I recently finished reading The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart with my kids and 2 of us have declared it a fantastic book. My 10-year-old and I both loved it, but my 7-year-old wasn’t that enthralled. He still prefers books that have illustrations and this is a real-live chapter book.
The story is a bit bleak, with a genius madman named Mr. Curtain who’s trying to take over the world with evil mind-control methods. But the protagonists are 4 kids who never intended to be, but must become, super secret agents in miniature! They each have a special skill which they employ at just the right time to get them out of a tight spot. There’s Reynie, Kate, Sticky and Constance, who are all recruited for the dangerous yet vital work of saving the world by Mr. Benedict.
There are fantastic characters, mayhem, peril and no shortage of adventure. And the cliff-hanger chapter ends are very exciting! More than once, we stayed up a little bit extra late to read on.
We were overjoyed to have found that it’s the first of a series, and so we’re deep into book number two: The Mysterious Benedict Society and The Perilous Journey. Then comes book three: The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Prisoner’s Dilemma. Can’t wait!
Thanks for your review — I have a suggestion that you and your kids can enjoy together, and your 7-year-old be engaged because of the illustrations. It’s a book about children and friendship and let’s face it, that’s a common issue for kids (well, for all of us, really). “Sewing a Friendship” is also by a real live 10-year-old, a fact I just love. Four girls venture outside their own circle to include another, who they don’t think is all that nice. Great life lessons, with lots of heart. And I think it shows real-life problems and issues, and how some courage and creativity, and NICENESS can come into play and change lives for the better.
.-= Liz´s last blog ..lizreads: Off to see daughter in one-act play today! =-.
OOOOOO, that sounds like a good one. we’re almost all done with the 39 clues series so, I think that will have to be the next. Thanks.
It’s great, Shawna — we’ve just started book #3! And then we’ll try the 39 Clues… Thanks for the tip!