Witherwood Reform School

Witherwood Reform School #1

by Obert Skye, Keith Thompson (Illustrations)

After a slight misunderstanding involving a horrible governess, oatmeal, and a jar of tadpoles, siblings Tobias and Charlotte Eggars find themselves abandoned by their father at the gates of a creepy reform school. Evil mysteries are afoot at Witherwood, where the grounds are patrolled by vicious creatures after dark and kids are locked in their rooms. Charlotte and Tobias soon realize that they are in terrible danger―especially because the head of Witherwood has perfected the art of mind control. If only their amnesiac father would recover and remember that he has two missing children. If only Tobias and Charlotte could solve the dark mystery and free the kids at Witherwood―and ultimately save themselves.

Genres: Fantasy, Middle Grade, Fiction, Mystery, Young Adult, Juvenile, Childrens

240 pages, Hardcover

First published March 3, 2015

About the author

Obert Skye read his first book at age two. He wrote his first story at age four. And he was nearly trampled by a herd of water buffalo at age six. For a short time, he lived on the Isle of Skye in Scotland, where he spent time as a candy-taster. Several years ago, Obert Skye says, he discovered the existence of Foo. Publishing his story as a fictional series was not Obert’s first choice. Nevertheless he is content that the “history” is being told.

Hobbies and other interests: Collecting old maps, water polo, roller coasters.

Reviews

[Dear Faye · Rating 3 out of 5]

And Bubbles makes her appearance yet again! I really appreciated the warm and positive feedback her debut received, which inspired me to use Bubbles even more. Witherwood Reform School is a MarchMacmillan title, and I was given the opportunity to read a review copy. Here are my thoughts through Bubbles wit and humor!

[Robin Glassey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I admit I'm an Obert Skye fan and was inclined to love the book even before opening the cover. But Witherwood had me from the very beginning with the letter to the reader and the Prologue explaining why it was an important prologue and Obert's suggestion to "just read it."

Tobias and Charlotte's unfortuate tale of what can happen to two children as a result of one event, reminded me somewhat of The Series of Unfortunate Events, which I also loved. Tobias and Charlotte try desperately to change their circumstances and nothing seems to go right.

Know that Witherwood Reform School is the first book in a series, so don't be surprised when things aren't wrapped up at the end. If you enjoy fantasy, humor, and mystery then this book is for you.

[Adele Broadbent · Rating 3 out of 5]

When Tobias and his younger sister pull a trick on their awful nanny, their father is so angry he orders them into his car, before driving them many miles to leave them in the dark and rain outside tall metal gates. The sign says Witherwood Reform School - Caring, Community and Character since 1805.

He quickly feels guilty and turns around to go back for them but things go awry on the way.

What Tobias and Charlotte soon face would turn their father's hair white if he knew what he'd left them to, and they have to use all their courage and initiative to try and escape.

Monsters, locked doors, a matron ten times worse than their nanny and hours of kitchen work every day are now part of their lives, no matter how many times they plan to leave. Witherwood is not just a school, but something otherworldly with a long history.

The first in an intriguing new series with the second out soon, it reminded me a little of A Series of Unfortunate Events with a humorous narrator and no end of terrible things happening to the siblings. Looking forward to the next in the series entitled Lost & Found.

[Angie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Tobias and Charlotte play one too many tricks on their nanny which causes their father to have to take action. He dumps them in front of Witherwood Reform School and leaves them. Witherwood is not like other schools. They seem to already know who Tobias and Charlotte are and there are many mysteries surrounding the school including its staff and students. It was built on top a mesa that was created by a meteor impact. The school has dangerous guardians on the grounds who attack intruders. The head of the school Mr. Withers has a hypnotic voice that causes the students to accept their place at the school with joy and contentment. Tobias and Charlotte want nothing more than to leave the evil school, but are soon under its spell like the other students.

This is a quirky, quirky book. Tobias and Charlotte seem like normal kids but they find themselves in anything but normal situations. Everything just keeps getting stranger and stranger the more you read of this book. This is the beginning of a series and the book reads more like a set up for that series than a series opener. There is no resolution of any kind at the end of the book and the reader is left with way more questions about what is going on then they like. Witherwood is bizarre to say the least and we don't find out why or what purpose it is serving. I think my enjoyment of the book dipped a lot when I realized there was no good ending. The kids are in much the same position they were at the beginning of the book. I wanted more answers and don't like the fact that I will have to wait until the next book to get them. Not sure I am interested enough to wait however.

