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golden_lily's review against another edition
3.0
Lemony Snicket meets UF. Some cute moments but an unsatisfying end. Review to come.
Edit: Witherwood Reform School owes a lot to A Series of Unfortunate Events and that's my biggest problem with it. There's a fourth wall breaking narrator. A pair of siblings, one of whom is an inventor, dropped off with evil caretakers because of their dead/missing parents. A mystery, a generally morbid atmosphere, a false hope, and a "to be continued" ending. I just found it too familiar.
Tobias and Charlotte are a lot more mischievous than the Baudelaire children would ever dream of. I really wanted to like the gravy prank, but the writing made it gross and mean instead of funny. After the prank goes awry, their father drops the kids off at a nearby reform school, to teach them a lesson. Unfortunately, he then immediately drives off a cliff, as you do.
Abandoned at the school, the kids are immediately thrust into the mystery, as they flee monsters guarding the grounds, find a hidden boy who's not all there, and struggle to escape. The mystery is fine, probably the best part. The school has some fun touches, but I didn't see enough time devoted to them.
The illustrations are pretty. They have an old school feel that make me think of the 90s and the books I read as a pre-teen. I really liked the full page portraits of Tobias and Char, it helped me picture them and fit with the book. There are a lot of flourishes and page decorations that made the book feel grand. While I don't like how the guardians were depicted, the illustrations were my favorite part.
My big problem with this book is the end. The plot was light, but the utter lack of a conclusion ruined it. If even one of the mysteries was solved, it would have been a lot more satisfying and made me want to read a sequel. Instead, I think I'll go read The Bad Beginning again instead.
Edit: Witherwood Reform School owes a lot to A Series of Unfortunate Events and that's my biggest problem with it. There's a fourth wall breaking narrator. A pair of siblings, one of whom is an inventor, dropped off with evil caretakers because of their dead/missing parents. A mystery, a generally morbid atmosphere, a false hope, and a "to be continued" ending. I just found it too familiar.
Tobias and Charlotte are a lot more mischievous than the Baudelaire children would ever dream of. I really wanted to like the gravy prank, but the writing made it gross and mean instead of funny. After the prank goes awry, their father drops the kids off at a nearby reform school, to teach them a lesson. Unfortunately, he then immediately drives off a cliff, as you do.
Abandoned at the school, the kids are immediately thrust into the mystery, as they flee monsters guarding the grounds, find a hidden boy who's not all there, and struggle to escape. The mystery is fine, probably the best part. The school has some fun touches, but I didn't see enough time devoted to them.
The illustrations are pretty. They have an old school feel that make me think of the 90s and the books I read as a pre-teen. I really liked the full page portraits of Tobias and Char, it helped me picture them and fit with the book. There are a lot of flourishes and page decorations that made the book feel grand. While I don't like how the guardians were depicted, the illustrations were my favorite part.
My big problem with this book is the end. The plot was light, but the utter lack of a conclusion ruined it. If even one of the mysteries was solved, it would have been a lot more satisfying and made me want to read a sequel. Instead, I think I'll go read The Bad Beginning again instead.
aylea's review against another edition
2.0
Spoilers are ahead. But to be honest, there isn't anything you should be too worried about hearing about.
I really, really, really wanted to like this book. The idea and cover intrigued me from the second I saw it. Reform school in the woods? Amnesia? Kids saving themselves from the creepy reform school? It sounded awesome.
It wasn’t.
The characters? I feel like I know nothing about them. I couldn't tell the siblings apart and, to be honest, when I finished the book I couldn't even remember their names because they were so thoroughly uninteresting. All I know about them was that they were rotten kids to their governess. She was supposed to be awful, but to be honest, I'd probably be just as awful if I had to deal with these two because when they're not being boring, they're being brats. Their father made no sense to me. He drives them to a terrible, terrible place, feels bad about it, and then can't remember who he is. To put it in simple terms, he's pretty lame. I feel like there was no one to root for. I didn't even mind when the villain took away their memories because I didn't care one way or another about what happened to them. The narrator was mildly interesting, but I couldn't figure out WHY there was a narrator.
