The Mysterious Benedict Society Book Review

Book title: The Mysterious Benedict Society

Author: Trenton Lee Stewart

“Are you a gifted child looking for special opportunities?” The Mysterious Benedict Society puts hundreds of gifted children who react to this add through a series of tests to see if they have what it takes to complete a very dangerous undercover mission. These tasks do not resemble an in-class reading quiz or the SATs, rather they are tests of courage, honesty, and tenacity. Wit and strong character are essential if you’re looking for an A.

After a brief meeting, Mr. Benedict puts all of his faith in the two boys and two girls that have passed the tests, and the four of them go undercover at The Learning Institute For The Very Enlightened. Their mission is to discover what Mr. Curtain is up to, and whatever it is, it’s not good, and it’s happening fast. Reynie the orphan, Sticky the brains, Kate the bucket-carrying athlete, and Constance the stubborn “negative Nancy” must turn to each other during their time at the institute. After all, they’re all one another has. They form the self-proclaimed Mysterious Benedict Society and it is only with each other that they will be able to accomplish the arduous tasks ahead of them. No one has any idea just how dangerous their work is until it begins.

Verdict: If you’re looking for an easy, adventurous read and characters that you just can’t get enough of, The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart is the book for you! While helping these gifted children save the world, it is crucial that you keep in mind the one rule: there are no rules. If you pass this first test, you may even be rewarded with a chance to read the rest of the series. Good luck on your mission.

Reviewed by: Betsy Overstrum'20