Edge-of-the-seat, stay-up-way-past-bedtime reading. Very long. But very clever.

Would make a thrilling TV series. ( )

3.5 ⭐️

This was a delightful YA read. Though this story is aimed towards younger kids, it really impressed me. I was surprised to find how intelligent these four children were; how quick they were at thinking through difficult problems and unseen situations throughout their mission. Each child had their own special talents (which suited them all perfectly, I might add) and worked together amazingly, almost as if they were born to be an unstoppable team.
The story did get a bit slow in the middle, but it's understandable as there weren't many opportunities for the children to take risks or really do some undercover spy work.
I am intrigued to know how their story will continue in the sequel! ( )

The Mysterious Benedict Society starts with an eleven-year-old boy named Raynard 'Reynie' Muldoon, who goes to take a test at a place called the Monk Building in Stonetown, the small city where he is a resident of the Stonetown Orphanage. Reynie is one of the four children to pass the mysterious tests. The others are George 'Sticky' Washington and Kate Wetherall. Reynie is very observant. Sticky (which he prefers to be called), has a remarkable memory. Facts just seem to stick in his head. Kate is very resourceful and acrobatic. Her bucket of helpful tools is a must-have. The years she spent in a circus haven't hurt her. Constance Contraire is very skeptical and contrary.

After the four children have passed all of the tests, each in a different way, they learn that a Mr. Nicholas Benedict needs a team of children. Two of his helpers already passed his tests years ago, but this is the first time enough children to form a team have passed at the same time. The children will need to combat the work of a mysterious person or group that sends harmful messages. in an unusual way. Call this person or group 'the Sender'.

The children must infiltrate the Learning Institute for the Very Enlightened. It is a potentially very dangerous mission.

NOTES:

Chapter Codes and Histories: We learn Milligan's back story.

Chapter Nomansan Island:

a. The name is a play on a famous poem by John Donne, 'No Man is an Island".

b. Reynie's cover story is true. The other three are supposed to be from Binnud Academy.

c. Most executives at the Learning Institute for the Very Enlightened are former students. They wear a blue tunic and sash with white pants. Messengers are top students with special privileges. Their uniform is the same as those worn by executives except they have striped pants.

Chapter Traps and Nonsense gives us the layout of the institute.

Chapter Beware the Gemini:

a. We meet the institute founder, Mr. Ledroptha Curtain.

b. Sticky is a Capricorn. Kate is a Taurus.

The Learning Institute for the Very Enlightened is not a very comfortable place to go to school, as our young heroes soon learn. Some of the students appear confused, but happy later. There are Messengers and Executives to deal with as well as the Helpers and the guards.

Sticky and Reynie, who are roommates, are getting perfect scores on their quizzes, thanks to their special abilities. Will they be chosen to be Messengers? If so, will it be their minds that get messed with? As they send and receive secret messages with Mr. Benedict, the peril grows. ( )

A kids novel. Main character is 11 years old. Very clean. Recommended reading for ages 11-17. Still entertaining, even if I'm too old for it. Easy reading. Clever, in its own way. If I were younger I would probably continue to the sequel. As it is, I think I'll leave it at the first one and move on to other things. I am glad I read it, but I doubt I will read it again. ( )

A very fun book. It does get long, but the funny characters make that up. Constance is the best character ever and give sarcastic little comments, which are the best. There's a TV show, and it does do the book justic. so I reccomend both book and show! ( )