The book presents more mysteries than it solves. It felt like an odd prequel instead of starting a story. Writers, you OWE your readers a story. I might be able to forgive bad characters, terrible setting (okay, this should have been cool. I read the book for the idea of the school, but I didn't think it was interesting except for maybe the monsters prowling around it) but I can't forgive a book that doesn't have a story. It sets up the rest of the series, but... nothing really happens. Even if it's just one book in a series (just like one episode in a TV show), each part of the series MUST have its own plot, even if there are unanswered questions to leave room for the other books. This book just... ends. No questions answered. No resolution. Not even any good questions to leave the reader wanting another book (okay, so maybe a little curiosity about if their dad will remember who they are and if they're going to go to an unclear terrible fate, but, like I said, I didn't care enough about them to be interested in what kind of terrible fate might be waiting for them). The entire book: they get dropped off at the school for being brats. They're upset. They sneak around the school at night. They get their memories removed. There's a weird parade for no reason. They get their memories back. They try to escape. They fail. They lose their memories. The book ends. I think they'd all be better off if the kids and their dad never got their memories back.
Just disappointing.
I also reviewed this book for The Children's Book and Media Review. That review is as follows:
When Tobias and Charlotte Egger play one too many pranks on their terrible governess, their father takes them to a place that he hopes will scare them into good behavior. He only means to leave them there for a short time, but a car accident leaves him with amnesia and unable to come get them. Tobias and Charlotte find themselves stuck in Witherwood Reform School, locked in their room with more questions than they have answers. When they sneak around looking for answers, their memories are taken from them. They get their memories back and try to escape, but they find that escaping from this place and being reunited with the father is not going to be easy.
Although the idea of a reform school with mysterious magic is interesting, the execution of the idea fell flat. It has a similar feeling of Snicket’s Unfortunate Events series with the siblings in trouble, weird situations and creepiness, and false hope scenarios, but it is not as effective as Snicket’s work. The characters were uninteresting and difficult to tell apart. The book ends with no resolution or answering any of the questions about what Witherwood Reform School is supposed to be doing and why it is such a weird place. Without any relief from the constant conflict or even enough of a resolution to make the book feel complete, the charm it could have had from its quirkiness is lost. Although the ideas were intriguing, it was a disappointing start to a series.
I really, really, really wanted to like this book. The idea and cover intrigued me from the second I saw it. Reform school in the woods? Amnesia? Kids saving themselves from the creepy reform school? It sounded awesome.
It wasn’t.
The characters? I feel like I know nothing about them. I couldn't tell the siblings apart and, to be honest, when I finished the book I couldn't even remember their names because they were so thoroughly uninteresting. All I know about them was that they were rotten kids to their governess. She was supposed to be awful, but to be honest, I'd probably be just as awful if I had to deal with these two because when they're not being boring, they're being brats. Their father made no sense to me. He drives them to a terrible, terrible place, feels bad about it, and then can't remember who he is. To put it in simple terms, he's pretty lame. I feel like there was no one to root for. I didn't even mind when the villain took away their memories because I didn't care one way or another about what happened to them. The narrator was mildly interesting, but I couldn't figure out WHY there was a narrator.
