Children's Book Review - The Mysterious Benedict Society

Hello dear readers!

I'm going to work very hard to not make this a sort of purging post encompassing all my children's book knowledge, past and present. I just get so excited about kids books! (Really, I do.)

Today I'll hold the post to the book I just finished called The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart.

First of all, great title and great author name. Let's face it, we all judge books by their covers, and I've noticed an astonishing correlation between good book titles, good author names, and good reads. Admittedly this doesn't always ring true, but try it with your favorite books and see if my theory holds up.

So this book...it's been called a science fiction book but I'm a little bit against placing books in a particular categoy. There are so many stereotypes and connotations (both positive and negative) that go into those words and I'd much rather judge a book on its cover than in its classification. Regardless, I thought it might be a good place to start and then I can break down that science fiction box for you and explain why it's just a good read.

What is "science-fiction-y" about this book is the central plot-line. Someone has been sending subliminal messages through television and radio broadcasts. They are undetectible by most humans and so though people are receiving and reacting to these messages they're not conscious or aware of that fact. Mr. Benedict (the one of the "Mysterious Benedict Society") IS aware. He's a genius scientist (and one of the good guys in the book) who has figured out a way to translate and record these messages. Even though he used to be well-respected in the government, no one will listen to him now because they've all been slowly brainwashed by those subliminal messages.

This is the best part because this is where the kids come in. Certain children have the ability to resist these subliminal messages because they are young enough and value truth enough that their brains automatically do their best to resist the evil messages. So Mr. Benedict puts together a team of children as secret spies to go into enemy territory and gather as much information as possible about who and what are sending these messages.

The real story is how this team of four unlikely child heroes have to work together to solve this mission before it's too late and they themselves can't resist those messages anymore. All four children have special and unique talents, but they don't all know how to work together or even how to be friends. This book is packed with adventure (though it's not scary), good laughs (though the children in the book don't always think it's funny), friendship and teamwork and yes, a few fights. It will keep you engrossed right to the very end with some surprising twists and turns. For instance - why did Kate's dad disappear? Does Sticky's family really not care about him? Why is Constance such a sleepy grouchy baby? Will Reynie ever see Miss Perumal again? How can Mr. Benedict appear to be in two places at once? And how on earth are these 4 kids going to stop THE WHISPERER?

Read The Mysterious Benedict Society to find out!

- Rebecca -

The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart
Paperback: 9780316003957 $6.99
Hardcover: 9780316057776 $16.99