The Mysterious Benedict Society (book)

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The Mysterious Benedict Society
The Mysterious Benedict Society.jpg
Author Trenton Lee Stewart
Cover artist Carson Ellis
Language English
Series The Mysterious Benedict Society
GenreYoung adult
Publisher Little, Brown and Company
Publication date
March 7, 2008
Publication place United States
Pages485 pgs
ISBN 978-0-316-05777-6
OCLC 66392644
LC Class PZ7.S8513 My 2007
Followed by The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Perilous Journey  

The Mysterious Benedict Society is a novel written by Trenton Lee Stewart and illustrated by Carson Ellis, first published in 2007. It tells the story of four gifted children: Reynie Muldoon, George "Sticky" Washington, Kate Wetherall, and Constance Contraire, who together form the "Mysterious Benedict Society" and are sent to investigate an institution called L.I.V.E. (the Learning Institute for the Very Enlightened), run by a man named Ledroptha Curtain. The book is the first in a series that has sold over three million copies. [1]

Contents

Main events

Reynard "Reynie" Muldoon is an orphaned boy with a love for puzzles and books living in an orphanage in the metropolis of Stonetown with his tutor, Miss Perumal. Reynie notices a newspaper advertisement targeted towards gifted children, consisting of a series of three odd and complex tests, all of which he passes. He meets three other children who are each gifted in their own way: George "Sticky" Washington, Kate Wetherall, and Constance Contraire. Mr. Benedict, the organizer of the tests, is assisted by his subordinates Number Two, Rhonda Kazembe, and Milligan. They explain that a mysterious threat plagues the world in the form of secret messages transmitted into people's minds via television and radio signals. The messages originate at the Learning Institute for the Very Enlightened "L.I.V.E." Mr. Benedict invites the children to form a team to put a stop to the messages. The children decide to call themselves the Mysterious Benedict Society, and join the Institute as students (and spies).

Through their investigation, the children discover that Mr. Curtain transmits his messages through a device known as the Whisperer. They also discover that this machine is capable of "sweeping away" memories, and that Mr. Curtain plans to boost his messages to transmit directly to people's brains. Milligan, who has been helping them behind the scenes, is captured, so the Society forms a plan. While Sticky and Reynie are in Mr. Curtain's office, Kate and Constance break in. During the course of their attempt, Milligan escapes and arrives to assist. Mr. Curtain attempts to wipe their memories, but Constance manages to resist him and confuse the Whisperer. At the same time, Mr. Benedict and his team enter the Institute. Mr. Benedict disables the Whisperer and the Society escapes from the island.

Due to the Society's efforts, the Whisperer's mind-numbing messages cease. The Institute is raided by government agents and shut down, although Mr. Curtain manages to elude capture. Upon returning to Stonetown, the four children settle down and find families of their own.

Characters

Main characters

Supporting characters

Critical reception

The Mysterious Benedict Society has received generally positive reviews. Many critics praised the enigmatic plot and puzzles included in the storyline; journalist Michele Norris, writing for NPR, said, "Almost everything inside this book is an enigma." [2] Additionally, the ethical decisions and moral lessons contained within the book were praised. Kirkus Reviews said that the book was "rich in moral and ethical issues." [3] Rick Riordan, author of the Percy Jackson & the Olympians series, wrote, "I enjoyed it very much -- great cast of characters, lots of cool puzzles and mysteries. The book made me feel nostalgic, because it reminded me of some of the better children’s books I grew up with, like Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and The Phantom Tollbooth." [4]

Awards

The Mysterious Benedict Society was a New York Times bestseller in 2008 [5] and won a 2007 Booklist Editors' Choice: Books for Youth award, [6] a 2008 Notable Children's Book for Middle Readers award from the American Library Association, [7] the 2008 E. B. White Read Aloud Award for Older Readers, [8] and a 2008 Texas Lone Star Reading List award. [9]

Sequels

Three sequels were published in 2008, 2009, and 2019: The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Perilous Journey, The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Prisoner's Dilemma, and The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Riddle of Ages.

A prequel, The Extraordinary Education of Nicholas Benedict , was released on April 10, 2012. [10]

A supplementary book, The Mysterious Benedict Society: Mr. Benedict's Book of Perplexing Puzzles, Elusive Enigmas, and Curious Conundrums, was also released.

Television adaptation

The novel served as the basis for the first season of the television series of the same name. Like most adaptations, there are numerous divergences, most of them revolving around giving more establishment and agency to the series. The biggest difference is that the show adds more background to Mr. Benedict and Dr. Curtain, the story of which somewhat contradicts the novel The Extraordinary Education of Nicholas Benedict . Characters such as Number Two, Ms. Perumal, Rhonda Kazembe and Milligan are also given more development than the novel.

While the Society's background are relatively unchanged, Sticky now lives with his aunt and uncle instead of his parents and Constance is aged up and given a more sarcastic disposition. The characterizations of characters such as Jackson and Jillson and Martina are radically altered, specifically with the latter who, unlike her novel counterpart, reforms at the end. A lot of the challenges and puzzles were changed to appear even more difficult than those featured in the novel.

The series is also more grounded and makes the issues feel more relevant. One of the prime examples being the explanation for Mr. Benedict's machine. In the novel, he states that he cannot go to the police about his findings because they will not understand it, while in the series, he states that it is due to the fact that some people will simply refuse to believe him.

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References

  1. "The Mysterious Benedict Society is back!". Hachette Book Group. April 11, 2019. Retrieved June 22, 2021.
  2. Norris, Michele (February 29, 2012). "March Book Pick: 'The Mysterious Benedict Society'". NPR. Retrieved August 15, 2020.
  3. THE MYSTERIOUS BENEDICT SOCIETY by Trenton Lee Stewart, Carson Ellis. Kirkus Reviews.
  4. Riordan, Rick (November 8, 2013). "Rick Riordan's review of The Mysterious Benedict Society (The Mysterious Benedict Society, #1)". Goodreads. Retrieved August 16, 2020.
  5. "BEST SELLERS | Children's Books". The New York Times. September 11, 2008. ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved August 16, 2020.
  6. "Booklist Editors' Choice: Books for Youth, 2007". Booklist. January 1, 2008. Retrieved August 16, 2020.
  7. "ALSC announces 2008 Notable Children's Books". American Library Association. January 29, 2008. Retrieved August 16, 2020.
  8. "E.B. White Read Aloud Award Winners". Goodreads. Retrieved August 16, 2020.
  9. "Past Lists". Texas Library Association. Retrieved August 16, 2020.
  10. "The Extraordinary Education of Nicholas Benedict by Trenton Lee Stewart". Penguin Random House. Retrieved August 16, 2020.