sangloup's review
5.0
Extra #11 - not part of the EBN Challenge.
This was good and now I need to read the next one! It was a quick read and humorous the way Obert Skye puts his little author notes thoughout it to keep you going.
This was good and now I need to read the next one! It was a quick read and humorous the way Obert Skye puts his little author notes thoughout it to keep you going.
hdbblog's review
3.0
If you've been following my reviews for any length of time, you know of my penchant for Middle Grade books. Quirky characters, important lessons, vast new worlds, all it makes me smile. I honestly believe that MG books build readers. Which is why I always look at these stories from two points of view. Would I have liked this as an MG reader, and do I think it carries over to how I read now?
When considering this book, I think your best bet would be to think of A Series of Unfortunate Events. I'll be the first to admit that I hate comparing books, but in this case it is honestly impossible not to. Two siblings, absent parents, disturbing caretakers, and a fourth wall breaking narrator all make a debut in this story. It's tough not to see the similarities. My problem was that, while both stories have a depressing atmosphere overall, Witherwood Reform School didn't have the same mildly hopeful feel to it. It was missing that bit of quirk I needed.
The writing was okay, if a bit dry at times. I'm not sure if I would have appreciated this more as a reader in the age group it is aimed at or not. I've always been a fan of writing that allows me to immerse myself in the story. While I liked Tobias and Charlotte, they never felt like true companions. That might sound odd, but I wanted to feel like I was with them, not just reading about them. Add in an ending with no discernible climax, and a to-be-continued hanging out there in the wind, and I was a disappointed reader. On the bright side, it's very easy to follow the plot and that makes this a quick read.
Would I recommend this to MG readers? I think so. I'm sure they would take a lot of what I had issues with much better than I did. There's not a lot of explanation into how things get to the level that they end up at, but there's a fair amount of adventure and intrigue towards the middle. I don't see many adult readers enjoying this, but younger readers might just eat this up. For that I'll give it three stars without a second thought.
When considering this book, I think your best bet would be to think of A Series of Unfortunate Events. I'll be the first to admit that I hate comparing books, but in this case it is honestly impossible not to. Two siblings, absent parents, disturbing caretakers, and a fourth wall breaking narrator all make a debut in this story. It's tough not to see the similarities. My problem was that, while both stories have a depressing atmosphere overall, Witherwood Reform School didn't have the same mildly hopeful feel to it. It was missing that bit of quirk I needed.
The writing was okay, if a bit dry at times. I'm not sure if I would have appreciated this more as a reader in the age group it is aimed at or not. I've always been a fan of writing that allows me to immerse myself in the story. While I liked Tobias and Charlotte, they never felt like true companions. That might sound odd, but I wanted to feel like I was with them, not just reading about them. Add in an ending with no discernible climax, and a to-be-continued hanging out there in the wind, and I was a disappointed reader. On the bright side, it's very easy to follow the plot and that makes this a quick read.
Would I recommend this to MG readers? I think so. I'm sure they would take a lot of what I had issues with much better than I did. There's not a lot of explanation into how things get to the level that they end up at, but there's a fair amount of adventure and intrigue towards the middle. I don't see many adult readers enjoying this, but younger readers might just eat this up. For that I'll give it three stars without a second thought.
thebumblegirl's review
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.
dmtcer's review against another edition
3.0
An interesting book, kind of reminiscent of Lemony Snickett adventures. The ending is a cliff-hanger, so the reader has to read the sequel to discover the truth about the school and Tobias and Charlotte's lessons at the Witherwood Reform School.
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.
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