"Are you a gifted child looking for special opportunities?"
In today's story, Trenton Lee Stewart's The Mysterious Benedict Society, this newspaper ad sparks the beginning of a secret club, a dangerous mission, and the lifelong friendship of four extraordinary children. Eleven-year-old Reynie Muldoon has completed the textbooks for grade- and high school, supplementing his education instead with a tutor who works at the orphanage where he lives. When the two discover the advertisement in the morning newspaper, Miss Permual, his tutor, suggests he look into it. He walks into the test expecting a pencil-and-paper exam, but what he doesn't know is that his math knowledge is not the only thing being tested--it's his honesty, logic, and courage, also.
If you have ever read a children's book, and I sincerely hope you have, then you are probably well aware of the stereotypes that usually crop up. There's the "stupid" or ignorant, though kind-hearted, adult; the one-dimensional sidekick; and/or the "villain" whose goal is to tear down something old, such as a schoolhouse, and replace it with something new, such as a shopping mall. The Mysterious Benedict Society, I am happy to say, does not possess many, if any, of these stereotypes. Each of the book's four heroes--Reynie Muldoon, Sticky Washington, Kate Weatherall, and Constance Contraire--is intelligent, thoughtful, street smart, and unique. The villain, the evil Mr. Ledroptha Curtain, is a cunning man intent on much more than mere schoolhouse destruction. And the helpful adults are all kind, smart, and well-rounded.
As the book progresses, Reynie and his friends--known amongst themselves as the Mysterious Benedict Society, named for the man who leads them--must play the part of undercover spies, from reading over Mr. Curtain's shoulder from a very long distance to sending Mr. Benedict coded messages via flashlight. There is real-life danger in everything, and the stakes are incredibly high--if these children fail, the whole world might very well be lost to an unimaginable evil.
This book is written for the intelligent puzzle-lover. Everything in this book is a jigsaw waiting to be solved. Sometimes the solution to a problem is as complex as retracing their steps blindfolded, and sometimes it is as simple as walking on rectangular, rather than square, tiles. Whatever the case, it's an exciting challenge to try and figure out the answers before the characters do.
The writing style of The Mysterious Benedict Society fits the story beautifully. It's smart, it's witty, and it's full of warmth. As the eldest of the foursome is twelve years old, it follows that there is no romance involved, and the characters do not swear. The age of the characters is vital to the story, as they are able to crawl into places adults cannot, pass unnoticed in a crowd of grown-ups, and ask questions without attracting attention. Each of our heroes possesses a special talent that brings validity, strength, and realism to the story.
I would recommend The Mysterious Benedict Society to anyone looking for a fun, mentally immersive read with strong, engaging characters and an addicting plot. Adults and children alike will find themselves enjoying Stewart's tale of friendship and trust. Be warned--red herrings and plot twists abound! Nevertheless, I see no reason why I shouldn't grant The Mysterious Benedict Society five stars out of five.
If you have ever read a children's book, and I sincerely hope you have, then you are probably well aware of the stereotypes that usually crop up. There's the "stupid" or ignorant, though kind-hearted, adult; the one-dimensional sidekick; and/or the "villain" whose goal is to tear down something old, such as a schoolhouse, and replace it with something new, such as a shopping mall. The Mysterious Benedict Society, I am happy to say, does not possess many, if any, of these stereotypes. Each of the book's four heroes--Reynie Muldoon, Sticky Washington, Kate Weatherall, and Constance Contraire--is intelligent, thoughtful, street smart, and unique. The villain, the evil Mr. Ledroptha Curtain, is a cunning man intent on much more than mere schoolhouse destruction. And the helpful adults are all kind, smart, and well-rounded.
As the book progresses, Reynie and his friends--known amongst themselves as the Mysterious Benedict Society, named for the man who leads them--must play the part of undercover spies, from reading over Mr. Curtain's shoulder from a very long distance to sending Mr. Benedict coded messages via flashlight. There is real-life danger in everything, and the stakes are incredibly high--if these children fail, the whole world might very well be lost to an unimaginable evil.
This book is written for the intelligent puzzle-lover. Everything in this book is a jigsaw waiting to be solved. Sometimes the solution to a problem is as complex as retracing their steps blindfolded, and sometimes it is as simple as walking on rectangular, rather than square, tiles. Whatever the case, it's an exciting challenge to try and figure out the answers before the characters do.
The writing style of The Mysterious Benedict Society fits the story beautifully. It's smart, it's witty, and it's full of warmth. As the eldest of the foursome is twelve years old, it follows that there is no romance involved, and the characters do not swear. The age of the characters is vital to the story, as they are able to crawl into places adults cannot, pass unnoticed in a crowd of grown-ups, and ask questions without attracting attention. Each of our heroes possesses a special talent that brings validity, strength, and realism to the story.
I would recommend The Mysterious Benedict Society to anyone looking for a fun, mentally immersive read with strong, engaging characters and an addicting plot. Adults and children alike will find themselves enjoying Stewart's tale of friendship and trust. Be warned--red herrings and plot twists abound! Nevertheless, I see no reason why I shouldn't grant The Mysterious Benedict Society five stars out of five.
1 comment:
Dang! Another one for my "gotta read" list! Thank you, Grace!
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