Children's Book Reviews
Page One of TwoThe Miserable Mill (A Series of Unfortunate Events) by Lemony Snicket, Illustrations by Brett Helquist
HarperCollins, April 2000Hardcover, 194 pages
Ages 9-Adult
ISBN: 0064407691.
Ordering information:
Amazon.com.
The wealthy and yet hopelessly unlucky Baudelaire
orphans (Violet, Klaus, and the infant Sunny),
having just escaped the evil Count Olaf in their last
adventure (See, The Wide Window) are let down
once again by their woefully inadequate guardian, Mr.
Poe. Mr. Poe knows that Count Olaf follows the children
and tries to steal their fortune, but he insists that the
latest home he has found for them will be just fine.
It's not, of course. The three plucky orphans are sent
to work and live in a horrid lumber mill. And, of course,
Count Olaf returns in disguise. The orphans always seem to
avoid disaster (and bodily injury) by the skin of their
teeth, due to their native intelligence and resourcefulness.
But will they ever find a good home?
The Miserable Mill is the fourth book in the hilarious dark comedy series by the pseudononymous Lemony Snicket. We see tempting tidbits of Mr. Snicket's own life throughout the story (his failed romance with the unattainable and mysteriously dead Beatrice is apparently the source of great despair for him). In any event, the author's crisp wit, droll humor combined with Brett Hilquist's marvelous drawings make for a unique and compelling reading experience. Highly Recommended.
--Claire E. White
The Mysterious Adventures of Foy Rin Jin by Jim Friedman, Pictures by Patti Stren
HarperCollins, 1999.Picture Book, 40 pages
Ages 4-8
ISBN: 006028000X.
Ordering information:
Amazon.com.
Foy Rin Jin is a lovely, big red dragon. When he comes
of age, he joins the other young dragons on the
mountain to learn the secrets of breathing fire.
All the other young dragons belch forth fire after
learning the secret. But, to his complete horror,
Foy Rin Jin spews forth torrents of water instead of fire.
No matter how he practices, he still can't breathe
fire. His disability makes him so miserable that he
runs away from home. He discovers "Peoples" who
rejoice after he accidentally puts out a raging fire
in the City Hall (he was trying to make a bigger fire).
Now a hero, Foy Rin Jin is given a hat and a bell, and
carries the townsfolk to any big fire, which he
speedily puts out. Patti Stren's colorful and inventive
pictures are the perfect accompaniment to this
delightful tale which young children are sure to want
to hear over and over again. The pun on the name
(Foy Rin Jin = Fire Engine) is not revealed until the last
page when it is suggested that this is how fire engines
got their name. Jim Friedman and Patti Stren make
a wonderful duo, and this book is a real winner.
Children's Book Reviews
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Return to the June 2000 issue of The IWJ.
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