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kaylielongley's review
3.0
When reading File Under: 13 Suspicious Incidents, I am reminded of Encyclopedia Brown, where the answers to his cases are found by simply flipping to the book’s end. While Encyclopedia Brown’s cases were longer and required thoughtful examination of each detail, in Lemony Snicket’s attempt, each chapter reads like a vignette: short, often simply solved, but still insightful. Other solutions, without their matching cases, are found in the back, so reading the book might be confusing at first.
I enjoyed reading these tiny tales, as it shows more about the wild characters and happening in Stain’d by the Sea. By describing both ordinary and outrageous cases and solving them quickly, we learn how much Lemony has learned (often without his chaperone). Most 12-year-old detectives solve cases like these, so it’s a bit more realistic than the first two books.
File Under: 13 Suspicious Incidents felt sloppily put together, but I know Snicket has a plan for the final two books in this series. Some cases were too simple, like a pie thief who still had blueberry stains on his t-shirt, while other cases were too convoluted to understand. It's still amusing and clever, but it simply felt like an unnecessary intermission. I've placed a hold on Shouldn't You Be in School? and can’t wait to continue reading! Until then, I’ll be returning to another noteworthy author of young adult books: Scott Westerfeld.
I enjoyed reading these tiny tales, as it shows more about the wild characters and happening in Stain’d by the Sea. By describing both ordinary and outrageous cases and solving them quickly, we learn how much Lemony has learned (often without his chaperone). Most 12-year-old detectives solve cases like these, so it’s a bit more realistic than the first two books.
File Under: 13 Suspicious Incidents felt sloppily put together, but I know Snicket has a plan for the final two books in this series. Some cases were too simple, like a pie thief who still had blueberry stains on his t-shirt, while other cases were too convoluted to understand. It's still amusing and clever, but it simply felt like an unnecessary intermission. I've placed a hold on Shouldn't You Be in School? and can’t wait to continue reading! Until then, I’ll be returning to another noteworthy author of young adult books: Scott Westerfeld.
abbbyyy's review
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
librariandest's review
4.0
I read this with my 9yo who loves Sleuth & Solve stories. Not all of the mysteries are satisfying, but we had a few good chuckles which made up for the lackluster stories.
We have read all of A Series of Unfortunate Events, but haven't read any of All the Wrong Questions. I think we'll start ATWQ now that we've had this teaser.
I loved the references to other books and had to go to the Snicket Wiki to look a few up that I didn't recognize.
We have read all of A Series of Unfortunate Events, but haven't read any of All the Wrong Questions. I think we'll start ATWQ now that we've had this teaser.
I loved the references to other books and had to go to the Snicket Wiki to look a few up that I didn't recognize.
bear_calderon's review
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
caroliney514's review
3.0
It was fun to read each incident and try to see if I could solve it before I read the solutions in the back of the book. I did find it tiring to be introduced to recurring characters like the police officers after a few chapters.
thingsreadinbed's review
5.0
Read this aloud to our 2 nine year olds. Snicket snarkiness and innovation never disappoints me.
kpelech's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Loveable characters? Yes
3.75
carolynaugustyn's review
4.0
This was a lot of fun! I'm a big fan of Lemony Snicket so I might be biased, but I really enjoyed my time reading this book. I liked the way the book was arranged so that each case was laid out with a solution in the back, offering the reader the chance to figure out the case on their own (and, humble brag, I figured out most of the cases). Typical to Snicket, there were some bonus secrets in the book, causing further questions and theories to pop up. I really enjoy this series and this book added a little extra fun to the standard books.
libbystephenson's review
4.0
First of all, let me state that I am not addicted to the works of Lemony Snicket; I can stop whenever I want. I just don't want to right now.
This is a charming collection of short mystery stories. Not charming like Gob Bluth, but charming like a little boy all dressed up in a suit with a big smile. They are light, cute, and undemanding. I was able to solve about half of the 13 incidents before turning to the conclusions in Sub-File B, but you shouldn't be in here for highly-developed puzzlers. That's what Agatha Christie is for. No, you are in here to hang out with your friends Lemony, Moxie, Jake, and Dashiell, as well as some other people, like the Mitchums.
I'm pretty sure that this book isn't required reading for the All the Wrong Questions series - we don't make any progress on the Hangfire case, or what Ellington is up to, or what the S. stands for. But if you are positively apoplectic waiting for Shouldn't You Be in School?, this should quench your thirst for wit and wild hair - at least until the final story, which will make you sit straight up and stare penetratingly into the page, trying to extra every morsel of information that Snicket might be sending you, and then stare penetratingly at the calendar, since the power of your mind can most surely make September 30 arrive sooner. Surely.
This is a charming collection of short mystery stories. Not charming like Gob Bluth, but charming like a little boy all dressed up in a suit with a big smile. They are light, cute, and undemanding. I was able to solve about half of the 13 incidents before turning to the conclusions in Sub-File B, but you shouldn't be in here for highly-developed puzzlers. That's what Agatha Christie is for. No, you are in here to hang out with your friends Lemony, Moxie, Jake, and Dashiell, as well as some other people, like the Mitchums.
I'm pretty sure that this book isn't required reading for the All the Wrong Questions series - we don't make any progress on the Hangfire case, or what Ellington is up to, or what the S. stands for. But if you are positively apoplectic waiting for Shouldn't You Be in School?, this should quench your thirst for wit and wild hair - at least until the final story, which will make you sit straight up and stare penetratingly into the page, trying to extra every morsel of information that Snicket might be sending you, and then stare penetratingly at the calendar, since the power of your mind can most surely make September 30 arrive sooner. Surely.