I received this book from Netgalley.

[Marc Bisson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Withered Reform School tells of Tobias and Charlotte Eggars after their father abandons them on top of a large hill to teach them a lesson. They are approached by an odd man who coaxes the children to stay. The kids soon realize that they are at a place called Witherwood. The kids then discover that Witherwood has vicious creatures and monsters and they realize that they are in danger and need to get out.

Overall, this book kept me on my toes and has interesting elements to it. It's face-paced, which made it hard to have a connection to the main characters, however, I can see my students enjoying the fact that it digs right into the action of the story.

I would use this book to reconfirm the genre of Modern Fantasy, particularly how it would be considered low fantasy. I would spark conversations with my students about what made this book a low fantasy and how it contributed to the whole plot of the book. I definitely see my students enjoying this books.

[Dawn Teresa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Obert Skye is an author whose books I consistently enjoy.

This book is dark and humorous, a delicate balance Skye does perfectly. There are moments I laughed out loud at the sarcasm or just witty wordplay, especially in the narrative asides that head many chapters. It's clear the author had a blast writing this story!

Well paced, well plotted, and a whole lot of fun.

If you like imaginative stuff that's different but not totally off-the-wall weird, Obert Skye is your man.

[Anya · Rating 2 out of 5]

Well that was.. odd. No answers, depressing and unsatisfactory ending, cruel children that mock every adult they encounter and interludes that are sometimes funny but mostly just strange. While I'm curious about what is actually going on, I refuse to give in to a shoddy attempt to trick me into reading the sequel....

[Elisheva Rina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Silly but a fun read. Genuinely freaky at times.

[Harley Woolstenhulme · Rating 5 out of 5]

Actually one of my favorite books I’ve read this year! I like that the brother and sister are actually caring towards each other. They’re problem solvers. The writing style is fantastic. There’s plenty of good one liners. 10/10 book.

[Susan · Rating 2 out of 5]

I do not want to be too harsh here, but even if a book is the first in a trilogy or a series, I do think the reader is owed a little something to start with, and I really have to say that we are given precious little to go on here. Charlotte and Tobias live with their widowed father, who is more than a little out of his depth raising two spirited older children. When a prank on their terrible nanny goes badly awry, their harried father plans to scare them straight by pretending to ditch them. Unfortunately, disaster intervenes and the two clueless children find themselves actually abandoned in the middle of nowhere, with no other place to seek refuge at the mysterious and somewhat sinister school that is situated there. Unfortunately for them, getting out of Witherwood proves a much bigger challenge than getting in.

There is a premise here, but it does not seem to ever get off the ground. It feels like it is all just laying groundwork for the rest of the series, which is a tough hand to deal a reader, in my opinion. Most of the characters in book one are still so sketchily depicted that it is hard to have much feeling about them, including (unfortunately) Charlotte and Tobias, who are not even really differentiated from each other all that much. The mystery of Witherwood in this case might actually be a little too much of a mystery at this point. Outside of the fact that they are basically imprisoned there, we are given such little detail about the school and the surrounding grounds, that there really isn't enough of a hook to invest readers outside of the obvious family-divided plotline. Style-wise, the book strikes an interesting note--somewhere between Lemony Snicket's Series of Unfortunate Events and the Books of the Beginning series, which might be promising, but a book needs to hang a hat on something more than just quirkiness alone. I read an ARC--I have to hope that if the final version doesn't see much changes, that the author plays fair and makes good on his promises by giving us something much meater in the sequels, now that the setup is all in place.

[Julie (Let's Read Good Books) · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[Stephanie | Books_and_Steph · Rating 4 out of 5]

{Rated G} Rating this more around 3.5 ⭐️’s. I loved the atmosphere in this middle grade book. It definitely gave me ‘Series of Unfortunate Events’ vibes. There are so many unanswered plots and questions that I’m really hoping there is more explained about Witherwood school in the 2nd book. Every time I thought we were getting to a point in the book that some questions would be answered, I was just frustrated and ended with up with even more questions. The characters are great, the premises and plot is great, but I felt like nothing had a rhyme or reason. Crossing my fingers that the second book has some more explanations that will help fill in the holes that left me feeling kinda empty.

