The Nine Lives of Alexander Baddenfield

September 2, 2013
“To say that the Baddenfield family had a checkered past is to insult innocent board games everywhere,” writes Marciano (Madeline at the White House). That arch observation—along with an opening graveside scene that makes it clear that bratty 12-year-old Alexander Baddenfield’ s death is wholly unregretted—may initially convince readers that they’ve found a book to plug the blackhearted hole once filled by Lemony Snicket. The tale, which concerns Alexander’s attempt to thwart the family curse of early death by stealing a cat’s nine lives, tips its hat both to A Series of Unfortunate Events and The Simpsons (the relationship between Alexander and his retainer, Winterbottom, instantly brings to mind the lopsided adoration of Smithers for Mr. Burns). There’s devilish humor to be found watching Alexander waste life after life, but the story wears itself out with weak characterizations, forced jokes, and swipes at the evils of wealth. Blackall’s Charles Addams vibe is a natural choice, but her intermittent illustrations are actually quite prim, even Alexander’s nine death scenes. Ages 10–up. Author’s agent: Jill Grinberg, Jill Grinberg Literary Management. Illustrator’s agent: Nancy Gallt, Nancy Gallt Literary Agency.

August 15, 2013
Adult readers may find themselves desperately searching the subtext of this book for hidden lessons; children will probably just relish it. Rather like The Bad Beginning, this curious uncautionary tale lays all its cards on the table right up front. To readers expecting growth in the aptly named child's character arc, the narrator says, "If this were a Hollywood movie, or a fairy tale, or a run-of-the-mill chapter book, this would undoubtedly be the case. But in the real world such things rarely happen." All of the elder, equally venal generations of Baddenfields having perished young, 12-year-old Alexander decides to have a life transplant, using the eight extra lives of his cat, Shaddenfrood, as a resource--and over the protests of his faithful servant, Winterbottom (as good as Alexander is bad). Lives installed, he goes on to run through them all at a spectacular rate. (Shaddenfrood, purring appropriately, survives.) Blackall's characteristically knowing illustrations and dramatic design decisions reinforce Marciano's gleefully morbid humor and bely the seeming amorality of the tale. The purposeful fading of the text during Alexander's ninth and last demise encourages readers to grapple with it. Adults will be grasping for an obvious point, an impulse reinforced by references to the myth of Icarus and Frankenstein and digs at the pharmaceutical and insurance industries, but child readers will likely be way ahead of them. Freely embracing the literary principle that, at bottom, evil is better fun than good, this envelope-pushing bonbon may not have an easily discernible moral, but that's its strength. (Gothic humor. 10-14)

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August 1, 2013

Gr 4-6-As Marciano is descended from Ludwig Bemelmans, so might Alexander Baddenfield be descended from Madeline's nemesis-turned-friend Pepito "The Bad Hat." Alexander, however, never sees the error of his ways. He is thoroughly bad for his entire nine lives-a circumstance he engineers by arranging for the transplantation of eight lives from his cat to himself. The rashness of youth combines with the recklessness of a person with many lives to lose as Alexander experiments wildly with the third rail of the subway system, the murky waters and treacherous currents of the Hudson River, an Icarus-style flight launched from the Empire State Building, an extremely brief stint as a matador, and more. When Alexander nears his final demise, he becomes overly cautious, immuring himself in his castle and avoiding any possible brushes with mortality. Naturally, that doesn't work, and the world is left a better place. The amusing, if macabre, premise is abetted by Blackall's slightly creepy gray and black-toned illustrations, in which hourglasses, the Grim Reaper, and funeral ribbons are recurring motifs. It's great to see Marciano enlarging his scope and good fun to see him partnered with Blackall.-Miriam Lang Budin, Chappaqua Library, NY

Copyright 2013 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

October 15, 2013
Grades 4-7 In a departure from the Madeline series created by his grandfather, Marciano explores the good-natured fun of bad children. Alexander lives in a castle in Manhattan and is the last of a long line of Baddenfields. Because the Baddenfields are cursed with dying in grisly and poetically justified ways, Alexander dreams of dramatic ways to cheat death. He employs a Dr. Moreaulike surgeon to remove nine lives from a cat and surgically implant them inside of him. Reminiscent of Lemony Snicket, with occasional big words meant to joyfully obfuscate, the slim story bounces after Alexander as he pushes his lives to the limit, flying like Icarus, playing with a python, and bullfighting as a matador, until he has only one life left. Winterbottom, from a long line of Winterbottoms who have served Baddenfields, adds to the droll suspense as he encourages Alexander to use his last chance at life to become good. But who is he kidding? Blackall's black-and-white sketches, with nods to Edward Gorey, heighten the gothic humor. Deliciously wicked.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2013, American Library Association.)