A Series of Unfortunate Events: The Bad Beginning

Title: A Series of Unfortunate Events: The Bad Beginning
Author: Lemony Snicket
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Age Level: Nine to Thirteen Years Old
Characters: Count Olaf, Justice Strauss, Mr. Poe, and Violet, Klaus, and Sunny Baudelaire
Plot: The three Baudelaire children were on Briny Breach one day when Mr. Poe walked up to the children and changed their lives forever. He told the children that there was a massive fire in their mansion and that both of their parents had perished in the flames. The three orphans were devastated that they had lost both their parents and all of their belongings at the same time. Luckily, they still had their fortune. Mr. Poe took them into his household until a new guardian was found. After a while, the man found a suitable guardian whose name was Count Olaf. The children were sent to live at his home, where they encountered many unfortunate events. Every morning, the children were awakened to find a list of chores and instructions. One day, the orphans were asked to cook a whole entire meal for Count Olaf and his theatre troupe. The children had no idea how to cook, so they went over to Justice Strauss' house and borrowed a cook book from her enormous library. Klaus and Violet picked out a recipe for an Italian dish and cooked it for the theatre troupe. Count Olaf became very angry because he had wanted roast beef, although he had not mentioned it. Consequently, Klaus is struck across the face and Olaf tells the children that he only wants the Baudelaire's enormous fortune. Days drag on as the children are tormented by the evil Count. One day, Olaf tells the children of a play that he is putting on that they will perform in. It is called, "The Marvelous Marriage." Violet will play the woman who is getting married to Count Olaf, while Klaus and Sunny are the audience of the marriage. To ensure that the orphans cooperate, Olaf has suspended Sunny in a metal cage above a tower wall and threatens to drop her if they don't cooperate. The two eldest children find out that the marriage in the play will be real because Justice Strauss will be acting as judge. Unfortunately, every attempt that the children make to save Sunny fails. Count Olaf and Violet act in the play, and after she signs her name on the document, Olaf announces his plan to the audience. Mr. Poe is very upset, but then Violet reveals that the document is void because she signed it with her left hand instead of her regular writing hand. Justice Strauss says that Violet is correct, and Count Olaf will go to jail. Sadly, Count Olaf and his troupe escape, but not before he tells Violet that he will find them, get their fortune, and kill them.
Precautions: There are some things that I would advise about this book. First of all, the author of this book has a rather depressing outlook towards life. The book, as the title hints, is about rather unfortunate events that take place in the Baudelaire children's lives. These events are basically an evil man inflicting torture on orphans. It teaches some bad lessons on greed and other wrong things. This book does not instill good Christian morals.
Ratings: I would not personally recommend this book. It's author did not write very Christianized ideas into this book.