The series of unfortunate events *Austere Academy*

Author: Lemony Snicket

Publisher: Scholastic

Place & year of Publication: New York 2001

Number of pages: 221

Where you found the book: Public Library

The characters of this story are Violet, Klaus, Sunny, Count Olaf, Mr. Poe, Count Olaf’s associates, Vice Principle Nero, Mrs. Bass, Mr. Remora, Carmelita, and Duncan & Isadora Quagmire.

They called this book Austere Academy because the Baudelaire’s went to the Academy, and it is called Series of Unfortunate Events because it is a series of books about the Baudelaire’s and a lot of unfortunate events happen to them.

This books many Themes are courage, loyalty, overcoming challenges, family relationships, and friendship.

Story Review

The Baudelaire’s were going to a school called Austere academy, there motto is “Memento Mori” which means “ remember you will die.” The Baudelaire’s went to the big school with grave shaped buildings. They went to the office of Vice Principle Nero, who was trying to paly violin, and he thought he was a genius. He told the three Baudelaire’s the rules of the school.

#1 If you are in the administrative building without permission you aren’t allowed to use silverware at any of your meals

#2 If you’re late for class you get your hands tied behind your back at mealtime

#3 If you don’t show up to his 6 hour violin recital, you have to buy Vice Principle Nero, you have to buy him a bag of candy and watch him eat it

Violet had to study with Mr. Remora in Room I. Klaus had to study with Mrs. Bass in Room II. Sunny had to be Vice Principle Nero’s secretary, she will have to answer phone calls, and take care of the paperwork, and would mean she would have to work in the administrative building so her silverware would always be taken away. They left to see were they were living. They had to live in a shack entirely mad of tin. They get to sleep on bale of hay. They were crabs on the ground & fungus on the roof, with green walls with pink hearts on them. They left for lunch after they saw their shack. At lunchtime Carmelita made fun of the orphans by chanting “Cake Sniffing Orphans in the Orphan Shack.” Everyone joined in and chanted with her “Cake Sniffing Orphans in the Orphan Shack.” Duncan Quagmire stopped them and talked with them with his sister Isadora Quagmire, they were twins. Isadora wanted to be a poet, and Duncan wanted to be journalist. Carmelita told the Baudelaire’s to meet the coach who was Count Olaf at the field in front of the school. He told them to paint a luminous circle, and to do some laps around the circle. The exercise is called S.O.R.E (Special Orphan Running Exercise.) The Quagmires were spying on them from the auditorium were Nero’s 6 hour violin concert was. The Baudelaire’s had to miss the concert and ended up missing 8 more because of doing S.O.R.E. So they each owed him 9 bags of candy witch would be 28 bags of candy. They went to Nero’s office and he told them they were failing every test and they would have to get 100% on their exam (which they would have the next day) or they would be given to Count Olaf. They had to do S.O.R.E that night so they wouldn’t be able to study and they didn’t know anything. The Quagmires said they would do S.O.R.E for them dressed up to look like them, so know the Baudelaire’s can study all night. They got 100% but Count Olaf found out what they did so Nero could expel them. Mr. Poe came and asked Count Olaf to take of his shoes because if he had a tattoo of an eye that means he is Count Olaf not a coach. He ran away to a car waiting for him with three of his associates and the Quagmires who had a fortune just as good as the Baudelaire’s. The Baudelaire’s were crying as their friends were taken away with nothing but they’re Journals left behind.

Christian perspective

This book could have had more Christ like attitude. Like the part were Olaf tries to steals the fortune, which is not Christ like. Or the part were he makes them do S.O.R.E, which is also not Christ like. They could always think of a better name for the book too. I kind of think Series of Unfortunate Events sounds depressing.

My perspective

This book is not the best book to read if you don’t like violence unfortunate events or any bad things happening to children. If you don’t mind any of those and you like mystery books you should read this book. That’s why I read the book and enjoy it too. I chose this book because this is the 8^th book of these series and I’m not stopping now.