A highly enjoyable and witty start of a thrilling children's series that wasn't afraid to have abuse and a body count. 
 This is a fun book that doesn't talk down to children, and as such highly recommended. 
 However, I have to admit I've only read the first three (the ones the -- equally excellent -- movie is based on) and got distracted sometime in the fourth book where our bad guy shows up AGAIN and nobody believes the kids AGAIN. It's not that it's a bad troupe. Indeed, without it, we have no story, it just wasn't doing anything for me at the time. 
 I liked this first book in the series in particular for its brilliant introduction to the characters and setting (we have a general sense of where we are, but we don't have to sit through a whole lot of world-building to get to it, because exactly what time period -- if any -- is never important to the tale, so if you're not a big "world-building" kind of reader, you might enjoy that aspect). 
 It's a good book for children because even though it deals with some rough themes it keeps the tone darkly upbeat so it doesn't become too depressing. Though, there was one scene, where Klaus has a bruise on his face from Olaf hitting him and Mr. Poe is like yeah so, I remember being a tad shocked by the first time I read it (possibly because even though the slap happens in the film version, the lingering bruise, and their going to Mr. Poe to talk about it, does not) and wanting to sucker punch all the adults for ignoring his plight. 
 To be completely honest, I'm not sure why I don't want this one on my favorites. It misses the list, but only just. Similarly to Casandra Clare's excellent novel Clockwork Angel, which I love but just not QUITE enough to add to favorites, which really is what the list I put it -- and this book -- on is FOR anyway. 
 Recommended!