The Nine Lives of Alexander Baddenfield is an evil but awesome book by John Bemelmans Marciano. Alexander is the main character and lives in the Baddenfield castle in New York City. Alexander is an evil boy who thinks life is too short. He does all these horrible things such as find a mouse and put it in his python’s cage to be swallowed. His guardian/servant Winterbottom lets him do these things, but only because Alexander will probably tackle him if he says anything.

Alexander comes from an evil line of Baddenfields. It was Pieter Boddenfield who bought Manhattan for $24 in beads and such and cheated the Native Americans. But the earth always found a way to kill a Baddenfield, because of their meanness. So after Alexander’s parents and only relatives get killed in a hunting expedition for endangered species, Winterbottom swears to keep Alexander alive for as long as he can. He has Alexander on diets. He makes him look both ways before crossing the street. He even made Alexander use a stroller until he was eight. But Alexander wants to change that, once and for all. And he will, because this is what he says when he doesn’t get what he wants: “Alexander Baddenfield is unfamiliar with things not going his way. Alexander Baddenfield does not like the word ‘no.’ Alexander Baddenfield is going to start firing people.  And worse.” And he does change, but not in the way he thinks…read the book to find out!

I thought this book was okay, not the best, but not horrible. I love sinister and evil books, but this was a little too sinister. But one thing about this book I love. I love how the main character is evil, because evil people do ridiculous things, like listening through a tube if you’re deaf. I wouldn’t recommend this to below 3rd grade because the character does some pretty terrible things, and pretty terrible things happen to him. I would rate this book 3 ½ out of 5 stars because as I stated before, I thought the book was okay because I like sinister books, but it was a little too sinister.