The Willoughbys

Post date: Jun 27, 2012 10:22:07 PM

Fans of Lemony Snicket, I have a book for you! The Willoughbys by Lois Lowry!

The cover says "Nefariously Written & Ignominiously Illustrated by the Author."

There are four children in the old-fashioned type Willoughby family. The eldest is Timothy who is insufferably bossy, yhe twins A and B and the youngest Jane. The parents are perfectly awful and wish they didn't have children. The children dream of becoming orphans like children in old-fashioned books.

The parents' discussion (p. 27):

"I have a plan," Mr. Willoughby said, putting his paper down. He stroked on e eyebrow in a satisfied way. "It's thoroughly despicable."

"Lovely," said his wife. "A plan for what?"

"To rid us of the children."

"Oh goodness, do we have to walk them into a dark forest? I don't have the right shoes for that"

"No, this is a better plan. More businesslike."

"Oooh, goody. I'm all ears," she replied with a malevolent smile.

The children's discussion (p. 32):

"And now," Tim announced, going to retrieve his bicycle from under the stoop, "I am going out for a bit, to visit the Reprehensible Travel Agency and obtain some brochures. I have come up with a perfectly despicable plot to get rid of our parents."

"You are ruthless, Tim" Barnaby A commented happily.

"Yes. And soon to be an orphan, as well."

This book has plenty of references to the old-fashioned stories that are honored and made fun of at the same time. A brief synopsis of each book mentioned is given in the appendix. There is also a glossary of the "big" words used that children might not know the meaning of . . . like nefarious.