The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart
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Book Reviews of The Mysterious Benedict Society
Book Review: What an awesome book!
Summary: 5 Stars
The book The Mysterious Benedict Society, by Trenton Lee Stewart, was an excellent book to read, especially if you like adventures. This book is about an orphan named Reynard Muldoon, Reynie for short, who is incredibly smart. One day his tutor, Ms. Perumal, sees an ad in the paper for gifted students to take a test, so she sends Reynie to take it. It is a very strange test, and only 4 people pass it, Reynie, a girl named Kate who is always prepared with tools in her bucket, a boy named George "Sticky" Washington who can remember everything, and a very tiny little girl named Constance; they are all orphans as well. They then get to meet the man who issued the test, named Mr. Benedict, and he sends them on a secret mission to help save the world from an evil man named Mr. Curtain, but if you want to know what happens you must read the story for yourself.
The plot of this story is very gripping and once you pick up the book, you can't put it down until you finish, and even then you want more. In fact the only thing that might not be as likable about the book was that it seems that it's not long enough. The characters in this book seem like little geniuses, but really they are just children who happen to be exceptionally bright. Many people can relate to this book because these children, before they went on their journey, only wanted to do get away from where they were and to do something extraordinary because there are many people that have always wanted to do that too. This book shows that you are never too young to be great or to do great things. I would rate this book a 10 out of 10 because it was beautifully written and it was a great story.
Book Review: The Mysterious Benedict Society
Summary: 5 Stars
The Mysterious Benedict Society
written by Trenton Lee Stewart
reviewed by Kate Washington Whetherall Constance Reynie Contrary Muldoon Sticky
My friend started me on the Mysterious Benedict Society, just a couple years ago. She had given me the first book, after reading it herself. She and I have very similar opinions on books, and since she liked it, I felt that I had no reason not to like it myself. Boy was I right! I read the book, and absolutely fell in love with it! I then quickly got the next two books in the series, and read those soon after. The second book is called the Mysterious Benedict Society and the Perilous Journey. The third book is called the Mysterious Benedict Society and the Prisoners Dilemma. I have talked to many of my classmates about this book, and if they have read it, they loved it! Even people who do not like to read have told me that the Mysterious Benedict Society have really liked it. This series keeps you waiting in suspense at the end of every chapter, and makes you wish that you could read it straight through without stopping. Trenton Lee Stewart really makes you feel as if you know all of the characters. He takes you into each of their worlds, to let you know what is going on inside their heads. Even the least important characters are explained, such as a lady on the train that has nothing to do with the story. You always have a clear picture in your head of the surroundings of the characters, because of all of his detailed descriptions. The whole time I read the series, I felt as if I were there. I am positive that you will love the series, just as I did, if you read it!
Book Review: Outstanding fiction for middle readers (and their parents)
Summary: 5 Stars
What tremendous fun this is! I read the first 100 pages aloud to my mother after she had surgery. Then the book got so compelling and engaging that I had to race through silently and leave poor Mom to fend for herself. (I gave her a copy of her own for Mother's Day.) This novel is aimed at a middle reader audience, although great children's lit is always enjoyable to adults. At nearly 500 pages, it's a hefty doorstopper for that market, though a certain boy wizard has already repeatedly blown through our expectations about desirable book lengths for middle readers.
The story centers around four gifted children who respond to an ad promising "special opportunities" for select applicants. The application process is fun in and of itself (with riddles the reader can solve right alongside the characters), and then the adventure begins as these unlikely kids set out to save the world. One thing I liked about the story is that three of the four are unheralded poster children for the schoolage afflictions du jour: ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder), ODD (Oppositional Defiant Disorder), and PAD (Pervasive Anxiety Disorder). Part of the fun of the novel is watching these kids realize that their quirks and disabilities are actually assets. Another wonderful aspect of the story is their teamwork and cooperation; each child contributes something unique and essential to the mission. The novel is clever, funny, and warm-hearted. I have just checked the sequel out of the library (after waiting for nearly three weeks, as every middle school kid in Cincinnati had signed up first).
Book Review: Refreshng surprise
Summary: 5 Stars
I have read A LOT of books...and that makes it extremely hard for a book to truly surprise me. Skills like prediction tend to become second nature to people who read all of the time. So, when I read a book that genuinely gives me a surprise I find it refreshing. When that book also happens to be a children's novel, I'm doubly impressed. Trenton Lee Stewart's The Mysterious Benedict Society did just that. I read this book about a group of newly united gifted youngsters because I am actually a teacher of gifted youngsters. This book was on the Book Battle list for several of my students and, as a teacher, I always find it useful to keep myself knowledgeable about what my students are reading. I also keep a look-out for books about gifted children because my students really should have the opportunity to read about characters they can identify with.
I was very impressed with this story. It is far and above any other children's novel I've read in quite a while. It is so refreshing to read a children's book by an author who understands that just because the people he is writing for are young, doesn't me they need a dumbed-down plot or poorly developed characters. The characters were surprisingly well-developed and the plot contained constant twists and exciting riddles that kept the reader engaged and guessing.
This was a surprisingly good book and I think I would've enjoyed reading it even if I hadn't read it for the reasons I did. I highly recommend it, especially for anyone with gifted children or students.
Book Review: wonderful book for children AND adults
Summary: 5 Stars
I read this book myself and when I finished I couldn't wait to start reading it with my own children. We are about three-quarters of the way through and they are loving it as much as I did. This is the story of four children who are alone in the world but who become a team after answering a newspaper ad promising 'special opportunities' and passing a series of tests, which are themselves unique and fun -- testing for traits that are not immediately apparent. After the team is formed, the kids must attend an isolated school run by a villainous mastermind trying to (of course) take over the world! The book is immediately engaging and tists and suspense capture children's interest quickly and continue unabated. The book has clues, puzzles, adventure, kid heroes and a terrrific ending. I can't wait to read the next one -- I'm not waiting for the kids!
I really liked that the children are a true team, each with unique and essential talents, and they help each other -- they could not succeed in their mission without each one of them. There are bad guys who are evil but not nightmare-inducing; there are dilemmas and doubts which are surmounted; not all the adults are bad or stupid, as in many children's books; and the resolution is believable, fun and satisfying. What I didn't like was ... well, I can't think of a thing.
This book can be read alone by capable 5th graders (and despite its length it will keep them interested) or it's a terrific read-aloud book.
Highly recommended.