The Ersatz Elevator

Written by Lemony Snicket · Illustrated by Brett Helquist

Book #6 in the A Series of Unfortunate Events series

Orphans face new perils in a mysterious penthouse near their tragic past.

4.8/7 Bookroo expert·4.1/5 Goodreads · 162,951 ratings

259 pages· 39,854 words· Est. 5.5 hour read

$15.99Save 6%

In stock. Also at Amazon or Bookshop.

Bookroo's summary

The Baudelaire orphans find themselves in a luxurious penthouse, unsettlingly close to where their troubles began. Despite their cleverness, they face new calamities: a dark staircase, a puzzling auction, and a secret passageway. As they navigate these dangers, will they uncover the truth behind their misfortunes, or fall deeper into despair? Discover the twists and turns in this darkly comedic tale.

From the publisher

In their most daring misadventure, the Baudelaire orphans are adopted by very, very rich people, whose penthouse apartment is located mysteriously close to the place where all their misfortune began. Even though their new home in the city is fancy, and the children are clever and charming, I’m sorry to say that still, the unlucky orphans will encounter more disaster and woe.

In fact, in this sixth book in A Series of Unfortunate Events, the children will experience a darkened staircase, a red herring, an auction, parsley soda, some friends in a dire situation, a secret passageway, and pinstripe suits.

Both literary and irreverent, hilarious and deftly crafted, A Series of Unfortunate Events offers an exquisitely dark comedy in the tradition of Edward Gorey and Roald Dahl. Lemon Snicket’s uproariously unhappy books continue to win readers, despite all his warnings.

At a glance

Format
Pages: 259
Words: 39,854
Reading age: 8–12
Audience: Middle Grade
Lexile: 1110L

Themes & topics

Books about siblings Books about orphans Books about family Books about mysterious deaths Books about sinister guardians

What readers & critics say

Reviews

4.8

out of 7

4.8

“This is the sixth book in the Series of Unfortunate Events book series, and it was one of my favorites. The hilariously tragic plight of the Baudelaire children continues, but it was around this point that the pace and structure of the plot really started to pick up, becoming less episodic and more continuous. Each book is like a little puzzle to figure out, and the series as a whole is a much bigger puzzle.”

Lauren Hancock

Trusted reviewer

For readers who can't stop at one