The Mysterious Benedict Society, by Trenton Lee Stewart, is a book that is accompanied by many twists and turns, and pleasant and not so pleasant surprises and happenings. A dangerous but stimulating adventure for four children all started with a strange ad in the newspaper.
“Are you a gifted child looking for special opportunities?”
The children interested were to undergo certain tests. Naturally, lots of children wanted to see what these special opportunities were, so lots of children showed up at the place where they were supposed to take their first test. After that test, they were to go to a different building to take the second test. The questions on this test were more difficult, and many children grew anxious, because the only way you could pass this test was if you got all-each and every one- of the questions right. A boy named Reynie (whose real name was Reynard) Muldoon was the only boy to pass the test in one of the sessions. Reynie was sent to a room to wait, and he was soon joined by two other children that had passed. Their names were Sticky Washington and Kate Wetherall. These children were soon taken to a house where they had to take the third and final test. This test was a different kind. It was a maze. In order to pass the test, you had to successfully go through the maze in a quick amount of time. All three children got through the maze alright, and they were sent up to a room to meet a man. This man’s name was Mr. Benedict. Up in Mr. Benedict’s office, Reynie, Sticky, and Kate met the fourth and final child that had passed the tests. Her name was Constance Contraire.
Mr. Benedict explained to the children that he had a secret mission that they must go on, to grab hold of certain (and possibly dangerous) information. They were to go to a school that was called ”The Institute for the Very Enlightened.” As the children attend the Institute, they meet many new people. The only question is: Which is a friend or foe? Is S.Q. naturally slow, or a professional spy? Are Jackson and Jillson menacing weapons, or simply in the wrong place at the wrong time?
Figure out the answers on this exciting and exhilarating escapade!
I enjoyed this book immensely, and if you like fantasy, adventure, and mystery, you will also find yourself enjoying this book. I could hardly put it down once I got into it!
