It's like a mystery -- Where is he? What is he?" he said.

" 'The Grim Grotto' is humorous, dramatic, cliffhanging, scary, adventurous and well-written, although the author could have included Count Olaf in the story a little bit more. I really liked the part when Violet, Klaus and Sunny found out who was in the taxi."

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Fifth-grader Kyra McGuirk likes to read, "but I also like to go shopping and be with my friends." Like Zachary, the Harry Potter books are her favorites because they combine mystery and witchcraft.

"When I started reading 'The Grim Grotto,' I was really excited. When I first read the back (of the book) and it said something bad happened to the Baudelaires with mushrooms, I thought it was really funny. But when I read about what they did, I was horrified! I love how Lemony Snicket always pauses the story to talk about something other than the story itself. I think it makes him a really creative writer."

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Fourth-grader Danielle Denton doesn't have a favorite book, but her favorite series is Nancy Drew, "because they're mysteries." That's the same reason she's read all of the Snicket books.

"I thought the 11th book in this series was the most interesting of all. I really liked the part when the Baudelaire orphans find out who the driver of the taxi is. The title fits the book very well because a lot of the story takes place in a dark cave called the Gorgonian Grotto. I cannot wait for the 12th book."

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Fourth-grader Jordan Fite likes "The Grim Grotto," but she likes "The Reptile Room" better. She explained that in it, Uncle Monty keeps a non poisonous snake. When he is killed, Count Olaf blames the snake, "but really he stabbed Uncle Monty and put venom on the knife."

"The Baudelaire children have gone through a lot of scary things. In the 11th book, it is very terrifying when Sunny, the youngest Baudelaire, has an experience with a deadly poison. And I just could not believe it when Fiona joined Count Olaf! I would like to tell Lemony Snicket that I learned one thing from his books: You are very lucky if you have parents and don't have an evil villain chasing after you."

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Fourth-grader Griffin Thomas also likes "The Reptile Room" best of the Snicket books because the ending was a surprise. "They didn't give anything away."

"I really enjoyed reading "The Grim Grotto." I have read several of Lemony Snicket's novels and this was one of his best! From the very beginning, you get hooked. I would highly recommend reading this book if you dare!

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Fourth-grader Matthew Dorsey likes reading and math. He's read most of the Snicket books, but he likes "The Chronicles of Narnia" better.

"I thought 'The Grim Grotto' was an excellent book with terrible situations. Count Olaf is as evil as ever, but now he has a crazy laugh. The Baudelaire children face a big predicament underwater. Two words: poison fungus. I liked the part of the book when I learned the true identity of the hook-handed man. The book was so good that when my dad said it was time to go to bed, I couldn't stop reading."

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Michael Ijams, a fifth-grader, likes the Snicket and Harry Potter books "because they're not all true. I like fantasy, things you can't totally believe."

" 'The Grim Grotto' would get any 'Series of Unfortunate Events' fan excited. The book balances action with suspense. From terrifying mushrooms to a sugar bowl to our little baby, Sunny, growing up, this book by far has the most twists and turns of the (series). It keeps you guessing to the very end. For example, how are they going to get out of that cave without dying? Is their luck finally up, or do they escape the clutches of the terrible villain, Count Olaf, yet once again? Buy the book to find out!"

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