When a peculiar advertisement appears in the newspaper for children to take part in a secret mission, children everywhere sit a series of mysterious tests. In the end, just four children succeed: Reynie, Kate, Sticky and Constance. They have three things in common: they are all honest, all remarkably talented and all orphans. They must go undercover at the Learning Institute for the Very Enlightened where the only rule is that there are no rules. There they must work as a team to save not only themselves, but also the world outside the walls
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About the Author
Trenton Lee Stewart, graduate of the Iowa Writers' Workshop and author of the adult novel Flood Summer, lives in Arkansas
Carson Ellis received her BFA from theUniversity of Montana Portland , Oregon
Carson Ellis received her BFA from the
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
14 of 14 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
This is an exciting and well written children's book. My sister bought it for my non-fiction reading 9 year old son when we were in the States recently, and we all loved it - even I couldn't put it down towards the end! Four children, each with different talents, are brought together by the mysterious Mr Benedict in order to find out what is causing "the Emergency", and who is transmitting the voices that only Mr Benedict can hear on his specially designed equipment. It turns out to be oddly topical in these uncertain times! It would make a great Christmas present. And there's a sequel!
12 of 12 people found the following review helpful
By Maledicta
Format:Paperback
What a fantastic book! Although it is a *childrens book* I confess I am not *technically* a child but I loved it! Exciting, clever, fast paced, funny..in short everything I want from fiction.
I read the entire book in a day - bear in mind it's over 400 pages long.
Kids will love it - adults who are bored with *grown-up* fiction will love it too.
Very very highly recommended - I can't wait to read the next book in the series. :D
I read the entire book in a day - bear in mind it's over 400 pages long.
Kids will love it - adults who are bored with *grown-up* fiction will love it too.
Very very highly recommended - I can't wait to read the next book in the series. :D
11 of 12 people found the following review helpful
By TeensReadToo
TOP 100 REVIEWER
Format:Paperback
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
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
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
A must read
Not only this book but the whole trilogy is refreshing, exciting, most entertaining and original. I am 37 and enjoyed reading it to my 8yo as much as he did listening to it, to the... Read more
Published 1 month ago by Andrea Anguera
5.0 out of 5 stars
Brilliant! Why isn't this series more widely known?
I confess to being a 40 year old lover of children's fiction - this is a great addition to my collection. I loved it! Read more
Published 12 months ago by BM
5.0 out of 5 stars
Brilliant
Bought this in the US whilst on hols this year having never heard of this author before.
My daughter 9 declares this to be her best book ever. Praise indeed. Read more
My daughter 9 declares this to be her best book ever. Praise indeed. Read more
Published 19 months ago by A. Trueman
3.0 out of 5 stars
1st 1/3rd is Great, Remaining 2/3rds Kind of Sluggish
Although I do read the occasional teen novel when I'm in the mood for something light, I rarely stray into the crowded waters of children's literature. Read more
Published on 2 Feb 2011 by A. Ross
5.0 out of 5 stars
One of the best books ever!!
Bought this for my daughter for Christmas and she's already halfway through!!
Very enjoyable and exciting, would recommend to everybody!! Good for boys and
girls. Read more
Very enjoyable and exciting, would recommend to everybody!! Good for boys and
girls. Read more
Published on 11 Jan 2010 by J. Becker
5.0 out of 5 stars
my daughter loves this book!
My daughrter requested this after her freind recommended it to her. It kept her quiet on a 300 mile road trip and she was excitedly relaying bits of it to me once she'd finished... Read more
Published on 9 Jan 2010 by E. Ditchburn
4.0 out of 5 stars
Exciting, twisting tale
I really enjoyed this - the whole book was quite exciting and gripping and I enjoyed the puzzles. I did work them out before the kids did, but then, I am 24 so probably not their... Read more
Published on 7 Jan 2010 by Lecari
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great Book!
I am 11 years old and I loved this book. It is suitable for both girls and boys. It is really exciting and adventurous. Read more
Published on 29 Oct 2009
5.0 out of 5 stars
A gripping read
This book had my 10 yr old daughter spellbound, she is not a good reader herself but loves having stories read to her. Read more
Published on 26 April 2009 by BS
5.0 out of 5 stars
Not Dahl but something new altogether
I loved this book, not least the quirky outer cover, it doesn't even open like a normal book. The previous reviewer has given such an excellent account of the storyline that I... Read more
Published on 16 Jan 2009 by Jo Bennie
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