I think a lot of middle schoolers will enjoy reading this new series, especially if they are fans of a Series of Unfortunate Events. Wil, Theo and Alexander are three siblings who find themselves spending the summer with their very strange Aunt. They have no recollection of how they arrived at her house or where their parents are. However, they soon find themselves trying to solve some stranger disappearances at an even stranger water park. I thought the book was entertaining and I enjoyed the humor. I believe the following books in the series will shed more light on why these siblings have been separated from their parents and what needs to be done in order to make it back home. I received a complimentary ebook from Netgalley.com

An easy, middle-grades read for fans of Lemony Snicket and A Series of Unfortunate Events. The gothic tone was well-written and consistent throughout the story. The end was left open and with unanswered questions, indicating a sequel might be in play.

*Thank you to NetGalley and Delacorte Press for this ARC. All opinions expressed are my own.*

Their aunt was decidedly Sinister.
- first line

Verdict: A gothic waterpark, hidden passageways, strange employees, a missing owner, and an odd mystery. This book is like a Series of Unfortunate Events and Scooby Doo had a baby. I loved it!!

The Sinister-Winterbottom kids, twins Theo and Alexander and their older sister Wilhelmina (along with her cell phone, Rodrigo) are staying with their Aunt Saffronia for the summer. They don’t know why - their parents just dropped them off. Aunt Saffronia has no idea how to take care of kids and doesn’t seem to have much food. She gets them tickets to the Fathoms of Fun water park where she drops them off every day. The waterpark is not what the kids expected - they don’t even have churros!! The waterpark is gray and dark instead of bright and colorful, and there aren’t many other people there. And then, Wil goes missing. Theo and Alexander must solve the mystery of the odd waterpark and save their sister.

I loved Theo’s bravery and Alexander’s cautious, rule-following nature. And I loved that both of them were willing to go against their natures to save their sister. Wil is your typical teen, always wrapped up in her phone, but she sees more than you think. The creepy atmosphere mixes perfectly with deadpan humor to create a delightful book that I seriously enjoyed. I recently read Hide by Kiersten White and loved it. I am so happy to see she writes books for middle grade and look forward to sharing this one (and the sequels) with my students!

three children stuck with their odd aunt for a summer. This is a bit of a spooky ride for the reader. The twins solve mysteries during this summer vacation. They find themselves with Aunt Saffronia who suggests they go to the Fanthoms of Fun waterpark - for a WEEK!. It is a rather gothic type of place., where one of the owners disappears. They set out to find him and solve the mystery. This book reminded me of Scooby Doo mysteries. It was a fun read and just creepy enough but not so creepy to scare children.

This book was so much! Wretched Waterpark is the first in a new middle grade series featuring a sibling group going on some seriously spooky adventures. I absolutely adored the characters and the supernatural mystery. Can’t wait for the next book!

Loved the story and the characters. This book is a great example of suspense/horror for kids.

The characters are well-drawn, the plot just convoluted enough to appeal to young readers of any age.

Highly recommended.

The adventures of 3 siblings during their summer vacation lands them in an unusual theme park. There is a mystery to solve and here the adventures begin. Wil ,Theo and Alexander have one week to solve the disappearance of Mr. Widow . Will they survive or mysteriously disappear like everyone else who enters the park?

I received this from Netgalley in exchange for an unbiased review. I got some serious Lemony Snicket meets Nancy Drew vibes from this middle-grade mystery/horror (light horror, more like a forboding sense of dread, nothing gruesome or questionable for the age of intended readers).

Theo and her twin, Alexander, along with the cell phone addicted older sister, Wil Sinister-Winterbottom have been sent to their Aunt Saffronia for the summer. They don’t know why. That’s a mystery in and of itself (and threads through the story) Theo is the risk taker of the crew, Wil thinks she should be in charge…when she looks away from her phone long enough to remember she has siblings and Alexander is the cautious worrier (especially about following rules and food safety). Saffronia abandons them at the Fathoms of Fun waterpark with the instructions of ‘find what’s been lost’ and only picks them up in the evening (getting to her house and once there seems incapable of imprinting on the twins brains).

