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It's recommended for eight-10 years but anyone up to treble digits would enjoy the black humour of Lowry's novel. (Bookseller )
Product Description
“Shouldn’t we be orphans?” one of the Willoughby children suggests one day. The four are, after all, part of an old-fashioned kind of family, and their parents – well, their parents are not all that one would hope for. Recalling literary heroes like Anne of Green Gables, Pollyanna and James with his giant peach, the Willoughbys concoct a diabolical plan to turn themselves into worthy and winsome orphans. Little do they know that Mr and Mrs Willoughby have already begun to formulate their own thoroughly despicable plan inspired by another favourite bedtime story: The tale of Hansel and Gretel...
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Vine™ Review
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An amusing satire on children's literature about orphans, complete with wicked parents, millionaire recluses and abandoned babies. IIt would probably help to have read some of the books that are referenced in order to get some of the jokes, but I think most children would simply enjoy The Willoughbys for the darkly humourous plot and characters. I especially liked the list of books at the back that are mentioned throughout, for young bibliophiles to be.
I'd recommend this to anyone who enjoyes The Series of Unfortunate Events and the Eddie Dickens trilogy.
I'd recommend this to anyone who enjoyes The Series of Unfortunate Events and the Eddie Dickens trilogy.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Vine™ Review
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If you enjoyed Lemony Snicket's dark and dismal take on childhood adventures, this book may be right up your street. It is clever, well-written, and contains lots of knowing references that adults and more experienced readers will appreciate.
My only complaint with it is that the territory is well trodden at the moment, with the aforementioned Lemony Snicket and others that have followed in his wake, so the approach doesn't feel as fresh as it might. Which is a shame, as this is a very well executed little story and well worth reading.
My only complaint with it is that the territory is well trodden at the moment, with the aforementioned Lemony Snicket and others that have followed in his wake, so the approach doesn't feel as fresh as it might. Which is a shame, as this is a very well executed little story and well worth reading.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Vine™ Review
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In the way that this book knowingly plays on the long tradition of children's literature and exploits the ironies and humour in the seemingly endless supply of wicked parent/orphaned children line, it is quite clever and amusing. But I have to say that for me at least, this type of book is beginning to be a bit tired.
Lemony Snicket in The Series of Unfortunate Events books was breaking new ground, but I wonder how long it continues to need breaking. Self consciously ironic children, a narrator tipping the wink to the clever reader, the over emphasis of the evil inherent in children's books and this obsession with providing glossaries and explanations in a 'witty' way, is beginning to bore me a little.
If this is the first book of this kind you read, you will probably love it, because it is quite funny and clever and amusing. If it is the tenth, the joke may have worn a bit thin.
The other problem with this story is that it relies heavily on the fact that the reader will know about all the traditions of children's literature. My concern is that it will pass the majority of the readers by. I am not saying that children these days are illiterate, because children's books are one of the huge success stories in publishing. What I am saying is that in my experience it is rare to find children who have read the classics that adults take for granted.
This book draws on Anne of Green Gables, Tom Sawyer, Little Women etc, all of which I've read and reread, but my own children and their peers are just not that interested. The books are too wordy and old fashioned, and because of that I think this book will miss its target market.
It's not clever enough for adults and too clever for most children.
Lemony Snicket in The Series of Unfortunate Events books was breaking new ground, but I wonder how long it continues to need breaking. Self consciously ironic children, a narrator tipping the wink to the clever reader, the over emphasis of the evil inherent in children's books and this obsession with providing glossaries and explanations in a 'witty' way, is beginning to bore me a little.
If this is the first book of this kind you read, you will probably love it, because it is quite funny and clever and amusing. If it is the tenth, the joke may have worn a bit thin.
The other problem with this story is that it relies heavily on the fact that the reader will know about all the traditions of children's literature. My concern is that it will pass the majority of the readers by. I am not saying that children these days are illiterate, because children's books are one of the huge success stories in publishing. What I am saying is that in my experience it is rare to find children who have read the classics that adults take for granted.
This book draws on Anne of Green Gables, Tom Sawyer, Little Women etc, all of which I've read and reread, but my own children and their peers are just not that interested. The books are too wordy and old fashioned, and because of that I think this book will miss its target market.
It's not clever enough for adults and too clever for most children.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
My daughter loved it.
This is quite a different story, particularly as a children's book it starts out with parents who would much rather not have their children at all, so much so that they don't even... Read more
Published on 19 Sep 2009 by DavyA
Laugh-aloud funny for children and their adults.
This is a very funny combination of black humour for children, the popular "Lemony Snicket" dark take on life combining modern humour with the traditional abandonment theme of... Read more
Published on 13 Sep 2009 by ELH Browning
An instant hit with my 9 year old daughter
It was difficult for me to read and review this book because it was instantly snatched away by my nine year old daughter, who thought it was wonderful. Read more
Published on 23 Aug 2009 by purplepadma
A Well Crafted Tale
The Willoughbys captures the imagination of children with a flowing narative that owes a lot to Roald Dahl and a retro sense of absurd fun. Read more
Published on 4 Aug 2009 by Sunglasses
Highly Amusing
I thought that this was a highly amusing childrens story. References were made to literary classical tales and the subtle humour, though may be lost on children was entertaining to... Read more
Published on 4 Aug 2009 by S. D. Williams
Darkly charming
As a fan of Lemony Snicket, I was pleasantly surprised when I turned the first few pages of this book as the style is vaguely similar. Read more
Published on 3 Aug 2009 by S. J. Mitchell
funny and easy reading
great book. combines an old fashioned style with modern life. funny, entertaining, makes you want to keep reading. my daughter loved it and had me chuckling. a very good story
Published on 3 Aug 2009 by Syd
A fun satire of old-fashioned children's classics
This book is fun, especially for adults who have read and enjoyed all the really old-fashioned children's classics; books like Pollyanna, The Secret Garden, Anne of Green Gables,... Read more
Published on 30 July 2009 by S. Barnes
Not a typical children's book; darkly humourous
It took me quite a while to decide what I thought of this fascinating book. It is absolutely not your typical piece of children's writing, but would probably be suitable for those... Read more
Published on 30 July 2009 by Beansmummy
not exctly riveting but...
this is a darkly funny, snide, & arch little story, about 4 children who plan to get rid of their parents so that they can be orphans in the great literary tradition of Pollyanna,... Read more
Published on 29 July 2009 by J. Turner
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