2022
WISE Score
Barnacle, Melancholy, and Garlic are left to fend for themselves in Deadeye Manor after their parents ditch them for a cruise.
Our reviews and ratings are 100% unbiased. Screenwise is a Bookshop.org affiliate and an Amazon Associate, so if you buy a book through one of our links, we may earn a commission. Bookshop.org purchases also support independent bookstores.
If your kid has already burned through A Series of Unfortunate Events and is looking for more 'unfortunate' vibes, this is the move. It carries that specific brand of middle-grade cynicism that kids find hilarious and adults find slightly concerning.
It’s not a 'feel-good' book in the traditional sense, but the triplets' competence is genuinely satisfying. It’s a solid pick for reluctant readers who need a hook that feels a little bit 'edgy' without actually being inappropriate.
Best for 8-to-11-year-olds who enjoy 'competent kid' stories and don't mind a bit of morbid humor. It's a perfect bridge for kids who have finished Lemony Snicket but aren't quite ready for YA horror.
While the parents are intentionally 'cold and uncaring' as a plot device, the core of the story is about triplets bonding and fending for themselves. It favors sibling cooperation over individual angst.
Deadeye Manor and its eccentric guests provide a rich, Gothic playground. The naming conventions alone (Barnacle, Melancholy, Garlic) signal a high level of creative world-building.
It is a middle-grade novel with no interactive risks or monetization. The 'dark' elements are stylistic and fit the genre of Gothic humor.
Encourages independence and problem-solving. The 'darkly funny' prose style is excellent for building vocabulary and narrative comprehension in 8-to-11-year-olds.
There is a long tradition in children's literature of removing the parents to let the kids actually do something interesting. The Weirdies leans into this with zero apologies. By making the parents not just absent but actively 'cold and uncaring,' the book sets up a scenario where the triplets' survival isn't just a necessity—it's a victory over the adults who failed them.
The shadow of Lemony Snicket looms large here, and that's not a bad thing. If your kid likes that specific narrative voice—the one that breaks the fourth wall to explain a difficult word or to warn the reader that things are about to get worse—they will feel right at home in Deadeye Manor.
In an era where many kids' books feel a bit too 'safe' or instructional, The Weirdies feels like a throwback to the weird, slightly dangerous-feeling middle-grade novels of the late 90s and early 2000s. It’s the kind of book that builds literacy by making the reader feel like they're in on a joke that the 'normal' world doesn't get.
Get a personalized guide on any topic
