THE WIDE WINDOW is the third installment in the wildly popular Series of Unfortunate Events. In this tale, the Baudelaire orphans are sent to live with a so-called Aunt who resides in a rickety old house literally hanging from a cliff over a lake teeming with leeches. As tradition dictates, Violet, Klaus, and Sunny are soon discovered by the evil Count Olaf, who is after their family fortune. Their Aunt Josephine is an avid grammarian with fears ranging from telephones to realtors. The children have to work together to escape Count Olaf, a.k.a. Captain Sham, before it’s too late.

Lemony Snicket, also known as Daniel Handler, has a distinct flair for knowing what kids like. His gloom-and-doom approach is exciting for young readers, making them feel almost as if they are brave just to read his books. The various characters are just over-the-top enough to make them seem fantastical. Violet is an accomplished inventor, Klaus an avid reader, and Sunny the host to four very sharp teeth. The children use these characteristics in various combinations to eek their way out of trouble. They are very intellectual, as is the tone of the book. Aunt Josephine is so frightened of everything as to be funny in her mannerisms. Count Olaf, on the other hand, is so entirely despicable that it is impossible to find anything to like about him.

Some readers may find Mr. Snicket’s frequent asides distracting, but they work well in a read-aloud context and are often very funny. Once readers become used to this unique style, they will find it is part of what makes the book different and interesting. Central to this book as in all of the Series is the struggle between good and evil. It is very obvious that Count Olaf is evil and the Baudelaire orphans are good. Despite Mr. Snicket’s multiple warnings about the miserable lives of the orphans, they always have each other and that is what keeps saving them. Kirkus Reviews says praises the book’s, “bold narration, dark humor, exaggerated emotions and dialogue, humorously stereotypical characters, and an overriding conflict between good and evil.” Even though by the time they get to “Book the Third”, readers know the Baudelaires will escape Count Olaf’s clutches in the nick of time, they also can’t wait to see how he will get away and where he will pop up next. Snicket has developed a loyal following among readers young and not-so-young, who will continue to enjoy his distinctive style and humor.

2000. Review of The Wide Window in Booklist. 1 January.