Fiction Friday (107)

A few weeks ago, I found myself having finished all the library books I'd checked out before the doors shuttered back in March. So I went to my shelf of unread books and figured it was time to continue a book in a series I hadn't visited in some years. It was nice to switch back to Middle Grade after a long spell in YA.

The Mysterious Benedict Society and The Prisoner's Dilemma 
by Trenton Lee Stewart
(Little Brown, 2009)

The clever kids that make up "The Society" have returned from defeating Mr. Curtain's dastardly scheme in the last book, but things are not as peaceful as they should be.  Mr. Curtain is still on the loose, still controls his evil Ten Men, and is desperate to recover his Whisperer...which just happens to be located in the same place as Kate, Constance, Reynie, and Sticky.

Being the third book in the series, (a series or rather thick books), readers are well aware of the gifted children and their peculiar talents. They are also aware of the adventure quest structure that all three books follow; a sinister plan shrouded in secrecy, a plan revealed thought riddles, and a maze of twists and turns to navigate in order to the mystery.

It's been years since I read the first two books, but picking this up a few weeks ago was like putting on a pair of comfortable socks. I've always enjoyed the company of these kids, even though I must admit I have never really LOVED any of the books. What I love is the characters, enough that I'm able to look past the things in the stories always seem to make me cringe. (Buckets and Briefcases, anyone?). 

 This book was tighter than the previous two and therefore a bit easier to get through. The plot twists were, as with previous books, slightly less clever than I believe the author felt they were. But all in all, it was another fun adventure.

Fiction Friday (22)

Against my better judgement, I've been trapped in a pattern of reading series books for practically this entire year. About a month ago, I was desperate for the second book in The Invisible Order series by Paul Crilley, but when I went to the store, they didn't have it. I ordered it, and have since started reading it, but while I was there I bought the second book in The Mysterious Benedict Society to tide me over. As you've probably gathered, I'm also in a Middle Grade kick as well. I feel that's where my imagination resides these days, I'm all too willing to feed it. 

The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Perilous Journey
by Trenton Lee Stewart
(2008)

The second book picks up a year after Reynie, Sticky, Kate, and Constance foiled Mr. Curtain's plan to brainwash the world. After spending the time apart, starting their new lives with new families, the kids are finally getting together for a reunion. Little do they know, their adventure is about to take a dangerous turn.

Upon arriving at Mr. Benedict's house, the kids discover that their kindly mentor has been kidnapped, along with No. 2. There's no doubt that Mr. Curtain is behind this dastardly plan, with the help of his dreaded Ten Men. Now it's up to the kids to save them using their unique skills, and the cryptic clues left behind by Mr. Benedict.

This book moves at a much faster pace than the first, though it's still a whopper, clocking in at 440 pages. The first book spent so much time setting up the story that it dragged a bit in the beginning. This one has the luxury of not having to introduce the characters, allowing the action to begin quicker, making it a much faster read. 

The scope of the adventure is much bigger in this story, and the pace is helped by having the children follow a trail of clues across the globe, rather than staying stagnant as in the first story. At times it did feel as though it moved a little too fast, and sometimes things were a little too convenient for the kids, but overall I found it quite enjoyable.

One thing I did really like about this book was how it delved deeper into Kate and Constance's characters. The first book was definitely Reynie's tale, and though this one is primarily his as well, the two girls are given their own trials and tribulations. I wish Sticky had been given a bigger role. He's probably my favorite character, and he seemed absent a lot in this book. But these are all minor things that didn't affect my reading pleasure. I'm looking forward to continuing on their adventures in the other books.

Fiction Friday (16)

Lately I've been reading a lot of Middle Grade novels, and they all seem to be quite thick, which accounts for my decline in book reviews on here. But now with several behind me, I finally have time to reflect on what incredible stories I've had the chance to visit over the past few months. As a mater of fact, since Christmas, I've been on an incredible winning streak when it comes to reading selections. I haven't encountered this kind of succession of brilliance in years, and with a stack of other highly anticipated stories in waiting, I don't expect it to end any time soon. This week I'm sharing with you a 2007 New Times Bestseller. Enjoy.

The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart
(Little Brown, 2007)

Pulled together through unusual circumstances, four orphan children combine their skills to form The Mysterious Benedict Society, and may just possibly save the world why they're at it. That's the driving premise of Trenton Lee Stewart's massive Middle Grade novel. Essentially this is an old fashioned caper story with lots of exciting and dangerous twists.

When a strange form of subliminal brainwashing shows up in Stonetown Harbor, the only person who seems aware of it is the reclusive, yet brilliant, Mr. Benedict. Unable to convince the authorities that these messages are coming from a secretive institute for gifted children, he recruits children of his own to infiltrate the school and stop the devious plan before it's too late. Bringing together a group of outcast orphans, each with their own special skills, their risky plan is set into motion.

The book moves rather slowly at times, but that's only because it is so thorough. We see each of the four children develop a sense of trust with each other and within themselves. I enjoy this type of detailed attention, though others may find it plodding, but if you stick around, you're rewarded with fast-paced concluding action. The one thing that did sort of bother me was how little explanation was offered when it came to the villain's evil invention. It wasn't left completely unexplained, but the science of it didn't seem too thought out either. In this kind of story, I think those details need to be carefully thought out.

All of that is secondary to the main enjoyment of the book, which is watching the friendship of these four great characters grow and seeing them rewarded for all their hard work and hardships. And it's always fun encountering a story where children are able to achieve something that adults could not. All in all, an intelligent and entertaining book. (This is the first book in a trilogy. Books #2 and #3 are already published).

My favorite passage:

Kate nodded, agreeing. She seemed pleasant enough. She had very bright, watery blue eyes, a fair complexion, and rosy cheeks, and was unusually tall and broad-shouldered for a twelve-year-old. (She announced her age right away, for children consider their ages every bit as important as their names....) page 37-38