Thursday, December 27, 2012

The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart

The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart

Are you brave? Reynie is a child genius who lives in an orphanage and is not allowed to attend school, so he has a personal tutor.  One day Reynie and Miss Perumal see an advertisement in the local paper, "ARE YOU A GIFTED CHILD LOOKING FOR SPECIAL OPPORTUNITIES?" pg. 3 Reynie wasn't looking for opportunity but since it came knocking, he thought he would see what the advertisement was about.

This special opportunity was very mysterious.  It involved a series of tests asking him various mind bending questions.  Only four special children will pass the tests, and they will be asked to go on a secret mission and become spies to save the world from impending doom.  Kate, Reynie, George and Constance will go undercover to the Learning Institute for the Very Enlightened.  This is a school where the only rule is, there are no rules.

Television poisons the minds of those who watch it because it contains hidden messages.  The kids must constantly memorize needless nonsense and crazy sayings like, The doors are always open, unless they're locked.  There is adventure, creative characters, crazy antics and wild imaginative undercover work.  Children Everywhere will love it!


The Mysterious Benedict Society is full of riddles, puzzles and lots of entertaining action as these four "gifted" children become sleuths.  You will laugh and wonder at the weird and strange antics of the Learning Institute and enjoy figuring out the riddles to the mystery.  Stewart has created the perfect, entertaining book if you are between the ages of 10 and 13.  It would probably make a great read aloud.
This is the first book in a series and I'm giving my copy to my 12 year old daughter.

Time is shorter than we thought.
Thus to get what must be got
You must become what you are not. pg. 219

You will probably love this book, unless you don't.