The Hostile Hospital (A Series of Unfortunate Events #8)
As you might expect, nothing but woe befalls the unlucky Baudelaire  orphans in the eighth grim tale in Lemony Snicket's Series of Unfortunate Events  that began withThe Bad  Beginning. Ever since the orphans' photographs were plastered across the  front page ofThe Daily Punctilioin an article falsely accusing them of  murder, they have been on the run. Only when they disguise themselves as  cheerful hospital volunteers (Volunteers Fighting Disease, to be exact), do they  see a possible refuge. Of course, this backfires hideously. Where is their  ineffectual guardian, Mr. Poe, when they need him most? Will the evil, greedy  Count Olaf be successful in giving poor Violet a cranioectomy at the Heimlich  Hospital? Is a heart-shaped balloon really better than water for a thirsty  patient? Is no news really good news? As ever, Snicket refuses to comfort young  readers with cozy answers and satisfying escapes. And, as ever, there are plenty  of rusty blades and horrible plot twists to make us shudder and  shameless-but-hilarious wordplay to make us grimace happily. Bring on the next one! (Ages 9 and older)--Karin Snelson