Reviews

The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart

eggjen's review against another edition

5.0

This book combines everything which is great about the Harry Potter series and Lemony Snicket's Series of Unfortunate Events, but still manages to be it's own entity - a fresh, exciting new plot that keeps you guessing, with a new memorable set of characters that children will be able to relate to and cheer on. The writing style is very good, and like the Snicket books it's an excellent way to sneak in some learning with your fun - lots of words are defined without it feeling forced (usually one of the main characters simply asks for a definition when they find they don't know what a word means) and the tests the children take can show readers how you can solve a problem in many different ways, still arriving at the right answer - how being smart is not confined to one area - that you can be clever in different ways and that all those ways are important.

tashaseegmiller's review against another edition

5.0

This was a very fun book! The plot moves along very quickly, without bogging the reader down with details that could cause a loss of interest. It was entertaining and a fun read. Children would enjoy the story, but I question the ability of most "children" to endure the length - middle reader to young adult.

mckennah's review

adventurous funny hopeful lighthearted mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

sdabeer's review against another edition

adventurous hopeful mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

I was really into it at first and then I wasn’t as much and then I got really into it 
I really enjoyed it! The kids were so precocious and loveable and you were really rooting for these 10 yr old geniuses like damn 
The biggest gripe I had was the whole characterization of Constance.

I get that she seemed much older than her age because of her vocabulary and just sheer independence, but her perceptual reasoning and abstract thinking skills were just unbelievable for a TWO year old. If she was like 4-5 I would’ve definitely understood it a lot more but this literal infant was catching strays left and right it didn’t seem she actually gave a shit about anything half the time and then suddenly she would do something really heroic, but also people and especially kids can be like that so that wasn’t as much of a ?than the age

but besides it was super fun! I’ll have to watch the TV show and reconsult this review 

busyknitting's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

kristaallysa's review against another edition

adventurous medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

roseleek's review against another edition

adventurous slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

mae_amethyst's review against another edition

adventurous challenging funny hopeful informative lighthearted mysterious slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Death of parent, and Mental illness

lonelyasfranz's review

5.0

Most of the book was entertaining enough (think A Series of Unfortunate Events meets The Genius Files), if displeasingly unrealistic, but the ending was rushed and didn’t make sense: it almost entirely consisted of Shocking Twists, and each child’s ultimate situation directly contrasted with what Nicholas had told them closer to the beginning.
Overall, I would say 3.5 or 4 stars, but S.Q. makes it worthy of five.

phlegmie's review against another edition

4.0

I think Stewart's gem received less credit than it should have. This is one tear-jerking, mind-boggling hilarious read!