Genres
Description
In the fading town of Stain'd-by-the-Sea, young apprentice Lemony Snicket has a new case to solve when he and his chaperone are hired to find a missing girl. Is the girl a runaway? Or was she kidnapped? Was she seen last at the grocery store? Or could she have stopped at the diner? Is it really any of your business? These are All The Wrong Questions.
Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
2013
Publication
Little, Brown Books for Young Readers (2013), Edition: First Edition, 288 pages
ISBN
0316123056 / 9780316123051
Similar in this library
Awards
Parents' Choice Book Award (2013)
User reviews
LibraryThing member sedelia
*I received a free copy of this book from the publisher.*
I actually wasn't a huge fan of A Series of Unfortunate Events (I tried, guys -- I really, really tried!), so I was hesitant to pick this one up after a friend recommended the series. However, having read and loved Snicket's short story in
This is book 2 of Snicket's new series: All the Wrong Questions. While I haven't read book 1, I've never been a strict adherent of series order, so I read this one first anyway. Though I'm sure I missed some details, overall, I wasn't confused by what was going on in the book, which I count as a positive.
Children's books are my favorite for being able to teach kids to use their own imaginations and think for themselves. This one is no different in showing how ridiculous adults can sometimes be (guilty!), and how children sometimes see things clearer than we can ever hope to. As an adult, I love this sort of wake-up call, and I know that the children in my life love reading stories where they can see themselves as the independent, intelligent savers-of-the-day.
"When Did You See Her Last?" is a cute, funny children's mystery with enough suspense and darkness to keep things interesting. The writing fun and playful -- Snicket's style in this book reminds me a lot of Roald Dahl, or a children's version of Jasper Fforde. Like all the best children's books, people of any age will be able to laugh at the humor in this. I certainly laughed aloud a few times, and my seven-year-old cousin was constantly giggling at the wordplay.
Honestly, it's good enough that I'm considering re-reading the first few books of A Series of Unfortunate Events to see if my opinion has changed on them.
Countdown until book 3: a little less than 6 months. Can't wait to see how this series develops!
I actually wasn't a huge fan of A Series of Unfortunate Events (I tried, guys -- I really, really tried!), so I was hesitant to pick this one up after a friend recommended the series. However, having read and loved Snicket's short story in
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Half-Minute Horrors, I decided to give this one a try.This is book 2 of Snicket's new series: All the Wrong Questions. While I haven't read book 1, I've never been a strict adherent of series order, so I read this one first anyway. Though I'm sure I missed some details, overall, I wasn't confused by what was going on in the book, which I count as a positive.
Children's books are my favorite for being able to teach kids to use their own imaginations and think for themselves. This one is no different in showing how ridiculous adults can sometimes be (guilty!), and how children sometimes see things clearer than we can ever hope to. As an adult, I love this sort of wake-up call, and I know that the children in my life love reading stories where they can see themselves as the independent, intelligent savers-of-the-day.
"When Did You See Her Last?" is a cute, funny children's mystery with enough suspense and darkness to keep things interesting. The writing fun and playful -- Snicket's style in this book reminds me a lot of Roald Dahl, or a children's version of Jasper Fforde. Like all the best children's books, people of any age will be able to laugh at the humor in this. I certainly laughed aloud a few times, and my seven-year-old cousin was constantly giggling at the wordplay.
Honestly, it's good enough that I'm considering re-reading the first few books of A Series of Unfortunate Events to see if my opinion has changed on them.
Countdown until book 3: a little less than 6 months. Can't wait to see how this series develops!
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LibraryThing member rivkat
I liked this volume better than the first, though this early Snicket adventure doesn’t yet have the bizarre genius of A Series of Unfortunate Events. Snicket’s search for a missing genius scientist who’s inventing invisible ink takes him throughout the decaying seaside town he’s stuck in
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while his sister is all on her own in the city, after a very different but equally mysterious target. I still have no idea what’s going on, but that’s not really the point, as the presence of the statue of the Maltese Falcon—I mean, the Bombinating Beast—makes clear. Show Less
LibraryThing member themulhern
Just as good as the previous.
