This book is aimed at middle school grade age children, and is one of those books that every child should be allowed to enjoy and revel in at least once in their lives. And at 135 pages in length, it won’t take too long for the more experienced or confident reader in that age range to get through.

The character of the title is spoiled, mean, despicable and downright disobedient; everything parents don’t want their child to be. However, the Author does take the time to fill the reader in on the back story of the Family, and in doing so tries to explain why he acts the way he does. As is the case with books for this age range, there is little to no character development and that is just fine with this reader.

Yes, the book is slightly cynical and downright morbid at times, but this is part of its charm, and why so many children would enjoy it; Alexander is able to do and get away with things that can only happen within the pages of a book, and in this sense it really lets the readers imagination run riot, not only during the reading but afterwards. The illustrations in the book do every word justice and, in themselves would be worthy of a 4 thumbs rating.

So if you are looking for something darkly funny to either read yourself or with your children, check this book out of your local library and sit down to enjoy the laughs.

Originally reviewed on: http://catesbooknuthut.com/2013/12/19/review-the-nine-lives-of-alexander-baddenf...


This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.
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This book is aimed at middle school grade age children, and is one of those books that every child should be allowed to enjoy and revel in at least once in their lives. And at 135 pages in length, it won’t take too long for the more experienced or confident reader in that age range to get through.

The character of the title is spoiled, mean, despicable and downright disobedient; everything parents don’t want their child to be. However, the Author does take the time to fill the reader in on the back story of the Family, and in doing so tries to explain why he acts the way he does. As is the case with books for this age range, there is little to no character development and that is just fine with this reader.

Yes, the book is slightly cynical and downright morbid at times, but this is part of its charm, and why so many children would enjoy it; Alexander is able to do and get away with things that can only happen within the pages of a book, and in this sense it really lets the readers imagination run riot, not only during the reading but afterwards. The illustrations in the book do every word justice and, in themselves would be worthy of a 4 thumbs rating.

So if you are looking for something darkly funny to either read yourself or with your children, check this book out of your local library and sit down to enjoy the laughs.

Originally reviewed on: http://catesbooknuthut.com/2013/12/19/review-the-nine-lives-of-alexander-baddenf...


This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.
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We read this aloud as a family. The kids liked it, overall, but they were sad that Alexander died a bad kid. I think this might be the first book they've read where there was no redemption at the end. My husband and I kept calling it their "intro to goth." The book is a tad darker than Lemony Snicket's books; the death by bull scenes were a little too much for all of us. My husband called the book "morose," I called it "morbid." The kids got to learn what those words meant, so that's something!(Which reminds me. This book contains some of the "define as go" writing that Snicket made popular. That trend bores me.)
Overall, I prefer my darkness with some light.

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The illustrations are really beautiful and carefully integrated into the text. It's a bit grim but I think a lot of kids would like it, particularly kids who are on the wrong side of the law a lot of the time. The ending could've been good, but the final section where Alexander depends into hell (?) is over the top. ( )

Z loved this - called it Snicket-esque. ( )