Triskaidekaphobia is defined as the fear or extreme superstition surrounding the number 13. While there are several reasons people have adapted this fear -- some going so far as to deliberately skip thirteenth floor when designing a high rise building -- some children's authors have found ways to have fun with it!
The most notable is Lemony Snicket, whose entire "Series of Unfortunate Events" spans (you guessed it) 13 books! Not only that, but each chapter in each book has 13 chapters. Well, that is with the exception of the 13th book itself, which actually has 14, or if you prefer, an epilogue after the 13th chapter.
Tomorrow might be a good time to read (or re-read) this series.
However, Snicket's love of the number 13 (Triskaidekaphilia?) doesn't end with The End (ha ha) of his most famous series.
Yet another Snicket penned book bares the burden of the unlucky number.
13 Words is a book which uniquely defines 13 words. Some of which you might already know, and some you likely have never heard of before.
Furthermore, Snicket includes the bad news number in the (sort of) follow up to A Series of Unfortunate Events. The book File Under: 13 Suspicious Incidents follows a young Snicket (as he is a character in his own series) while he unravels 13 short mysteries in the mysterious town of Staind'-by-the-Sea.
If Lemony Snicket isn't your cup of lemon tea, here is a quick list of other books that use the number 13 in their title.
Thirteen Hangmen by Art Corriveau
Thirteen Treasures by Michelle Harrison
The Thirteenth Sign by Kristin O'Donnell Tubb.
The Thirteenth Princess by Diane Zahler
Good Luck!
Miss Jessikah
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