But a weak story with weak characters is doomed from the start. A weak story can be redeemed by good characters, and sometimes weak characters can limp to the finish line thanks to a good story. Their talents, love, and loyalty are all put to the test as they strive to stop Curtain’s nefarious schemes.įor me, two of the most important elements for any book are its story and its characters. When it’s revealed that Curtain’s biggest secret, and global threat, resides at an institute for mentally adept and intelligent children, Benedict opts to send in the Mysterious Benedict Society (the kids’ own name for themselves) to uncover and stop the danger. Benedict is in a bind and must unravel a devious plot involving a Moriarty-esque foe, Ledroptha Curtain. And Constance Contraire is a toddler with a penchant for composing off-the-cuff poems, a deeply-ingrained stubborn streak, and another special gift.Īll four eventually meet thanks to a series of tests and puzzles presented to them as part of a unique selection process that unites them at the residence of Nicholas Benedict, a narcoleptic genius. Kate Weatherall is also an orphan and former circus performer. Sticky (whose real first name is George) Washington is a runaway young genius with a photographic memory. Reynie Muldoon is a smart, logical, humble boy living in an orphanage. Plot-wise, The Mysterious Benedict Society, penned by Trenton Lee Stewart, introduces readers to a quartet of curiously gifted children who come from various circumstances and walks of life. Oh, and it’s probably fair to mention that this counts as a Happy Rant Review! That was intriguingly odd to me and my mind started posing questions: where was this character going, why was he going there, where could all of this lead? I had to find out, so I brought the book home with me (after paying for it, of course!). Yet the book opens with one of its lead characters on his way to take a test. I checked out the back blurb and decided it was worth a scan of the opening pages. I spied a copy of The Mysterious Benedict Society perched on an upper shelf and was drawn to it due to its cover, which possesses a warmth to its design. The same holds true for this series, but I’m getting ahead of myself. More importantly, I have found that many times such books possess shining threads of hope, even if the story delves into less than shiny topics. I eventually headed towards the middle grade section because, even as an adult, I enjoy perusing middle grade fiction as there can be less problematic content in that genre. I was browsing the shelves of my local Waldenbooks (so that shows how long I’ve been reading these books!). The Mysterious Benedict Society (the first book) was a random bookstore selection. Not in the escapist sense, but more like these novels lift my spirits and it’s a joy and a pleasure to dive into them over and over again as they never grow old.īut before I start the review, allow me to delve into a little bit of personal background as to how I came upon this series in the first place. It’s hard for me to explain why, but one of the reasons is that I just find them comforting. So I have decided to review each book in The Mysterious Benedict Society because I love this series so much, and it’s one of my all-time favorite series as well as some of my all-time favorite books. However, after thinking about it, I knew I couldn’t sum up my adoration for it in just one review. I debated over writing just one review for this series. In other cases, I love a series so much, I want to review each of the books individually. In some cases, I’ll pen a review for a whole series.
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