The Hostile Hospital (A Series of Unfortunate Events #8)

As you might expect, nothing but woe befalls the unlucky Baudelaire orphans in the eighth grim tale in Lemony Snicket's Series of Unfortunate Events that began with The Bad Beginning. Ever since the orphans' photographs were plastered across the front page of The Daily Punctilio in an article falsely accusing them of murder, they have been on the run. Only when they disguise themselves as cheerful hospital volunteers (Volunteers Fighting Disease, to be exact), do they see a possible refuge. Of course, this backfires hideously. Where is their ineffectual guardian, Mr. Poe, when they need him most? Will the evil, greedy Count Olaf be successful in giving poor Violet a cranioectomy at the Heimlich Hospital? Is a heart-shaped balloon really better than water for a thirsty patient? Is no news really good news? As ever, Snicket refuses to comfort young readers with cozy answers and satisfying escapes. And, as ever, there are plenty of rusty blades and horrible plot twists to make us shudder and shameless-but-hilarious wordplay to make us grimace happily. Bring on the next one! (Ages 9 and older) --Karin Snelson

• The Carnivorous Carnival (A Series of Unfortunate Events # 9)
• The Vile Village (A Series of Unfortunate Events, No. 7)
• The Slippery Slope (A Series of Unfortunate Events, Book 10)
• The Ersatz Elevator (A Series of Unfortunate Events, Book 6)
• The Grim Grotto (A Series of Unfortunate Events, Book 11)
• The Austere Academy (A Series of Unfortunate Events, Book 5)
• The Penultimate Peril (A Series of Unfortunate Events, Book 12)
• The End (A Series of Unfortunate Events, Book 13)
• The Miserable Mill (A Series of Unfortunate Events, Book 4)
• The Gloom Looms: A Box of Unfortunate Events, Books 10-12 (The Slippery Slope; The Grim Grotto; The Penultimate Peril)