The Mysterious Benedict Society: Everyone's secret desire to be extraordinary at something

Title: The Mysterious Benedict Society
Author:  Trenton Lee Stewart
Age Range: 9-14
Genre: Fiction, Mystery, Adventure

This is one of the newer young adult fiction novels out there, meaning that it wasn't around when I was growing up.  The number of books that has been recently published for the young adult market is mind boggling, but not all of it is excellent or even all that good.  However, I really connected to this book as an adult, I think because I connected to the idea of people wanting to be special, or set apart.  I know growing up, I always wanted to have something that made me outstanding in contrast to others and I spent sometime trying to figure out what it was.  This book explores some of those emotions and makes you feel and sympathize with the characters and their struggles.

The book starts out with Reynie, faced with the opportunity to take a special exam for gifted children.  The exam is a puzzle, which he figures out and he ends up passing it.  There are a number of small interesting little "tests" designed by the test giver that also further help figure out which kids truly are gifted and have what it takes.  In the end there are four such people - Reynie, who is incredibly good at puzzles; Sticky, who has a brain like glue and everything sticks to it (he remembers everything); Kate, who has a bucket in which she carries handy little tools and also has an incredible ability to measure distances with her eyes; and finally Constance, who no one is sure why she is gifted, except that she is incredibly contrary. (Her true gift is revealed at the end of the book and it is both amusing and endearing.)

The four are selected by the somewhat eccentric and mysterious Mr. Benedict.  He needs children to help him infiltrate an evil plot being hatched by someone who wishes to brain wash the world.  Although Mr. Benedict has figured out some of the problem, he is unable to stop the evilness without the help of children.  He gives them ample opportunity to turn down the mission, as it is one that is dangerous, but all four kids take it upon themselves to do the job.  One funny note about Mr. Benedict; he is a narcoleptic, falling asleep at sudden moments, usually triggered by a powerful emotion, like sadness, happiness or humor.

The book is filled with little puzzles along the way, allowing the reader to participate in what is going on.  It is also an incredibly story of building friendship and loyalty and sacrifice.  It is one where you cheer on the four kids as they embark on their mission, because they rely on their wits and their knowledge, they are successful.  It is a fun read and one that makes you smile at the end.

Some things to be aware of - the children in the book are all orphans or abandoned in some way shape or form.  If you want a story about an intact family, you will not find it here.  Also, the "bad guy", Mr. Curtain, is evil enough that he makes your skin crawl.  Trenton Lee Stewart does a good job of making him seem very creepy and not normal.   There is the use of stun guns here, and there is also some hints at mental torture.



The next in the series, which I have not yet read


#3 in the series, which I also have not read (but will!)

My Side of the Mountain: A book from my childhood

Title: My Side of the Mountain
Author: Jean Craighead George
Age Range: 9-12
Genre:  Fiction, Adventure

I read this book when I was a child.  Actually, I read it because my younger brother was reading it, and I figured since he said it was good, I should read it as well.  And I loved it.  I still re-read it when I'm at my parents' house as the story is one that is full of interesting ideas as well as a great story.  It is the story of a young boy named Sam, who is tired of his urban life, so decides to go and live in the Catskills Mountains, using his wits, his knowledge, and his guts to survive.  He lives in this fabulous tree and creates a life for himself in the woods.  It is fun and exciting to see what he can do with the resources he has.

It is a great book for boys and girls alike, but it is a book that is unlike modern young adult literature, in that it is not filled with a lot of dialogue, a lot of action, or a lot of drama.  It is really the thoughts and the plans of a young man who decides to live in a tree. I read it as a young person and just imagined what it would be like to live somewhere without parents and on my own, and it quickly made me think that I'd rather be at home with my family. It is slower paced compared to many of the books that I find kids reading now, but I think it is a wonderful book that should be read, even if the child may think it is boring. 

The only possible "worry" spot in this book is the idea of just leaving home and going out on your own.  Sam does it with his parents' blessing and his father even visits him at one point.  I'm pretty sure that most kids wouldn't read that and immediately think about how to do it and execute on that, but perhaps it would allow them to stretch their imagination and think of a life without the modern conveniences to which they have grown so accustomed.

There is a trilogy, but I've not read the other two yet.



Second in the series


Final, told from the perspective of a bird