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hulahoopes's review against another edition
5.0
Excellent character study of Mr. Benedict and wonderful stand alone novel. Enjoyed the narrator very much.
lkthomas07's review against another edition
5.0
Oh man, my 10 year old and I LOVED this book! She even said she MIGHT like it more than the regular series. I don’t agree, ha! But it was definitely close. Young Nicholas was such a pleasure to get to know! And Violet!! And John!!!
It was just a great book. Highly recommend this series. We are super bummed to be finished with this world!
It was just a great book. Highly recommend this series. We are super bummed to be finished with this world!
postitsandpens's review against another edition
4.0
This was really fun! I had a great time getting to know Nicholas as a young child, and seeing what motivated him to create the Mysterious Benedict Society later in life. We also got to meet some characters who show up in the later books, and come to understand why they were wiling to do anything and everything to help Nicholas with his goals. Nicholas was a pretty cheeky child, never allowing bad situations to keep him down for long, and full of creativity and determination. I felt like the author did a good job of juggling Nicholas' intelligence with his young age (he's 9 in this book), and I had a grand old time following along as Nicholas attempted to solve the mystery of the missing treasure. If you liked the Mysterious Benedict Society books, do yourself a favor and check out this prequel!
christieb123's review against another edition
3.0
This was a fun book. I've only read part of The Mysterious Benedict Society, and this is a prequel/backstory, so I'm sure it would have been even more enjoyable if I had been more familiar with the main character as an adult.
adamrshields's review against another edition
4.0
Summary: A prequel with Nicholas Benedict being transferred to a new orphanage when he was nine.
After the initial trilogy, I quickly picked up the prequel. Nicholas Benedict, the adult/parent figure for the original series was once a child himself. And like the children of the main series, he was brilliant and an orphan.
The book opens on a train with the staff person on a closing orphanage delivering Nicholas to a different orphanage. With the original series, I thought of the series of books by John Fitzgerald based around The Great Brain. Tom, the Great Brain, is a genius 10 year old who is always seeking to acquire more money. Many of his schemes do not work out well, and some harm his brother, who narrates the books. The difference between these books and those Great Brain books is that while both have genius children, the Benedict books are rooted in children looking out for the best for others. The Great Brain books were oriented toward selfish interest for the most part.
Nicholas is not perfect, although he is very nearly perfect. He realizes that he does need others and he has a responsibility to use his genius for others. And that is really the tipping point for him in this book. In someways I like I may have liked this book even more, although I think the range of characters in the main series is more enjoyable. I was glad to have read these books.
After the initial trilogy, I quickly picked up the prequel. Nicholas Benedict, the adult/parent figure for the original series was once a child himself. And like the children of the main series, he was brilliant and an orphan.
The book opens on a train with the staff person on a closing orphanage delivering Nicholas to a different orphanage. With the original series, I thought of the series of books by John Fitzgerald based around The Great Brain. Tom, the Great Brain, is a genius 10 year old who is always seeking to acquire more money. Many of his schemes do not work out well, and some harm his brother, who narrates the books. The difference between these books and those Great Brain books is that while both have genius children, the Benedict books are rooted in children looking out for the best for others. The Great Brain books were oriented toward selfish interest for the most part.
Nicholas is not perfect, although he is very nearly perfect. He realizes that he does need others and he has a responsibility to use his genius for others. And that is really the tipping point for him in this book. In someways I like I may have liked this book even more, although I think the range of characters in the main series is more enjoyable. I was glad to have read these books.
luisasm's review against another edition
4.0
Very funny and complex. Fun and relatable characters. Plus, a good plot.
christiebk's review against another edition
3.0
Nicholas is a character I fell in love with. He's cute, charming, smart, and a little quirky. While the book was a nice intro to his character and gave us the history of what happened prior to the other Mysterious Benedict Society Books, it falls a bit flat.
I think the only reason I didn't like this as much as the other Benedict Society book is the few number of characters. The voice of the book is the same, and I love that. And as I said, I love the character of Nicholas as well as John, and Violet, but the other characters are all bullies or shmarmy orphanage directors that didn't have much substance.
The book mostly revolves around the mystery of the lost treasure, and the searching for it on the grounds of the orphanage. Stewart provides us with a beautiful setting, but fell behind in the plot points. There wasn't really anything else going on, causing there not to be too much conflict. Maybe part of that was that I knew he would turn out ok, since I knew his future, but it just didn't do it for me.
If you like the other Mysterious Benedict Society I would read this one so you know the whole story. But if you are new to the series, please don't read this first. Start with the first book and fall in love with the endearing characters, and the complex plot lines.
I think the only reason I didn't like this as much as the other Benedict Society book is the few number of characters. The voice of the book is the same, and I love that. And as I said, I love the character of Nicholas as well as John, and Violet, but the other characters are all bullies or shmarmy orphanage directors that didn't have much substance.
The book mostly revolves around the mystery of the lost treasure, and the searching for it on the grounds of the orphanage. Stewart provides us with a beautiful setting, but fell behind in the plot points. There wasn't really anything else going on, causing there not to be too much conflict. Maybe part of that was that I knew he would turn out ok, since I knew his future, but it just didn't do it for me.
If you like the other Mysterious Benedict Society I would read this one so you know the whole story. But if you are new to the series, please don't read this first. Start with the first book and fall in love with the endearing characters, and the complex plot lines.
themagicalinbetween's review against another edition
4.0
Brilliant prequel to The Mysterious Benedict Society! This book in many ways was more endearing than the trilogy, I loved the backstory of Nicholas Benedict and a peek into his interesting, and adventurous childhood of surviving in an orphanage! This one was a page-turner filled with plot twists and friendship in unlikely places. Solid 4 stars.
NOTE: THIS IS MEANT TO BE READ AFTER THE TRILLOGY! NOT BEFORE!
NOTE: THIS IS MEANT TO BE READ AFTER THE TRILLOGY! NOT BEFORE!
marie_reads16's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
4.5