Slippery Slope Report

© 2005 Stephen Zhang

I liked this book because I like mysteries, and the book was a mystery. Another reason is that I learned new, complicated words, like “xenial” and “quarantined.” The next reason is that I have already read the other books in the series, and liked them. Finally, I like the book because it’s long: 337 pages. I am pretty sure and hope there will be another book after this one in the series.

The characters in this story are the Baudelaire orphans, Violet, Klaus, and Sunny. Count Olaf is another important character. Violet is a very good inventor and good with machines. Klaus is the second kid and is good at research and has read more books than anyone. Sunny, the youngest, has four very strong and sharp teeth. The three kids’ parents died in a fire. Count Olaf is an evil man who has followed and tried to steal their fortune. He has tried many schemes but all of them have failed because the kids stopped him.

The Slippery Slope takes place when Violet is 15 years old, Klaus is 13, and Sunny is about 4 or 5. The entire book happens in about a month’s time. Also it appears to be winter, because a river and waterfall are frozen and there is snow.

In the beginning of this story, the first two Baudelaires are in a caravan that’s on a mountain and heading towards a cliff. Klaus found sticky stuff to slow down the wheels. Meanwhile, Sunny, the youngest, was in the clutches of Count Olaf and in his girlfriend’s (Esme’s) lap. Esme pinched Sunny when she made noise. Sunny was crying because she was scared of what would happen to herself, and to her brother and sister.

Violet and Klaus are trying to rescue Sunny. They find her by climbing the slippery slope, which is a frozen waterfall, on Mt. Fraught, which is the highest place. Actually, Violet climbed the slippery slope with another boy, Quigley, who is the brother of the kids’ best friend. They had thought Quigley was dead so they were surprised when they met him. When they got to the top, they talked with Sunny and decided in the end that she should stay and try to spy on the Count. They want to learn more about where the Last Safe Place is. They need to get to the Last Safe Place because one of their parents might still be alive and would be there. Also, they hope they will be safe from Count Olaf.

Later, Violet, Klaus, and Quigley all go back up to rescue Sunny, and slide with her on a toboggan down the slippery slope, and head towards the Last Safe Place, Hotel Denouement. Quigley unfortunately slips off the toboggan and into the river. He shouts, “Wait for me! Wait for me at …”

If you want to know or understand more about this book, read the whole series. It is complicated because it is the tenth book in the series, and every book adds more and more details and complication. So that is why it is hard to explain this book if you haven’t read the others.