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A review by katymul
The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart
adventurous
challenging
funny
informative
lighthearted
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
I feel weird giving this such a fairly low rating, because both times I have read this book I have enjoyed it a great deal! Rereading in 2023, however, several things just hit me wrong.
Could there be anything we need less than a story about how there's nothing actually wrong with society and its institutions, that the way everyone is feeling upset and unsatisfied with the status quo is just the product of an evil conspiracy blasting discontent into our brainwaves?
I understand why such fantasies are popular. Could there be anything more appealing than the idea that we could instantly fix the world (or close enough) just by taking out one shadowy figure? That our systems aren't fundamentally broken, we just need to send in a group of plucky kids to defeat a singular villain?
If you like books in that vein (and I do too on occasion!), then Mysterious Benedict Society is a great example of the type -- provided you also like Sherlock Holmes level puzzle solving, complete with the puzzle architect being smug as they explain it to you afterward. To be fair, all of the characters are a good deal more charming than any Sherlock Holmes that I've read/seen/etc. and the world is full of charming and delightful twists and turns.
Could there be anything we need less than a story about how there's nothing actually wrong with society and its institutions, that the way everyone is feeling upset and unsatisfied with the status quo is just the product of an evil conspiracy blasting discontent into our brainwaves?
I understand why such fantasies are popular. Could there be anything more appealing than the idea that we could instantly fix the world (or close enough) just by taking out one shadowy figure? That our systems aren't fundamentally broken, we just need to send in a group of plucky kids to defeat a singular villain?
If you like books in that vein (and I do too on occasion!), then Mysterious Benedict Society is a great example of the type -- provided you also like Sherlock Holmes level puzzle solving, complete with the puzzle architect being smug as they explain it to you afterward. To be fair, all of the characters are a good deal more charming than any Sherlock Holmes that I've read/seen/etc. and the world is full of charming and delightful twists and turns.