Gothic Literature; Satire; Young Adult Literature
Since gothic lit features events that evoke feelings of dread, we'd say this story fits the bill pretty perfectly. However, it would probably be more accurate to say that the books in this series offer up a satirical take on gothic fiction. While the author takes us through a whole bunch of tragic tales, it's clear he's tongue-in-cheek about it, though along the way, we're also encouraged to do things like think for ourselves (instead of just following rules).
This book is also in the young adult lit genre. It features young people, it pooh-poohs adults, and it has language and adventure designed to sweep YA readers up and carry them right along through the series.