Harry Potter is an effective protagonist because he's bland. Much like Twilight's Bella (yes, I'm going there) he serves as a blank slate upon which young readers can impose their personalities.

By contrast, the Baudelaire orphans are more than just three of the unluckiest characters in fiction. They're distinctive individuals with unique talents, flaws and redemptive qualities. What's more, they genuinely evolve, particularly Sunny, whom we watch develop from an infant/crawling plot device into a tragic heroine, forced to mature beyond her years as a result of her traumatic experiences.

Violet, Klaus and Sunny's respective fortes (mechanical expertise, studiousness and…sharp teeth) also evolve and adapt as they age, blossoming from kooky talents in The Bad Beginning into essential life skills in The End.

Finally, the Baudelaires represent a far more intriguing treatment of loss. Although Harry is also an orphan, he never knew his parents. As a result, growing up without loving guardians is what most powerfully defines him.

Conversely, the Baudelaires lose their mother and father later in life (except Sunny, I guess) and the thirteen novels chart their grieving process in a very nuanced and non-condescending way. This provides a valuable introduction to the inevitability of death and grief for youngsters.