The book presents more mysteries than it solves. It felt like an odd prequel instead of starting a story. Writers, you OWE your readers a story. I might be able to forgive bad characters, terrible setting (okay, this should have been cool. I read the book for the idea of the school, but I didn't think it was interesting except for maybe the monsters prowling around it) but I can't forgive a book that doesn't have a story. It sets up the rest of the series, but... nothing really happens. Even if it's just one book in a series (just like one episode in a TV show), each part of the series MUST have its own plot, even if there are unanswered questions to leave room for the other books. This book just... ends. No questions answered. No resolution. Not even any good questions to leave the reader wanting another book (okay, so maybe a little curiosity about if their dad will remember who they are and if they're going to go to an unclear terrible fate, but, like I said, I didn't care enough about them to be interested in what kind of terrible fate might be waiting for them). The entire book: they get dropped off at the school for being brats. They're upset. They sneak around the school at night. They get their memories removed. There's a weird parade for no reason. They get their memories back. They try to escape. They fail. They lose their memories. The book ends. I think they'd all be better off if the kids and their dad never got their memories back.
Just disappointing.
I also reviewed this book for The Children's Book and Media Review. That review is as follows:
When Tobias and Charlotte Egger play one too many pranks on their terrible governess, their father takes them to a place that he hopes will scare them into good behavior. He only means to leave them there for a short time, but a car accident leaves him with amnesia and unable to come get them. Tobias and Charlotte find themselves stuck in Witherwood Reform School, locked in their room with more questions than they have answers. When they sneak around looking for answers, their memories are taken from them. They get their memories back and try to escape, but they find that escaping from this place and being reunited with the father is not going to be easy.
Although the idea of a reform school with mysterious magic is interesting, the execution of the idea fell flat. It has a similar feeling of Snicket’s Unfortunate Events series with the siblings in trouble, weird situations and creepiness, and false hope scenarios, but it is not as effective as Snicket’s work. The characters were uninteresting and difficult to tell apart. The book ends with no resolution or answering any of the questions about what Witherwood Reform School is supposed to be doing and why it is such a weird place. Without any relief from the constant conflict or even enough of a resolution to make the book feel complete, the charm it could have had from its quirkiness is lost. Although the ideas were intriguing, it was a disappointing start to a series.
shaekin's review against another edition
3.0
I'm curious where this book will go. I would have given it a higher rating if it didn't sound an awful lot like A Series Of Unfortunate Events. (I actually looked up to make sure it wasn't the same author with different pen names). It got better near the end and it does have some fun places it could go so I'll hold out some hope that it gets better in the next book where it won't be as much background.
oneangrylibrarian's review against another edition
4.0
This was an interesting book. I picked it up because I really enjoyed Leven Thumps and I was curious to read another series by the author. This was a very quick read with some quirky characters and an interesting ending. I say that because many may not appreciate the cliff hanger style or lack of any resolution but I found it refreshing. There are not many questions answered in this book but for some reason that made the idea of future books more enticing for me.
sangloup's review against another edition
4.0
2020 Book Nerd Your Way... Book #45
Did not fit an available category in the EBN Challenge.
I had read the first book last year and saw this one on the shelf when I was looking for something else. Well... I had to know what happened after the cliffhanger in the first book, so I picked it up. Was a quick read for me and again, another cliffhanger. I will have to find book 3 much more quickly this time. I did like it, but it is very dark.
Did not fit an available category in the EBN Challenge.
I had read the first book last year and saw this one on the shelf when I was looking for something else. Well... I had to know what happened after the cliffhanger in the first book, so I picked it up. Was a quick read for me and again, another cliffhanger. I will have to find book 3 much more quickly this time. I did like it, but it is very dark.
hadiqa01's review against another edition
3.0
Abandoned by their father, Tobias and Charlotte are trapped inside a creepy reform school. Running away doesn't seem to help either and they wanna go home to their amnesiac father.
Interesting beginning with terrifying ending (in a good way.) I started liking the book in the end since it was little unexpected, but I kinda guessed it anyways. There wasn't a much to follow and so I found it boring. Although the writing is impressive and I think Mr.Skye would be a great story teller.
The book continues as Lost and Found.
Interesting beginning with terrifying ending (in a good way.) I started liking the book in the end since it was little unexpected, but I kinda guessed it anyways. There wasn't a much to follow and so I found it boring. Although the writing is impressive and I think Mr.Skye would be a great story teller.
