Reviews tagging 'Abandonment'

The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart

15 reviews

bexi's review against another edition

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adventurous dark lighthearted mysterious tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.25

Honestly I was kind of bored. Maybe I'm not brainy enough to fully appreciate this book, or maybe it's because I'm not in the target age group. 
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epeolatri's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional funny hopeful inspiring mysterious fast-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

Loved every second of this book! I wish I had been so lucky as to read it when I was a kid, but I love it just as much at 22. Can’t wait to read the rest!
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skudiklier's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional lighthearted mysterious reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

This was one of my favorite books as a child, but my copy got lost after loaning it to someone, and I've been waiting for years to get a new one so I could reread it. I really enjoyed it! I was surprised by how much I remembered. And like, it's true that some things about the book are problematic and on-the-nose (liking books isn't inherently good, TV isn't inherently bad, there's the ableist trope of
the bad guy getting up from the wheelchair
, and there's so much to unpack with all the "gifted" stuff). But still, I can't help adoring this book. I'm excited to reread the rest of the series! 

Also, spoiler:
I can't believe Constance is TWO?! I remembered that she was actually very young, so the whole book I was paying attention to how she spoke and acted and stuff, and in my head I was like "there's no way she's like four what the heck she's the most advanced of all of them." But I thought she was like four or five, not two!!! Wild.
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courtneyfalling's review against another edition

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adventurous mysterious fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

I remember this fondly from when I was younger, and I still enjoyed the anti-authoritarian, pro-kid plot. But the stakes never felt as big as we were supposed to believe they were, and plot details came and went really quickly.  

I also forgot this is a prime example of the "villain is faking having a physical disability" trope, and I absolutely did not like it.
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wondereads13's review against another edition

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adventurous funny inspiring mysterious tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

One of the best children's books to ever be published, The Mysterious Benedict Society is great for all ages. It's overwhelmingly clever, the characters are all so personable, and the plot just pulls you in. It scared the shit out of me when I was younger, but I reread it in middle school and loved it. It's filled with riddles to keep you thinking, and you'll root for the characters like your life depends on it. Don't let the fact that it's a children's book stop you.
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