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The Mysterious Benedict Society
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List Price: $6.99
Our Price: $6.99
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
Manufacturer: Little, Brown Young Readers
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Average Customer Rating:  
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Binding: Paperback
EAN: 9780316003957
ISBN: 0316003956
Label: Little, Brown Young Readers
Manufacturer: Little, Brown Young Readers
Number Of Items: 1
Number Of Pages: 512
Publication Date: 2008-04-01
Publisher: Little, Brown Young Readers
Reading Level: Ages 9-12
Studio: Little, Brown Young Readers
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Editorial Reviews:
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"Are you a gifted child looking for special opportunities?"
When this peculiar ad appears in the newspaper, dozens of children enroll to take a series of mysterious, mind-bending tests. (And you, dear reader, can test your wits right alongside them.) But in the end just four very special children will succeed. Their challenge: to go on a secret mission that only the most intelligent and resourceful children could complete. To accomplish it they will have to go undercover at the Learning Institute for the Very Enlightened, where the only rule is that there are no rules.
As our heroes face physical and mental trials beyond their wildest imaginations, they have no choice but to turn to each other for support. But with their newfound friendship at stake, will they be able to pass the most important test of all?
Welcome to the Mysterious Benedict Society.
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Spotlight customer reviews:
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Customer Rating:
Summary: LOVE it!
Comment: It flows well, the characters are great, I think they should make it a movie!
It has a "Series of Unfortunate Events/Nanny McPhee/Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" feel to it.
There are twists and turns everywhere. Bravery, puzzles (it even ends with one), suspense. I read the whole thing in 2 days, I couldn't put it down.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Terrific Book
Comment: My 5th grader and 7th grader enjoyed this book. What I really liked about the book is that each of the children are different and have different skills, but that all their skills / talents are needed.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Amazingly Wonderful!
Comment: When I first read the jacket cover of this book, I threw it into the back of my closet for awhile. The next summer I was cleaning out my closet and found the book. I immediately stopped what I was doing and sat down to read this book. It was so intriguing that I just couldn't put it down. I read it cover to cover finally finishing it. Let me just tell you one thing: Don't judge a book by it's cover. Or if you prefer, jacket cover. The jacket cover only talks about the first two chapters. Which, isn't the best part of the book.
Customer Rating: 
Summary: A book for the geeky kids :-)
Comment: Have you ever found yourself feeling alone? Out of place? Too smart to be cool? If so, maybe you have what it takes to be a member of the Mysterious Benedict Society.
Reynie Muldoon is all of these things and more. When he answers an ad promising a special opportunity, little did Reynie realize that he would save the world - a task only children could accomplish!
I purchased this book (kindle edition) to read to my almost-10 year old son. Unfortunately, the long descriptions and slow pace seemed to thrill me more than him. As my son was adopted, I thought the premise would entice him (the children were all orphans or without parents) - and in that respect it really did (good for him to see it as a positive). However, I felt this book would capture the attention of kids that can relate to Reynie's feelings of being alone and "different" - and in that respect, I think it was speaking to my nerd-like bookworm tendencies. As a child, I would have loved this book for seeing brainiacs as the protagonists.
I felt the characters very believable and enjoyed their antics, especially Kate. While there is little action, there are some very tense moments that kept me on edge. And, it was (at least for me) a page turner. The feel good ending was a little too convenient, but there were some VERY surprising reveals.
If you have a boy's boy who tends to like dragon books and the like, maybe this is a pass. The lack of action seemed to be his complaint, although he said he liked it - just didn't love it. Otherwise, if you have a bookworm on your hands, it's a great read.
Note on the kindle edition: as of the date of this review, the code to figure out Mr. Benedict's first name is missing.
Customer Rating:
Summary: a minority opinion
Comment: I bought this book to read aloud to my eight-year-old son on the recommendation of our outstanding local bookshop. I am really surprised by the raves this book received. Its plot is bloated and the prose is in need of some serious editing. It almost seemed like the publisher believed it had a real blockbuster on its hands and failed to take the time to get a potentially great book ready for market. Instead the novel falls completely flat, lacking any dramatic tension or pace. I'm glad I only paid $6.99 for it.
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