The waterpark is run by a strange unfriendly woman and is what would happen if you let Tim Burton make a waterpark. It’s exceedingly gothic (right down to red velvet couches) and almost empty. There are a series of look alike young lady lifeguards and one young man who’s a nephew to the lady who runs the park (and instantly Wil’s newest interest). His uncle is missing and naturally the twins assume this is what Saffronia meant and they decide to help find the man.

They don’t immediately jump to this though, trying to act like things are normal. Wil goes off with the young man, Theo falls in love with the wild water slides, Alexander worries. As they are there day by day more things change, more people disappear and more weirdness occurs. Theo and Alexander (it flows between their points of view) are well drawn, engaging characters. Wil is much more a secondary character.

I really enjoyed the plot (very Scooby Dooish) and there is definitely a strange almost supernatural thread running through this. You get the idea they are being trained in some family tradition they know nothing about. It’s obviously going to be a series and I’m there for more of this.

So. Much. Fun! I am so excited to see where this new middle-grade horror series will go.

The Sinister-Winterbottom children are just wonderfully written. When they start their summer unexpectedly being sent away to a distant aunt's home, whom they've never even met, things slowly become stranger and stranger. When their aunt drops them off at a Waterpark that looks anything but inviting, mysteries ensue and the creepiness factor rises to a wonderful crescendo.

Like so many fraternal twins, Theodora and Alexander's personalities couldn't possibly be any more different from one another. While Theo is brash and brave, the first to dive into creepy and dark tunnels just for the rush, her brother Alexander is much more timid and sensible. The oldest, Wilhelmina, is so absorbed in her phone that she barely notices that things are absolutely not what they seem at this park, and it goes far beyond it's simple lack of churros!

This story is very much in the vein of the Series Of Unfortunate Events books, with a creepy, gothic feel, three normal siblings dealing with a cast of unusual characters and a strange location with a mystery to solve.

However, I think this series has potential to be more enjoyable than Unfortunate Events.It has a lighter tone, the zany characters that the siblings encountered were fun and interesting to get to know and I really liked the waterpark setting.

There's a few mysteries to solve in this series, and not all of them are solved in this story. The mystery of the waterpark may be solved, but the sibling's missing memory, the confusion of being suddenly packed away for the summer by their parents and the supernatural elements we encounter are not, leaving those reveals for later.

This book was just weird. I’m left scratching my head at what I just read, and I’m not really sure what to say about it. It was too illogical and left way to many unanswered questions - even for a book that is hinting at a sequel.

This was a fun book to read. Three siblings are sent, suddenly, to spend the summer with an aunt they've never heard of, much less met - and she has no idea what to do with them. She buys them each a one-week pass to a popular water park as an appeasement, after they realize that she has no internet, no cell phone, and no food. But something odd is happening at the water park - on the first day, it seems a little run-down, and the three keep hearing other patrons noting that the park used to be better. The next day things are stranger - fewer patrons, fewer employees, and a general air that something is wrong. Join the Sinister-Winterbottom trio as they investigate the changes, looking for the missing personnel, and find something truly unexpected.

A fun, new middle grade series starter that fans of A Series of Unfortunate Events will enjoy. Includes great twists and turns.

Thank you to NetGalley, Random House Children's, Delacorte Press, and Kiersten White for the opportunity to read Wretched Waterpark in exchange for an honest review.

Wretched Waterpark is the first book in the middle grade Gothic mystery series Sinister Summer. So far there are three books in the series coming out in quick succession (about 3-4 month wait per book-awesome!)

I thoroughly enjoyed this book so much more than I anticipated I would.

Three siblings are dropped off at their aunt's house for the summer. Wilhelmina Sinister-Winterbottom is an older teen (16) addicted to the company of Rodrigo (her cell phone). Her twelve-year-old twin siblings, Theodora Sinister-Winterbottom and Alexander Sinister-Winterbottom, make a dynamic duo. None of the children know how they came to arrive at their aunt's house, and their aunt seems to not know that children need food, among other oddities she exhibits.

