The Mysterious Benedict Society

The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart

“Are you a gifted child looking for special opportunities?”

When this peculiar add appears in the newspaper, dozens of children enroll to take a series of mysterious, mind-bending tests. (And you, dear reader, can test your wits right alongside them.) But in the end just four special children will succeed. Their challenge: to go on a mission that only the most intelligent and resourceful children could complete. With their new found friend ship at stake, will they be able to pass the most important test of all?

Welcome to the Mysterious Benedict Society

The Good
Reynie, Sticky, Constance and Kate all work together to save their city (and possibly world!) from the evil Mr.Curtain. Orphans brought together by Mr. Benedict’s tests, each member has a special gift that aids them on their mission. This book shows the power of family and friendship throughout trials, pain, and fear.

The Bad
This book is so close to reality that you have to remember that it is still fiction. This book is not inappropriate or violent. There is nothing religion related anywhere in this book, whether Christian or non-Christian.

Ages

10+ is the perfect age for reading this book.  This is because of the way it is written, which is lovely, but sometimes difficult for younger readers.

My Take

The Mysterious Benedict Society is a wonderful read. Trenton Lee Stewart pulls together a breath-taking story about adventure and family that is too good to put down. The clues that you can solve yourself are super fun! I easily identified with the characters, especially Reynie. The Mysterious Benedict Society is in my Top Ten list of favorite books. I highly recommend this book to all readers.

Also, Reynie’s name is suppose to be pronounced (Wren-ee) to rhyme with Jenny, although some people (including myself) have decided to continue pronouncing it (rainy) due to the fact we have been pronouncing it that way for a very long time.

Review by Kaitlyn