Shelly's Book Blog

The Mysterious Benedict Society, by Trenton Lee Stewart, was just terrific! The main characters are four children who, for one reason or another, find themselves alone in the world and are recruited by Mr. Benedict to go on a dangerous mission to save the world. Before they are chosen for the assignment, though, they are put through a series of tests, which the reader can kind of take along with them, trying to figure out riddles and come up with solutions to difficult problems. I especially liked the question about chess!

The kids eventually are enrolled in L.I.V.E. (Learning Institute for the Very Enlightened) in order to try to figure out what exactly the Institute's founder is up to with his "Whisperer" machine. The plot is exciting, the characters memorable and well-developed, and the ending satisfying. I am now reading the sequel, The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Perilous Journey. If you liked Lemony Snicket's books, you will probably like these as well.