For their first week of summer vacation, their aunt takes them to Fathoms of Fun Waterpark, encouraging they grab a week-long pass. The shops don't seem to sell the usual items and snacks one might find at a waterpark, and heaven forbid...there are no churros! But there are some raisin meat pie things...

Wil finds herself drawn to the mysterious Gothic shopkeep, Edgar. All the buildings are like old gray stone, the furniture that which would be found in a haunted castle. The water attractions feature ominous names, such as "Oblivion, Abandon Hope, Infinite Plunge, Mortal Coil, the Other Side and the Afterlife," as well as the River Styx for lazy time and the Cold, Unknowable Sea for those who seek some waves. The rafts are all shaped like coffins and park workers (all dressed in dark Gothic style attire) suggest one cross their arms over their chest while going down the various slides (it's quite quirky and hilarious). Theo finds she loves going down the water slides over and over again, but Alexander is more than content timing her with their borrowed stop watch.

As the children are dropped off at the park every morning, they soon realize something strange is happening. Employees are missing, and the park owner, Mrs. Widow, seems up to something...sinister. Wil is afright when Edgar goes missing, and the children learn something must have happened to Mr. Widow. What could be causing employees to go missing and for Mrs. Widow to dismiss her husband as dead? The children take the matter into their own hands after a mysterious encouragement from their aunt to find what is missing.

This book is so full of quirky humorous moments. As an adult I feel like more may stand out to me than to a younger reader, but there is so much a middle grade audience will enjoy with this series. It has a bit of an Adams Family feel when it comes to all the characters in the book, with the exception of the three children.

By the end I had this A Series of Unfortunate Events vibe as I feel that this is only the start of the Gothic adventures and I feel that the villain from this will be recurring and possibly be out for the children in a similar way as Count Olaf. That being said, as a reader, I already find this series to be far superior to that of A Series of Unfortunate Events as its enjoyment value and creativity are outstanding. I am so glad there is already a line-up of these and cannot wait to read more!

I have never read A Series of Unfortunate Events, but whoever compared this book to Scooby Doo was onto something. Personally, I would say it’s a mix of Scooby Doo and The Addams Family, which are two of my favourite things ever, so it’s no surprise I ended up loving this book so much. I can’t wait to read the next installments in the series.
I was a bit worried, seeing I didn’t like the other two books by Kiersten White I’d previously read, but luckily this book broke the curse. I loved everything about Wretched Waterpark, from the atmosphere to the setting, from the characters to the plot. I just know that if I’d read this book when I was younger, it would have become my whole personality. I can clearly see myself playing at being Theo each summer.
I really liked Theo and Alexander as main characters, I loved their characterisation and the way they complemented each other, while being their own individuals. I loved their sibling relationship, the way they helped and balanced each other and I can’t wait to see how their bond grows with them in the next books in the series.
I also really enjoyed all the other characters, especially the people from the waterpark. I think they are all extremely interesting and I love the fact that there’s some kind of mystery that surrounds them. They really reminded me of the Addams Family and I hope to see them again in the next books, especially Aunt Saffronia.
The plot was engaging, the book was such a quick read — I read it in two sittings and only because it was a buddy — and the mystery was well crafted. Even if it was a bit predictable, I didn’t mind it, because it was still built well and this is a lower middle grade anyways. I don’t know if children will be able to figure it out or not, I guess it depends on the child, but the whole reading experience is so good I think they won’t mind as well.
However, the best thing about the book was definitely the gothic atmosphere. It’s a perfect summer book, seeing it is set at a waterpark, but it’s also perfect for Halloween season, because it has those lovely spooky vibes that middle grades just do so well.
The writing was also really good, which surprised me because I had issues with White’s writing style in the past. I think she can really write middle grades and I hope she does write more of them, aside from this series. I find she managed to convey the right amount of spookyness and weirdness in this book and I am pretty curious to see how the other books will compare to this one, once the setting changes.
I would highly recommend this book to all middle grade fans, especially if you like spooky things or if you enjoyed the Small Spaces series by Katherine Arden. While this one is more mystery and Small Spaces more horror, I think you can like one if you liked the other!

