A mystery adventure tale starring a cast of uniquely-gifted children who must save the world, The Mysterious Benedict Society is a gripping read that even our staff can’t put down!

“Are you a gifted child looking for special opportunities?” So reads the ad that brings together a small band of unique children who must save the world from the evil Ledroptha Curtain and his brainwashing ways in The Mysterious Benedict Society. While the concept of the story may seem a bit dark at times, author Trenton Lee Stewart keeps his characters optimistic and brave in the face of adversity.

The best thing about The Mysterious Benedict Society isn’t necessarily its winding plot or its playful humor, but the way Stewart develops his young characters into the heroes of the story. Sure the main character Reynie Muldoon may be strange to his schoolmates because he reads the newspaper and speaks Tamil. And George “Sticky” Washington may be a nervous and balding eleven-year-old. Kate Wetherall may lug around a bucket full of seemingly useless flashlights, marbles, twine, and glue, and Constance Contraire may be one of the most ornery two-year-olds the others have ever met, but each child possesses important skills necessary to infiltrate Ledroptha’s system and save the world from the subliminal messages he sends through television signals.

The children are recruited through an ad asking for “gifted children” in the paper, and come under the tutelage of Mr. Benedict. One by one, they demonstrate new and clever ways to problem solve, and you as the reader must keep up, seeing if you can discover the answer along with the kids.

It’s a story as much about discovering your own special talents and skills as coming to appreciate those of others, a message that we here at Mudpuddles like to emphasize for both kids and families. While the publisher recommends ages eight to twelve for the novel, a skilled younger reader could easily enjoy it.

The Mysterious Benedict Society is also a great read-aloud for families, as Stewart’s humorous voice and rapid plot keep you wanting to turn the pages. You’re sure to come away from this book wanting more, which is a good thing, since Stewart has since added two more sequels to his original novel. Once you’ve read The Mysterious Benedict Society, check out The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Perilous Journey and The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Prisoner’s Dilemma.

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