The Mysterious Benedict Society
by Trenton Lee Stewart
List Price:
Our Price: $3.38
You Save: $3.61 (52%)
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Buy Used: from $3.04 (click here)
Category: Book
See more book details and other editions
Book Summary Information
Author: Trenton Lee StewartIllustrator: Carson Ellis
Edition: Paperback
Audio: English (Original Language); English (Unknown); English (Published)
Published: 2008-04-01
ISBN: 0316003956
Number of pages: 512
Reading Level: Ages 9-12
Publisher: Little, Brown Young Readers
Book Reviews of The Mysterious Benedict Society
Book Review: Courtesy of Teens Read Too
Summary: 5 Stars
Reynard (or Reynie, as he prefers to be called) Muldoon is not your average eleven-year-old boy. First of all, he lives in an orphanage where he is constantly teased by all the other children. Then there's the fact that he's a genius. He's so smart that he needs his own tutor, Ms. Perumal, who is really more of a friend to him. It's because of Ms. Perumal that Reynie happened to be reading the newspaper that held a one-of-a-kind advertisement. "Are You a Gifted Child Looking for Special Opportunities?" Not only does this advertisement catch Reynie's eye, but that of many young children. All of these children enroll to take several tests consisting of many brain teasers. Out of all the children, though, only four succeed, with Reynie being one of the four.
The children are all immediately drawn to each other. Not just because of their exceptional mental abilities, but also because they are all alone. Reynie, Kate, and Constance are all orphans, and Sticky has run away from a miserable home life. When they all finish with their tests they are led to a mysterious old house where they are introduced to Mr. Benedict. Mr. Benedict is an intriguing and incredibly smart man who has a secret mission for the children that only they can complete.
To fulfill their mission, the children must go undercover at the Learning Institute for the Very Enlightened. The headmaster of the school, Mr. Curtain, is up to no good, and it is up to the children to figure out what he is up to and hopefully stop him. It will be no easy feat, as the children will have to wrap their minds around puzzle after puzzle and face challenges that not even their wildest dreams could have ever created. With no choice but to turn to each other, the children embark on a journey that will forever change their lives.
I have heard nothing but good things about this book. Needless to say, I had high expectations for it. Overall, I really enjoyed THE MYSTERIOUS BENEDICT SOCIETY, except I found that at times it was a bit lacking. First, I want to say that the author's writing style was marvelous. It definitely had the magic feeling that Roald Dahl put into his books that made them so wonderful. There was that extra umph to the book that made it quite enjoyable. Returning again to my reference of Roald Dahl, I felt like the adventure these kids went on was much like the adventure Charlie from CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY went on, without the candy!
While the book is directed at a more middle grade audience, I still found myself enjoying the adventure and solving the riddles along with the children. Overall, I enjoyed the story and think it would be a great book for both reluctant readers and middle graders.
Reviewed by: Tasha
Children's Books
Book Subjects
- Arts & Photography
- Audiobooks on Cassette
- Audiobooks on CD
- Biographies & Memoirs
- Business & Investing
- Children's Books
- Comics & Graphic Novels
- Computers & Internet
- Cooking, Food & Wine
- e-Books
- Engineering
- Entertainment
- Gay & Lesbian
- Health, Mind & Body
- History
- Home & Garden
- Horror
- Law
- Literature & Fiction
- Medicine
- Mystery & Thrillers
- Nonfiction
- Outdoors & Nature
- Parenting & Families
- Professional & Technical
- Reference
- Religion & Spirituality
- Romance
- Science
- Science Fiction & Fantasy
- Sports
- Teens
- Travel
Most talked about in The best young adult books
The Worlds of Lois Lowry 3 Copy Boxed Set (The Giver, Gathering Blue, The Messenger)by Lois Lowry
Delacorte Books for Young Readers; Published: 2006-08-22; Paperback; Book
Best price: $16.47
Price in other shops:
The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Perilous Journeyby Trenton Lee Stewart
Little, Brown Young Readers; Published: 2009-05-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $3.66
Price in other shops:
The Mysterious Benedict Societyby Trenton Lee Stewart
Little, Brown Young Readers; Published: 2008-04-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $3.38
Price in other shops:
Eight Cousins, Or, The Aunt-Hillby Louisa May Alcott
BiblioBazaar; Published: 2009-03-10; Paperback; Book
Best price: $12.00
Price in other shops:
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn (P.S.)by Betty Smith
Harper Perennial Modern Classics; Published: 2006-06-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $9.69
Price in other shops:
Also Known As Harperby Ann Haywood Leal
Henry Holt and Co. (BYR); Published: 2009-05-26; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $6.96
Price in other shops:
Found (The Missing, Book 1)by Margaret Peterson Haddix
Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing; Published: 2009-04-21; Paperback; Book
Best price: $3.88
Price in other shops:
A Girl of the Limberlost (Library of Indiana Classics)by Gene Stratton-Porter
Indiana University Press; Published: 1984-09-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $4.29
Price in other shops:
Ruby Holler (Joanna Cotler Books)by Sharon Creech
HarperCollins; Published: 2004-01-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $2.98
Price in other shops:
Animal Farmby George Orwell
1st World Library - Literary Society; Published: 2004-09-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $7.32
Price in other shops:
Similar books summaries and other product reviews
The Penderwicks: A Summer Tale of Four Sisters, Two Rabbits, and a Very Interesting Boy (Penderwicks (Quality))by Jeanne Birdsall
Yearling; Published: 2007-03-13; Paperback; Book
Best price: $3.11
Price in other shops:
The Lightning Thief (Percy Jackson and the Olympians, Book 1)by Rick Riordan
Miramax; Published: 2006-04-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $3.19
Price in other shops:
Diary of a Wimpy Kid Do-It-Yourself Bookby Jeff Kinney
Amulet Books; Published: 2008-10-01; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $2.25
Price in other shops:
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rulesby Jeff Kinney
Amulet Books; Published: 2008-02-01; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $5.24
Price in other shops:
Lawn Boyby Gary Paulsen
Wendy Lamb Books; Published: 2007-06-12; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $7.25
Price in other shops:
The 39 Clues (The Maze of Bones, Book 1)by Rick Riordan
Scholastic Press; Published: 2008-09-09; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $4.80
Price in other shops:
Diary of a Wimpy Kidby Jeff Kinney
Abrams Books for Young Readers; Published: 2007-04-01; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $6.92
Price in other shops:
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Last Strawby Jeff Kinney
Amulet Books; Published: 2009-01-01; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $7.40
Price in other shops:
The Invention of Hugo Cabretby Brian Selznick
Scholastic Press; Published: 2007-01-30; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $14.85
Price in other shops:
The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Perilous Journeyby Trenton Lee Stewart
Little, Brown Young Readers; Published: 2008-05-01; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $9.03
Price in other shops: