Lost & Found

December 15, 2015
The Snicket-ian dark comedy continues in Volume 2 of this series about a brother and sister trapped in the awful Witherwood Reform School. Tobias and Charlotte begin the book still under the mind control to which they succumbed in the first installment. However, Tobias learns that sudden intense pain can clear his head, leading him again to hope for escape. He finds the map he's made of the school and puts together clues that he planted to help him through the mazelike passages behind the walls of such buildings as Weary Hall. He meets other clearheaded inmates, and the group begins plotting a breakout. Unfortunately, Charlotte has been removed to another dormitory and is still under control. In his investigations, Tobias discovers the nefarious fate that the owners of the school have in mind for the kids and must pretend to be brain-addled to keep his cover. When they get out into the grounds, will the children be able to escape the dragonlike predatory birds that capture escapees? Skye keeps the misadventures coming as Tobias deals with the odd personalities of his fellow students and captors, especially Fiddle, a boy who seems continually lost in some sort of mental fog. Will Fiddle actually be able to help, or will he give everything away? Worse, what's really in that delicious chocolate pudding? Another suspenseful romp for kids who like dark humor. (Adventure. 9-14)

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February 1, 2016

Gr 4-7-Siblings Tobias and Charlotte are still trapped in the Witherwood Reform School and are struggling to free themselves from the mind control inflicted upon them in the prior novel. Along the way, Tobias breaks the cycle of mind control and does everything he can to rescue Charlotte from the dormitory she's trapped in and get them out of the school unscathed. Readers who enjoy a bit of sarcasm with their adventure will eat this series up. Comparisons to Lemony Snicket are valid and makes this a great read alike to his many popular series. The events from Tobias & Charlotte's previous venture are filled in when necessary although new readers may be initially confused as this installment starts immediately after the end of Witherwood Reform School. This is refreshing fantasy series instilled with dark humor that sets it apart from others in the genre.

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