The book continues as Lost and Found.
thebumblegirl's review against another edition
4.0
There are very few authors that can pull off such a wickedly humorous story about two siblings that !
The narrator tells us the story about how Tobias and Charlotte Eggars ended up at Witherwood Reform School. And it is not a pretty nor easy story to tell.
Tobias is a normal boy that likes a little mischief. He's very smart and thinks better when he can write things down and loves to study and draw maps. Very protective and attuned to his younger sister.
Charlotte is also just a normal girl who always sees the bright things to every situation. She compliments her brother's darkers side too well. She always seems to be the voice of reason.
The school is dark, mysterious, strange and... perhaps even evil. Too many odd and unexplained things occur. A headmaster that is able to brainwash the students. Unknown guardians that could possibly kill any intruders, and/or, escapees.
And the narrator knows how to guide us with what is right, what is wrong, and what Tobias and Charlotte should have and shouldn't have done. The narrator is very smart, cautious and to the point. Anyone reading this book should take much care in what the narrator suggests.
There is no happy ending here. Tobias and Charlotte brought this bad luck onto themselves. And it will definitely take some time to figure out what they have done, what they are mixed up in... and if they will ever learn their lesson(s) and be able to make amends in order to get out of Witherwood... sane and whole.
Definitely for fans of Lemony Snicket's Unfortunate Events series, this book will have you laughing out loud, grossed out and on the edge of your seat! I anxiously await for the next book to be released! Will the Eggers siblings be able to behave enough to not get into anymore trouble? Will they figure out a way to leave the reformed school for good? So many questions, so little time... can't wait!!!
*An ARC was sent to me from the publisher for the blog tour and an honest review. All thoughts are my own.
The narrator tells us the story about how Tobias and Charlotte Eggars ended up at Witherwood Reform School. And it is not a pretty nor easy story to tell.
Tobias is a normal boy that likes a little mischief. He's very smart and thinks better when he can write things down and loves to study and draw maps. Very protective and attuned to his younger sister.
Charlotte is also just a normal girl who always sees the bright things to every situation. She compliments her brother's darkers side too well. She always seems to be the voice of reason.
The school is dark, mysterious, strange and... perhaps even evil. Too many odd and unexplained things occur. A headmaster that is able to brainwash the students. Unknown guardians that could possibly kill any intruders, and/or, escapees.
And the narrator knows how to guide us with what is right, what is wrong, and what Tobias and Charlotte should have and shouldn't have done. The narrator is very smart, cautious and to the point. Anyone reading this book should take much care in what the narrator suggests.
There is no happy ending here. Tobias and Charlotte brought this bad luck onto themselves. And it will definitely take some time to figure out what they have done, what they are mixed up in... and if they will ever learn their lesson(s) and be able to make amends in order to get out of Witherwood... sane and whole.
Definitely for fans of Lemony Snicket's Unfortunate Events series, this book will have you laughing out loud, grossed out and on the edge of your seat! I anxiously await for the next book to be released! Will the Eggers siblings be able to behave enough to not get into anymore trouble? Will they figure out a way to leave the reformed school for good? So many questions, so little time... can't wait!!!
*An ARC was sent to me from the publisher for the blog tour and an honest review. All thoughts are my own.
hausguzlbear's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
umbreen's review against another edition
3.0
The premise of this novel was interesting. However, the execution fell a bit short. It attempts a Lemony Snicket type tone, but it only ends up sounding monotonous. Overall, the book is definitely not bad, but there wasn't anything particularly spectacular going on. The only thing that stood out was the illustrations, which I liked. Other than that, it was rather underwhelming. Furthermore, the ending doesn't really give us anything to come back to. Yes, it technically ends on a cliffhanger, but because I had a hard time connecting to Charlotte and Tobias as a reader, I kind of did not care about what would happen in the next installment.