LibraryThing member Othemts
The second installment of All the Wrong Questions picks up in Stain’d-by-the-Sea with Lemony Snicket investigating a missing person's case, putatively with the help of his chaperon S. Theodora Markson. It continues to be a whimsical mix of mystery novel and humor. One thing that stands out is
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that other than Snicket as narrator, the major characters in this novel are all women, which is a refreshing change. I'm looking forward to the next installment. Show Less
LibraryThing member lydia1879
WOW so much better than the first. i love snicket's writing style.
i love the mystery. i love that snicket is maybe in love with a femme fatale. a super enjoyable read! i hope the momentum is maintained through the next books!
i love the mystery. i love that snicket is maybe in love with a femme fatale. a super enjoyable read! i hope the momentum is maintained through the next books!
LibraryThing member Welfycat
The second book in Lemony Snicket's All The Wrong Questions series was marginally better than the first book in the series, yet still lacks the teamwork and group problem solving that were so prevalent in the Series of Unfortunate Events. The mystery in the town that separates Lemony from his
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sister grows deeper, we see several family faces from the first book in the series, and fortunately very little of Lemony's mentor. Most of the characters, with the exception of Lemony, are very one dimensional and weakly portrayed. It seems that the third book in this series has not yet been published and I am ambivalent. Show Less
LibraryThing member Paul-the-well-read
This is the first YA book I have read since i myself was a YA, about 45 years ago.
It was a fun read, full of word play, gunnery, meaning twists, and word juxtapositions that made it fun to read. I smiled through it often, laughed occasionally, and enjoyed it throughout. I easily see why it is so
The first book I can remember really reading thoroughly and enjoying was "Homer Price," a book I still remember fondly and probably the single most important book in my life in that it made me the voracious reader I am today. I can see where a book like "When Did You See Her Last?" would have the same impact on a young reader and I hope that it does make reading addicts of every youth who wonders through it.
It was a fun read, full of word play, gunnery, meaning twists, and word juxtapositions that made it fun to read. I smiled through it often, laughed occasionally, and enjoyed it throughout. I easily see why it is so
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popular about YA readers and book reviewers who like YA reading.The first book I can remember really reading thoroughly and enjoying was "Homer Price," a book I still remember fondly and probably the single most important book in my life in that it made me the voracious reader I am today. I can see where a book like "When Did You See Her Last?" would have the same impact on a young reader and I hope that it does make reading addicts of every youth who wonders through it.
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LibraryThing member avanders
It was a great 2nd book and I immediately downloaded the 3rd in the series. I wasn't as impressed as the first book, for some reason, but it was still great and I still plan to buy it for my goddaughter. In the second, Lemony Snicket remains in the town called Stained by the Sea and continues to
**note: audio book listened to at 1.5x speed.
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explore the various odd happenings and crimes that seem to be occurring, attempting to understand what Hangfire is planning and how all the various people he is meeting fit into the plan. I like the tone, pace, and intrigue. It's a great middle-grade series.**note: audio book listened to at 1.5x speed.
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LibraryThing member vivirielle
Young Lemony Snicket continues his time with the unusual S. Theodora Markson as he continues to try solving mysteries while asking all the wrong questions. When the brilliant scientist Cleo Knight disappears, Lemony takes on the case with the help of the mysterious girl he met in his last case.
Fans of Lemony Snicket’s other works will recognize his trademark wit and habit of explaining what words mean in funny ways will enjoy this series about the author and character they know from the other books. It helps answer some of the questions that were left unanswered in Snicket’s Series of Unfortunate Events, but also puts in more, like how did this clever, witty Lemony Snicket turn into the despairing one in the other series? While more convoluted than the original series, people who like Snicket’s typical writing will enjoy reading this somewhat prequel series to his popular Series of Unfortunate Events.
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Although it appears that Cleo intended to run off, there is strong evidence that she was kidnapped instead. The villainous Hangfire seems to be behind the disappearance, but while Lemony should have been asking the question” How could someone who was missing be in two places at once?” and other questions, he always seems to ask the wrong ones. Even though his questions might be off, he manages to find the missing Cleo, but there are still many more questions that he has left to uncover.Fans of Lemony Snicket’s other works will recognize his trademark wit and habit of explaining what words mean in funny ways will enjoy this series about the author and character they know from the other books. It helps answer some of the questions that were left unanswered in Snicket’s Series of Unfortunate Events, but also puts in more, like how did this clever, witty Lemony Snicket turn into the despairing one in the other series? While more convoluted than the original series, people who like Snicket’s typical writing will enjoy reading this somewhat prequel series to his popular Series of Unfortunate Events.
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LibraryThing member Jazz1987
Another good book by Lemony Snicket.