The Austere Academy: Book V in A Series of Unfortunate Events

BY: COLEMAN
    
Though I have already finished this "woeful" but delightful 5th volume in A Series of Unfortunate Events, I thought it deserved a place on this blog.  Lemony Snicket's fifth documentation of the Baudelaires' depressing experiences, was one of my favorites of his books. 
     In this novel, the siblings must enroll at Prufrock Prepratory School.  Once there, they are forced to sleep in the "Orphan's Shack," which is a small, tin shack with painted green walls with hearts on it.   The school itself has the motto "MEMENTO MORI," which means "Remember, you will die."  This pretty much explains the attitude of the teachers and the students and how the siblings are treated.  One good thing that happens here is that they meet the Quagmire triplets, whom they befriend.  Later a mysterious Coach Genghis turns up-- a person in disguise that the siblings wished never to see again.  This leads to an adventure of friendship ending in tragedy....
     One of the reasons why I liked this volume is because the Baudelaires finally find friends who can help them.  In the previous books, they hardly have anyone to rely on.  Mr. Poe, who is supposed to help them, never actually does. 
     This book is clean, good-humored, and something all should read.