I really enjoyed this spooky middle grade mystery. I’m looking forward to reading more in this series.

This is the first book I’ve read by Kiersten White and it won’t be the last. I like to take breaks from the YA and adult worlds of stories once in awhile. I really enjoy middle-grade books. While many still deal with the heavy themes of death, abandonment, parental death, low esteem, and bullying, middle-grade stories are written with humor, excitement, and from a child’s perspective that makes reading these heavy themes much easier. Plus, they are just such a joy to read.

Theo is brave. She likes anything that gets the adrenaline pumping. She puts on a facade that tells everyone she’s just fine and nothing much bothers her. However, on the inside she is missing her parents and struggles with anxiety. Her journey toward allowing those feelings to reflect who she really is isn’t an easy one. Maybe, just maybe, this summer trip to Fathoms of Fun will be just what she needs.

Alexander is cautious. He worries about everything being like it should be. He always follows the rules. He wants to have fun but his anxiety keeps him from doing anything too dangerous. He couldn’t be more different from Theo, even though they are twins. He will be pushed beyond his limits at Fathoms of Fun but even so, he learns that breaking some rules is the right thing to do.

I love these characters. The side characters are so fun and creepy. This story is funny, scary, sad, and exhilarating at times. There are scenes that make you feel like someone is watching you and will give you goosebumps. The mystery at Fathoms of Fun Waterpark is so out there but that’s what makes it fun. I can’t really go into too many details or it’ll give things away. And where is the fun in that? Suffice it to say that I thoroughly enjoyed this story and can’t wait to read the next installment coming later this year.

I highly recommend this book to fans of middle-grade thrillers, mystery, sibling fun, and summer adventure.

Spooky good time!

This was such a fun, spooky, summer read! The Sinister-Winterbottom children find themselves at their creepy aunt's for the summer and have no idea why they are there or what happened to their parents. Now they must survive a week at possibly the creepiest water park that ever existed? There are hardly any people there and worse, the workers are disappearing? And there are no churros? Absolutely dreadful.

I found this book to be loads of fun and enjoyed following along with Theo and her twin brother Alexander as they solved the mystery at the super creepy Fathoms of Fun waterpark. But their "fun" isn't over yet! There are still questions to be answered!

I'm excited to read the twins' next adventure in book 2!

Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced ARC!
(I received an advanced ARC from NetGalley and this is my honest opinion.)

I loved <i>Wretched Waterpark</i>!

At first, I wasn’t entirely sure of it as it had some stereotypical adults-writing-kids things (not knowing/recognizing a phone on the wall, Wil being addicted to her cellphone), but I got over it pretty quickly!
The vibes were beautiful, and I’m now in love with the idea of a gothic waterpark. I could easily envision Theo and Alexander floating down the lazy river in their coffin raft and lounging in the cabasoleum.

The mystery of the waterpark kept me guessing for a good amount of time. I’m excited to see where the series goes as the supernatural touches develop and we discover more about what’s happening to the Sinister-Winterbottom family.

Be warned, I’m now marathoning <i>Scooby Doo</> and have the urge to reread <i>A Series of Unfortunate Events</i>. The comp titles were spot on! I’m sure this will be a hit with readers who like mystery and a little spookiness.

I’m off to read <i>Vampiric Vacation</i>!

This is like an updated Series of Unfortunate Events with a fun trio of siblings, some gothic atmosphere, and mysterious circumstances involving absent parents and an unknown aunt.

I loved White's semi-sarcastic writing style and the relationships between the siblings. In fact, the whole story is full of quirky characters who just had me giddy. The waterpark was perfection. Pale lifeguards in black and white dress accompanied by black parasols? Oh, the gothic vibes. I think this is the collision of characters and world that I have been looking for.

The mystery was fantastically written. The book is definitely middle grade, but the level of deception is well done. Adults will figure out some of the twists, but there are some great red herrings in the mix and it was just honestly a really intriguing and entertaining read. Highly recommend and I will be anxiously awaiting the sequel.