April 4, 2009 @ 6:58 pm | Filed under: Books
I’m halfway through The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart, and already I know this is a keeper. Figuratively speaking, I mean, because the copy I’m reading doesn’t belong to us. It’s the kind of book you want to own a copy of, the kind the kids are going to fight over when they grow up and start claiming favorites from these overcrowded shelves. So good, this book. I can recommend it wholeheartedly even before I read the second half.
It’s a mystery, full of puzzles, loaded with quirky characters in tight spots. Reynie Muldoon, our young hero, is an eleven-year-old orphan who answers an ad aimed at “gifted children seeking special opportunities.” The first “opportunity” turns out to be a series of curious tests containing questions such as “What’s wrong with this statement?” (“What’s wrong with YOU?” writes another special-opportunity-seeking child, an obstinate and somewhat churlish girl named Constance.)
Only a very few children make it through the rounds of testing, either by merit of their intellect or their daring, their inventiveness, their creative approach to problem-solving—and all of them by merit of their strong sense of honor and truthfulness. The peculiar tests are but the beginning of an adventure that quickly escalates to a perilous mission requiring strength of character and quick wits.
And if this all sounds very vague, that’s because I wouldn’t dream of spoiling any of this captivating novel’s many twists and turns. As I said, I’m halfway through, and I can’t wait to find out what happens next.
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This book (and its sequel!) are making the rounds among our homeschool friends right now (both kids and moms). My daughter has been wearing a bucket full of needful things everywhere she goes and last week rescued a coloring book that had fallen behind the washing machine by strapping duct tape from the bucket to the handle of a broom and fishing it out a la Kate…This week she is listening to the second book (The MBS and the Perilous Journey)on CD while I try to keep up by reading it. What great breakfast conversations we’re having! There’s nothing like a good new book!!
Posted on April 4th, 2009 at 7:18 pmYes, my daughter (10) and I read this book together and it was fun. The story was a bit of a surprise and a little grisly with the putting the kids in the awful room and all the bullying.
But, it kept us on our seats and we really enjoyed it. We got the next one but it didn’t bite as the first one did but we will probably give it another try over Spring break.
Posted on April 4th, 2009 at 7:47 pmI read this to my nine year old son last year. We were totally sucked in by the all the cool tests. We got a little bogged down in parts, but overall totally worth it. We’ve got the sequel on hold right now at the library.
Posted on April 4th, 2009 at 8:32 pmI’m glad you posted this because I’ve had my eye on that book for months. I read the back at B&N and found myself completely intrigued. I don’t have a kid old enough to enjoy it yet, so I hesitated to buy it. (You know how moms are about buying something just for themselves.) But it will go on my To Purchase list now, for sure.
Posted on April 5th, 2009 at 4:12 amWait till you find out what makes Constance so obstinate!
Posted on April 5th, 2009 at 4:43 amI saw this at the discount store this week – I wish I’d grabbed it now. Age rec? I read 9 and 10 in the comments. Is that about right?
Posted on April 5th, 2009 at 5:16 amI got this from the library earlier this week after reading your list of books. And I am enjoying it so much and plan on recommending it to my kids – especially my 12 yo dd – it will be perfect for one of the remaining two book reports at school (she’s at public school – currently reading Julie for one of those two reports.
Posted on April 5th, 2009 at 6:07 amMy 10 year old raced through this one and the sequel… I still haven’t caught up yet! Hers were from the school library, so I might need to purchase copies of our own.
Posted on April 5th, 2009 at 10:40 amAnne–LOL LOL LOL!!! You are so right! I really DID LOL!
Posted on April 5th, 2009 at 6:31 pmFinished! — Here in the Bonny Glen says:
[...] « Booknotes: The Mysterious Benedict Society [...]
Posted on April 5th, 2009 at 6:32 pmLOL, I just finished and yes, I found out!
this book had a LOT of surprises in it for me, and I enjoyed it so much. I’ve passed it on to dd12, and she has already been caught reading it after lights out, so I think she’s enjoying it…
Posted on April 7th, 2009 at 8:33 amPlaying With Legos » Blog Archive » the BEST book! says:
[...] found out about it from melissa wiley here. so of course i had to check it out from the [...]
Posted on May 19th, 2009 at 11:11 pmBEST BOOK EVER!!!!!!! Well tied with Harry Potter anyways… Love it!!!!!! If you like Twilight (yuck i dont) you might like this… actually no because you would be upsessed with love and stuff so if you like Harry Potter of Uglies ( luv ‘em both!) YOu will like these!!!! Man i wish i could either
Posted on October 21st, 2009 at 7:03 pm1) Be in the Harry Potter World
2) M.B.S. World
3) or Phineas and Ferb!!!!
IM weird i no it!!!
I’m 13 and have really been enjoying the series. I recently finished the third and loved it. Just thought I’d let all moms out there know; it’s not just for 9 & 10 year olds! Older kids will love it just as much as everyone else!
Posted on November 29th, 2009 at 5:02 pmI completely agree with Cassidy, I’m 14 and I just polished off the third MSB book in one sitting. (It was wonderful, though I still think the first book was the best.) It came out over a month ago, but I didn’t let myself buy it until recently because I knew it would distract me from the more pressing matter of school work;)
Posted on November 29th, 2009 at 7:08 pm