“The Bad Beginning” by Lemony Snicket

A Series of Unfortunate Events, Book the First

The narrator of this book warns you right away that it has no happy ending, and he means it. You may want to keep reading anyway.

Violet, Klaus, and baby Sunny Baudelaire are three clever, resourceful children whose lives change forever when a terrible fire takes their parents. They’re sent to live with a distant relative, Count Olaf, a greedy, scheming actor who has no interest in them, only in their enormous fortune. Violet is an inventor, Klaus loves to read, and Sunny loves to bite, and they’ll need all their talents to stay one step ahead of him.

It’s dark, funny, and wonderfully strange, and it’s the first of thirteen books. It’s a great read for ages eight and up.

This hardcover is in very good condition, and you can find it at Dead Tree Dreams.