The Austere Academy (A Series of Unfortunate Events #5)

This is my favorite of the series thus far. I love that Violet and Klaus get to have friends their own age. Plus, I love seeing the little bit of a crush thing start blossoming between Violet and Duncan.

The vice principal (did I miss the part where they said what happened to the regular principal?) was absolutely dreadful. And I'm pretty sure he was even more annoying in audio format because I had to hear him repeat everything in a high-pitched, super obnoxious voice.

This is the first time I really allowed myself to care for any character other than the Baudelaire's. When Duncan and Isadore were being dragged away at the end, I teared up a bit. They were wonderful friends to the Baudelaire's and nice kids besides. I don't recall any of the rest of the series, but I'm hoping they'll show up again, despite how unlikely it is.

This is my favorite book in the whole series. I like the idea of the Baudelaires being in a school enviroment!

Reader reviewed by Samantha Watt

This book brings back memories, it seems so long ago that this came out.

My favorite part of this book was when they had to cram that night study and make paper clips. Though some parts i have so say make me laugh that shouldn't, and some that should just make me want to roll my eyes.

The paper clip thing, sunny as a secertary, the latter was just sad, so was that vice principal.

The ending through me though, I didn't except the triplits to get kidnapped. I loved the book though.

Reader reviewed by Allyssa

This is the fifth book in A Series of Unfortunate Events. In this book the Baudelaire children are attending Prufrock Prep, which is a boarding- type school.


This book is silly, but not in a bad way. The vice principal is arrogant and selfish, making all the children at his school attend a concert, every day, where he plays the violin badly. Violet, Klaus and Sunny (the Baudelaire children), must also sleep in a shack, because they are orphans and do not have permission from their guardians to sleep anywhere else. Even more than the previous books the reader will go "That would not really happen", but it's one of the reasons why this series is so fun. If the children just attended a "normal" boarding school, the book would be boring and over done. However, Snicket (the author), has made this boarding school a unique, imaginative and fun one. Those are the reasons as to why I liked this book.

Reader reviewed by Hinge_Pin

That is what i would be saying on the morning of the first day of school. Especially if i had to go there. Poor sunny having to make staples and be a secretary. That is terrible. It would have been interesting to eat with your hands tied behind your back or with no silverware. Lemony Snicket you've done it again.

Reader reviewed by *Mix*

In this book , the beaudelaires meet Isadora and Duncan at a very austere academy(hence the name), Count olaf poses as a gym teacher and kidnap their friends, they are forced to sleep in a shed like place with a fungus growing on the roof and they are forced to drink without glasses (yea i know wierd) and meet a dreadful little girl named carmelita spats...Read it! i guess some people's pain is other people's pleasure!!!

Reader reviewed by Zac

If your thought your school was bad, wait until your read this book! If the teachers that lectured you seemed horrid...there are no words for the odd and unfathomable tasks are asked of the orphans now. And as always, the heated trail of the children is closely fallowed by their foe, who has cooked up new ways to attempt to steal their fortune once and for all.

Reader reviewed by Carter

Out of all the series this is my absolute, defintate favorite and my number one pick out of his books. YOU MUST READ THIS BOOK!!!! Count Olaf is back once more and up to his best schemes yet. If you want to be entertained and still have to think.......READ IT!!! CW

Reader reviewed by Mi-chan

This book is written with the same premise as the first 4 books but it has changed from the first 3 and the last one because the Baudelaire orphans aren't sent to a relative's house but to a Prep school. For a while in this one things aren't so bad but they turn for the worse and just keep getting worse and worse from then on. Like the first 4 books this is a quick read and a fun one at that.

Reader reviewed by Carmen



This has a great setting! Nice and miserable! The setting is...SCHOOL!!!!!!!!!!
Ha Ha!
What is this? The Baudelaires make some friends? How fortunate!
Good book-
Carmen