Witherwood Reform School

In this Snicketesque series opener, Skye (the Creature from My Closet series) crafts an imaginative, absorbing tale in which nothing is as it seems. As the story opens, Ralph Eggers drops off his “highly mischievous” children—Tobias, 12, and Charlotte, 11—in front of a deserted building in hopes of scaring them into better behavior. When the children’s father does not return, they seek refuge inside the forbidding structure, only to learn that this safe haven is anything but. The Witherwood Reform School, where they discover they’ve landed, is run by strange adults, haunted by terrifying creatures, populated with puppetlike children, and emblazoned with odd, depressing mottos like “Some things aren’t worth trying” and “Time is a trick of the mind.” Thompson’s illustrations, mostly character portraits, are appropriately grim, and there’s never a dull moment as the siblings grapple with abandonment, loss, fear, and the incredible power of the mind. Skye’s portrayal of their bravery and hope brings a ray of hope to the delightfully creepy story line. Ages 9–12. Author’s agent: Laurie Liss, Sterling Lord Literistic. (Mar.)