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun narration, and a couple of really good puns, but the main characters lacked depth. Most of what we know about their personalities is "told" rather than "shown," and they just felt off through most of the story, not quite real. The only character I thought was well developed was Fiddle, who is mostly a minor character. Still, overall it was a decently frightening mystery novel with fun jokes thrown in by the narrator/author to lighten the mood.

[Joseph Selfridge · Rating 4 out of 5]

I usually don’t read children’s books, but I very much recommend this book. You can simply get hooked from the first sentence. Although it looked very weird and peculiar when I first found out about it, it actually turned out to be one of my favorite books of today. The suspense built up until the end (still building up for the sequel). Even though I thought the ending was a little rough, I still feel the need to read the second book. This is all in my personal opinion.

[Kristi Bell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fantasy book about a brother and sister left on a road leading to a school named Witherwood. The dad decides to teach them a lesson by scaring them and leaving them on the road. Little did they know the crazy things that happen at Witherwood. Are they there forever or can they escape the school?

I enjoyed this quick read.

Language: None
Sex: None
Violence: None

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm not going to lie, this book is kind of creepy. What is with this school? I don't even know what to say about it. I kind of feel like I have to reserve a full review on this until I have read the whole series. So, on that note, full review to come.

Author: Obert Skye
Publisher: Square Fish
Publication Date: 2015

[Dara · Rating 2 out of 5]

At times, the dialogue is awkward and out of place and the characters are not fleshed out at all—the hero and heroine have no depth, and all of the characters we meet along the way are not explored either. However, the plot is decent and it has a good sense of mystery. There could have been more detail put into it, as the whole book seems rushed and unpolished.

[Laiba Basit · Rating 4 out of 5]

I. LOVED. This!! I couldn't put this down!! I seriously hope they have the second book at the library!!! Aaah- Someone help, I loved this too much!! The plot twists at the end are just WOWW!!

My rating: 4 stars.
3 stars for the plot/storyline.
1 star for everything else.

Book number 323! Will I ever reach 400?

[Sue V. · Rating 1 out of 5]

Don't bother with this book. There's not a real story here. It ends on more than a cliffhanger which is little other than a desperate attempt at tricking you to spend your money on the entire series. If you're thinking about reading this book, don't. Go for Lemony Snicket instead.

[Rachelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Extra #11 - not part of the EBN Challenge.

This was good and now I need to read the next one! It was a quick read and humorous the way Obert Skye puts his little author notes thoughout it to keep you going.

[saraí · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love the characters! They are dropped of on the side of the street after playing a prank on there nanny, and they enter a building. They begin to notice many strange things about this place which leads to a mystery they have to solve.

[Flora Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun read! If you enjoyed The Bad Beginning you will like this one.

[Kristel Thornton · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was cute.... don’t know how I feel about Marvin and that plot device though.

[Val K · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good story, kept me reading.

[Trigger Warning Database]

Trigger & Content Warnings

Parental abandonment
Loss of autonomy (mind control)

[Paper Privateer · Rating 2 out of 5]

Spoilers are ahead. But to be honest, there isn't anything you should be too worried about hearing about.

I really, really, really wanted to like this book. The idea and cover intrigued me from the second I saw it. Reform school in the woods? Amnesia? Kids saving themselves from the creepy reform school? It sounded awesome.

It wasn’t.

The characters? I feel like I know nothing about them. I couldn't tell the siblings apart and, to be honest, when I finished the book I couldn't even remember their names because they were so thoroughly uninteresting. All I know about them was that they were rotten kids to their governess. She was supposed to be awful, but to be honest, I'd probably be just as awful if I had to deal with these two because when they're not being boring, they're being brats. Their father made no sense to me. He drives them to a terrible, terrible place, feels bad about it, and then can't remember who he is. To put it in simple terms, he's pretty lame. I feel like there was no one to root for. I didn't even mind when the villain took away their memories because I didn't care one way or another about what happened to them. The narrator was mildly interesting, but I couldn't figure out WHY there was a narrator.

