The Mysterious Benedict Society

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It's a hit!

I love good kids' literature, that which doesn't assume that children are satisfied by the simplistic, and this book fills the bill. The author's ... (show more)

I love good kids' literature, that which doesn't assume that children are satisfied by the simplistic, and this book fills the bill. The author's use of language is simply wonderful, as are his fully three-dimensional, believable and sympathetic characters. Kate Wetherall is bound to heroine for the ages for little girls everywhere -- I know I'm tempted to find myself a bucket to tie to my own belt, and I'm in my 30s!

The story is imaginative and moves right along, sucking the reader right in to the world of the book. Adults will appreciate many of the clever puns in the names of places and things, and the more astute advanced child readers will pick them up as well. I particularly liked "Nomansan Island," which is really the crux of the book.

And hurrah for positive role models of all shapes and sizes and ages -- without beating the reader over the head with trying to turn any one character into "the" saint of the book.

Excellently done, and highly enjoyable. (show less)

 

 

by Facebook narys

No, it's a flop!

Considered by many YA fiction critics to be one of the best offerings of 2007, I was initially enamored with its premise: three young orphans are i... (show more)

Considered by many YA fiction critics to be one of the best offerings of 2007, I was initially enamored with its premise: three young orphans are inducted into the titular organization by way of a clever series of IQ tests (less the paper-and-pencil variety, and more the real-life situational). But once our three heroes – Reynie, Kate, and Sticky – are given their assignment to infiltrate the Learning Institute of the Very Enlightened, I found Stewart’s verve and wit increasingly wane. The pay-off at book’s end was not enough to justify a middle section that was at least, in my honest opinion, one hundred pages too long. While there is a now second book in this well-received series, I highly doubt I’ll pick it up. (show less)

 

 

by Erik Wise

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  This is a very good read. It is a character based novel like the Series of Unfortunate Events books but the action and plot is much thicker. There are also puzzles and riddles built into the story line so there are more things to solve than just the main conflict.

  When discussing children's literature, I try to think of how a young person would read the book. I found the plot riveting and I think kids would too. I don't think the villains are so scary or the situations so intense that chil... (show more)

  This is a very good read. It is a character based novel like the Series of Unfortunate Events books but the action and plot is much thicker. There are also puzzles and riddles built into the story line so there are more things to solve than just the main conflict.

  When discussing children's literature, I try to think of how a young person would read the book. I found the plot riveting and I think kids would too. I don't think the villains are so scary or the situations so intense that children would be frightened while reading.

  The ending left a little to be desired as everything cleaned up perfectly in ways that would never happen in the real world. For a cynical adult such as myself, that was hard to swallow, but the rest of the story made up for it. Overall, I was glad I picked it up. (show less)

   

   

  by Facebook narys on Aug 04, 2009 at 03:23AM

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  Not what I expected. Which is almost always a good thing when it comes too books. I apparently still haven’t learned not to judge a book from it’s cover. The cover of The Mysterious Benedict Society told me the book would be rather odd, from the children hanging off the house to the misshaped house itself. When I started reading, I found I couldn’t put the book down. I love Reynie, as I love most of the heroes and heroines that manage to survive through a somewhat difficult childhood, I don’t... (show more)

  Not what I expected. Which is almost always a good thing when it comes too books. I apparently still haven’t learned not to judge a book from it’s cover. The cover of The Mysterious Benedict Society told me the book would be rather odd, from the children hanging off the house to the misshaped house itself. When I started reading, I found I couldn’t put the book down. I love Reynie, as I love most of the heroes and heroines that manage to survive through a somewhat difficult childhood, I don’t need to name them, I’m sure you can think of at least three fictional characters that have that in common.

  However, Reynie is different in his own way--all the while, he's also probably the most normal of the lot! He’s brave, charming and sensible--reminding me a lot like Neville Longbottom after he finally managed to find where he belonged in the world.

  Stewart has a brilliant way of writing, his characters are so different from most, and the plot complex and surprising when you finally reach the end.
  I think both young adults and adults themselves can enjoy the book, as there is nothing childish about it.

  I’ll be looking forward to reading the sequel! (show less)

   

  by Anyah Woods on Jul 30, 2009 at 09:06PM

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