Witherwood Reform School (Witherwood Reform School Series #1)

by Obert Skye, Keith Thompson (Illustrator)

Overview

They’re trapped at a creepy reform school full of monsters, mysteries, and mind control.

After a slight misunderstanding involving a horrible governess, oatmeal, and a jar of tadpoles, siblings Tobias and Charlotte Eggars find themselves abandoned by their father at the gates of a creepy reform school. Evil mysteries are afoot at Witherwood, where the grounds are patrolled by vicious creatures after dark and kids are locked in their rooms. Charlotte and Tobias soon realize that they are in terrible danger—especially because the head of Witherwood has perfected the art of mind control.

If only their amnesiac father would recover and remember that he has two missing children. If only Tobias and Charlotte could solve the dark mystery and free the kids at Witherwood—and ultimately save themselves.

“In this Snicketesque series opener, Skye (the Creature from My Closet series) crafts an imaginative, absorbing tale in which nothing is as it seems.” —Publishers Weekly

“This is a dark, fantastical adventure shrouded in mystery. . . . The fast-moving plot filled with clues will keep readers wondering and surprised at what comes next.” —School Library Journal

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781250073471
Publisher:	Square Fish
Publication date:	03/01/2016
Series:	Witherwood Reform School Series , #1
Edition description:	Reprint
Pages:	256
Sales rank:	283,329
Product dimensions:	5.40(w) x 7.60(h) x 0.80(d)
Lexile:	680L (what's this?)
Age Range:	9 - 12 Years

About the Author

Obert Skye is the author and illustrator of The Creature from My Closet: Wonkenstein. He has also written the bestselling children's fantasy adventure series Leven Thumps and Pillage.

Keith Thompson is a professional freelance artist whose work appears in movies, games and books including the Witherwood Reform School series and the Leviathan trilogy by Scott

Westerfeld. Thompson lives in Ottawa, Ontario.

Editorial Reviews

Skye's old-fashioned, witty writing style and amusing humor is the perfect fit for fans of the Spiderwick Chronicles and A Series of Unfortunate Events series.” —Booklist

“A brother and sister find themselves trapped in a frightening school that threatens to destroy their minds in this dark comedy. . . Skye writes very much in the same vein as Lemony Snicket, with menacing dark humor and outlandish characters.” —Kirkus Reviews

“In this Snicketesque series opener, Skye crafts an imaginative, absorbing tale in which nothing is as it seems.” —Publishers Weekly

“Quite funny and has a lot of laugh-out-loud moments. . . . The idea of a hybrid Willy Wonka/Frankenstein character is original and hilarious.” —School Library Journal on Wonkenstein

“Highly amusing new series starter. . . . Skye gives Rob a self-deprecating charm and highlights the pleasures of books both subtly and effectively.” —Booklist on Wonkenstein

“Filled with spot-on commentary and a wince-inducing supporting cast, middle grade guys won't be able to keep Wonkenstein to themselves. . . . This pitch-perfect offering should appeal to reluctant readers, not to mention the legion Wimpy Kid fans.” —Shelf Awareness on Wonkenstein

“Skye captures all the silly action in the winning text-plus-cartoons format. . . . Rob's dry commentary on his family, school, and social life is sure to provoke laughs.” —Publishers Weekly on Potterwookiee

From the Publisher

01/26/2015
In this Snicketesque series opener, Skye (the Creature from My Closet series) crafts an imaginative, absorbing tale in which nothing is as it seems. As the story opens, Ralph Eggers drops off his “highly mischievous” children—Tobias, 12, and Charlotte, 11—in front of a deserted building in hopes of scaring them into better behavior. When the children’s father does not return, they seek refuge inside the forbidding structure, only to learn that this safe haven is anything but. The Witherwood Reform School, where they discover they’ve landed, is run by strange adults, haunted by terrifying creatures, populated with puppetlike children, and emblazoned with odd, depressing mottos like “Some things aren’t worth trying” and “Time is a trick of the mind.” Thompson’s illustrations, mostly character portraits, are appropriately grim, and there’s never a dull moment as the siblings grapple with abandonment, loss, fear, and the incredible power of the mind. Skye’s portrayal of their bravery and hope brings a ray of hope to the delightfully creepy story line. Ages 9–12. Author’s agent: Laurie Liss, Sterling Lord Literistic. (Mar.)

Publishers Weekly

01/01/2015
Gr 4–7—This is a dark, fantastical adventure shrouded in mystery, reminiscent of Lemony Snicket's "Series of Unfortunate Events" (HarperCollins). After tricking their nasty governess into eating tadpoles disguised as gravy, Tobias and Charlotte father has had enough. He drives them outside of town into the dark, rainy night and leaves them outside an old, grim, weathered building, named "Witherwood." His intention is to teach them a lesson; never would he have anticipated an accident would leave him with amnesia, unable to even remember he had children, let alone where he had left them. Boldly, Tobias and Charlotte eventually decide to enter Witherwood. Witherwood's headmaster has created a form of mind control, camouflaged as compounds in food. Tobias and Charlotte must overcome such manipulations as they determine the true aim of Witherwood. The fast-moving plot filled with clues will keep readers wondering and surprised at what comes next. An anonymous narrator adds dark humor while providing background information and hints. Skye's witty descriptions and elevated vocabulary add to the novel's peculiarity yet may be challenging for some readers. Expect kids to demand future installments. Highly recommended as a fresh addition to middle grade fantasy collections.—Mary-Brook J. Townsend, The McGillis School, Salt Lake City, UT

School Library Journal

2014-12-06
A brother and sister find themselves trapped in a frightening school that threatens to destroy their minds in this dark comedy.Tobias, 12, and Charlotte, 11, don't like their awful nanny, but when they play one trick too many on her, their father becomes enraged, drives them out to the desert and leaves them by the side of the road. Readers soon learn that their dad feels guilty and rushes back to retrieve them, but events intervene, and the siblings wind up virtually imprisoned in the terrible Witherwood Reform School. Apparently run by the odd-looking Mr. Orrin, the school looms like a prison. Tobias fashions a makeshift key that allows the two to sneak around at night, where they meet another student, Fiddle, a boy constantly and unsuccessfully working a Rubik's Cube. He clues them in on some of the school's secrets, which makes them all the more determined to escape. Skye writes in very much the same vein as Lemony Snicket, with menacing dark humor and outlandish characters. The volume opens a new series, so after plenty of suspense and revelations about the truly awful school, readers can be assured that the siblings will still face precarious circumstances in the next installment. One can almost hear the Tim Curry narration. (Adventure. 9-12)

Kirkus Reviews