The book presents more mysteries than it solves. It felt like an odd prequel instead of starting a story. Writers, you OWE your readers a story. I might be able to forgive bad characters, terrible setting (okay, this should have been cool. I read the book for the idea of the school, but I didn't think it was interesting except for maybe the monsters prowling around it) but I can't forgive a book that doesn't have a story. It sets up the rest of the series, but... nothing really happens. Even if it's just one book in a series (just like one episode in a TV show), each part of the series MUST have its own plot, even if there are unanswered questions to leave room for the other books. This book just... ends. No questions answered. No resolution. Not even any good questions to leave the reader wanting another book (okay, so maybe a little curiosity about if their dad will remember who they are and if they're going to go to an unclear terrible fate, but, like I said, I didn't care enough about them to be interested in what kind of terrible fate might be waiting for them). The entire book: they get dropped off at the school for being brats. They're upset. They sneak around the school at night. They get their memories removed. There's a weird parade for no reason. They get their memories back. They try to escape. They fail. They lose their memories. The book ends. I think they'd all be better off if the kids and their dad never got their memories back.

Just disappointing.

I also reviewed this book for The Children's Book and Media Review. That review is as follows:

When Tobias and Charlotte Egger play one too many pranks on their terrible governess, their father takes them to a place that he hopes will scare them into good behavior. He only means to leave them there for a short time, but a car accident leaves him with amnesia and unable to come get them. Tobias and Charlotte find themselves stuck in Witherwood Reform School, locked in their room with more questions than they have answers. When they sneak around looking for answers, their memories are taken from them. They get their memories back and try to escape, but they find that escaping from this place and being reunited with the father is not going to be easy.

Although the idea of a reform school with mysterious magic is interesting, the execution of the idea fell flat. It has a similar feeling of Snicket’s Unfortunate Events series with the siblings in trouble, weird situations and creepiness, and false hope scenarios, but it is not as effective as Snicket’s work. The characters were uninteresting and difficult to tell apart. The book ends with no resolution or answering any of the questions about what Witherwood Reform School is supposed to be doing and why it is such a weird place. Without any relief from the constant conflict or even enough of a resolution to make the book feel complete, the charm it could have had from its quirkiness is lost. Although the ideas were intriguing, it was a disappointing start to a series.

[Cindy Mitchell *Kiss the Book* · Rating 5 out of 5]

Skye, Obert Witherwood Reform School, 231 pgs. Henry Holt and Company, LLC, 2015. $16.99. Language G; Mature Content G; Violence G.

Sinister may be the operating word here as siblings Tobias and Charlotte Eggers find themselves in a reform school called Witherwood. Witherwood seems like a bad dream that the two plucky children can’t seem to escape from. There are many dark forces at work, making the children’s stay seem more like a run-in with the Twilight Zone.

Even though the school is creepy, the writing style is delightful and the book sucks you in from the first. Tobias and Charlotte are likeable characters though I will check my gravy before eating it from now on. The book, even by its own admission, does not end happily, and you will definitely want to move on to book two to explore this story further. A fun and engaging read.

EL, MS - ESSENTIAL. Michelle in the Middle
http://kissthebook.blogspot.com/2017/...

[Ekta · Rating 2 out of 5]

In a fit of anger a father takes his children to the gate of a school and leaves them there, hoping to scare them into obeisance. The siblings enter the school; they think their father will come back for them and decide to wait him out. Instead the school enrolls them, more or less against their will, and the brother and sister must find a way to escape if they want to reunite with their father. Author Obert Skye gives readers this creepy plot that offers absolutely no redeeming factors in Witherwood Reform School.

Tobias and Charlotte Eggers really dislike their newest nanny. She treats them badly and speaks to them as if they’re stupid, and Tobias and Charlotte have had enough. They play a prank on the nanny, but the prank goes horribly wrong and their father comes home right in the middle of it.

Since his wife died Ralph Eggers has had a hard time managing Tobias and Charlotte. All of them still suffer from grief, and none of them know quite how to help one another. Ralph keeps hiring nannies; Tobias and Charlotte keep upsetting them.

Their latest prank kicks Ralph’s anger into overdrive. He orders the kids into the car and drives them to the gate of the Witherwood Reform School. In the midst of their disbelief and the rain, he convinces the kids that they need to get out of the car. Without a look back he drives away.

Tobias and Charlotte don’t know what to do at first, but they finally decide to go inside the school. Surely, they try to convince one another, he’ll come back. In the meantime they need to get out of the rain, and the school offers them the most logical choice for a place to wait.

From the time they enter the school, though, the siblings know something is terribly wrong. When they get enrolled in the school, despite their vociferous protests, they realize the school isn’t just a school. It’s really a prison, and they have inadvertently become its latest inmates.

Author Obert Skye succeeds in one major aspect of his novel: he sets a creepy enough tone to keep readers frowning throughout the entire book. Tobias and Charlotte are plucky protagonists, but their circumstances don’t offer them any redemption—anywhere. Skye has taken the writer’s basic rule of dialing up conflict and turned the knob all the way into the red zone.

From the time Tobias and Charlotte enter the school, they encounter negative situations. None of these situations offer them even the slightest glimmer of hope. While readers might get intrigued by the first handful of negative instances, any compelling read will give its protagonists just a hint of light before dousing the entire scene in darkness again. Tobias and Charlotte, however, walk through the entire book wearing metaphorical blindfolds. At some point readers will get frustrated with those blindfolds.

I recommend readers Bypass Witherwood Reform School.

[Margarita · Rating 4 out of 5]

There are very few authors that can pull off such a wickedly humorous story about two siblings that !

The narrator tells us the story about how Tobias and Charlotte Eggars ended up at Witherwood Reform School. And it is not a pretty nor easy story to tell.
Tobias is a normal boy that likes a little mischief. He's very smart and thinks better when he can write things down and loves to study and draw maps. Very protective and attuned to his younger sister.
Charlotte is also just a normal girl who always sees the bright things to every situation. She compliments her brother's darkers side too well. She always seems to be the voice of reason.
The school is dark, mysterious, strange and... perhaps even evil. Too many odd and unexplained things occur. A headmaster that is able to brainwash the students. Unknown guardians that could possibly kill any intruders, and/or, escapees.
And the narrator knows how to guide us with what is right, what is wrong, and what Tobias and Charlotte should have and shouldn't have done. The narrator is very smart, cautious and to the point. Anyone reading this book should take much care in what the narrator suggests.

There is no happy ending here. Tobias and Charlotte brought this bad luck onto themselves. And it will definitely take some time to figure out what they have done, what they are mixed up in... and if they will ever learn their lesson(s) and be able to make amends in order to get out of Witherwood... sane and whole.

Definitely for fans of Lemony Snicket's Unfortunate Events series, this book will have you laughing out loud, grossed out and on the edge of your seat! I anxiously await for the next book to be released! Will the Eggers siblings be able to behave enough to not get into anymore trouble? Will they figure out a way to leave the reformed school for good? So many questions, so little time... can't wait!!!


*An ARC was sent to me from the publisher for the blog tour and an honest review. All thoughts are my own.

[Jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you've been following my reviews for any length of time, you know of my penchant for Middle Grade books. Quirky characters, important lessons, vast new worlds, all it makes me smile. I honestly believe that MG books build readers. Which is why I always look at these stories from two points of view. Would I have liked this as an MG reader, and do I think it carries over to how I read now?

When considering this book, I think your best bet would be to think of A Series of Unfortunate Events. I'll be the first to admit that I hate comparing books, but in this case it is honestly impossible not to. Two siblings, absent parents, disturbing caretakers, and a fourth wall breaking narrator all make a debut in this story. It's tough not to see the similarities. My problem was that, while both stories have a depressing atmosphere overall, Witherwood Reform School didn't have the same mildly hopeful feel to it. It was missing that bit of quirk I needed.

The writing was okay, if a bit dry at times. I'm not sure if I would have appreciated this more as a reader in the age group it is aimed at or not. I've always been a fan of writing that allows me to immerse myself in the story. While I liked Tobias and Charlotte, they never felt like true companions. That might sound odd, but I wanted to feel like I was with them, not just reading about them. Add in an ending with no discernible climax, and a to-be-continued hanging out there in the wind, and I was a disappointed reader. On the bright side, it's very easy to follow the plot and that makes this a quick read.

Would I recommend this to MG readers? I think so. I'm sure they would take a lot of what I had issues with much better than I did. There's not a lot of explanation into how things get to the level that they end up at, but there's a fair amount of adventure and intrigue towards the middle. I don't see many adult readers enjoying this, but younger readers might just eat this up. For that I'll give it three stars without a second thought.