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    The Mysterious Benedict Society
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    The Mysterious Benedict Society
    Unavailable
    The Mysterious Benedict Society
    Audiobook13 hours

    The Mysterious Benedict Society

    Written by Trenton Lee Stewart

    Narrated by Del Roy

    4/5

    ()

    Currently unavailable

    Currently unavailable

    About this audiobook

    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 listener, 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.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherPenguin Random House Audio
    Release dateFeb 20, 2007
    ISBN9780307284402
    Unavailable
    The Mysterious Benedict Society

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    Reviews for The Mysterious Benedict Society

    4/5

    1,693 ratings153 reviews

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    • 3/5
      What a fun read (and easy, as it's a kids book). Very concrete characters. A plot to take over the world. Mysterious puzzles. All the classic elements of a heroic children's book.
    • 5/5
      A modern, mysterious, puzzling adventure for today's middle readers.
    • 2/5
      Actually this was a pretty good one for falling asleep to, because I found it a little flat and boring. The world seemed flat. The Disney style Winnie the Pooh voice of the narrator didn't help. Four more or less orphaned yet brilliant children are recruited for a mission to save the world from a mind control takeover. The bad guy has an academy on an island along with a mysterious way of transmitting messages over the television. It never quite fits together, nor is everything explained (though I may have been missing a part of a track and missed something because of that) I was happy to jump to the next audiobook I had queued up...
    • 4/5
      Contrived? Yes. Very. But fun.
    • 4/5
      Digital audiobook read by Del Roy From the book jacket: When the peculiar ad appears in the newspaper, dozens of children enroll to take a series of mysterious mind-bending tests. 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. My ReactionsA fun adventure story of friendship and loyalty. Reynie, Kate, Constance and Sticky (real name George) are quite the team. They’re chosen for the mission based on their intelligence, creativity, determination and courage. And they definitely have to use all those attributes, as well as other talents to thwart the evil Mr Curtain’s scheme for taking over the world. I can certainly see the appeal for middle-grade readers. There are issues common to all children (and adults) here – what makes us afraid, bullying, learning to get along, tolerance for other people’s difference. The scenarios are somewhat ridiculous, but that’s all part of the fun, and will certainly get the reader’s imagination fired up. Del Roy does a marvelous job reading the audiobook. He set a good pace, quick enough for the adventure to come through, not so quick as to lose the listener. The characters really come alive in his narration as well.
    • 5/5
      4.5 stars!

      JUST WOW! What on earth did I just read!?

      This was a crazy fun wild ride from beginning to end! I wish I had known about these books growing up, and will now definitely hand them off to my younger siblings.

      I'm rather sick of the trite, cliche, dumbed-down, and weak junior fiction novels that line the shelves these days. I have very few favorites in that genre because there is just so little good in it. But this is one that I've added to my list of favorites! Unique, deep, fascinating, and "brainy", this breaks all the molds of J-fic!

      The characters were all so fantastic, and I quickly became attached to all of them and their journeys. Each of them were distinctive and one-of-a-kind.

      The ending was beyond fabulous. They all got their family!!!! <3 <3 <3 It made me cry. And if a J-fic novel can make me cry . . . well, then it's pretty good!

      I did dock a half star off my rating because it was SUPER long, and I found myself losing interest in some places. Also, it's pretty . . . outlandish, I guess? Speculative isn't really my thing, so there was some aspects I didn't love. But overall, still 4.5 stars!

      Highly recommended!
    • 4/5
      For those of you who don't know, my husband passed away recently. That first night without him, I stayed in the room of the 11-year-old daughter of some family friends. I had been reading some vaguely depressing novel on my Kindle prior to the news, and obviously was in no shape to go back to that, but I badly needed an escape from the overwhelming sense of loss. Fortunately, the daughter's bookshelf was crammed with children's/young adult literature, which was the perfect thing for me in my zombified state. This book was interesting enough to keep me from thinking about my husband's death for minutes at a time, which I think is rather a high compliment; it was also filled with healthy "children can overcome seemingly insurmountable obstacles with good planning and a bit of pluck!" lessons. In that way it reminded me a lot of A Series of Unfortunate Events, which may be something I reread in the near future.
    • 4/5
      There are books that suit a reader of every age. This is not one of those books. While it was a quick, easy and delightful read I wasn't really into it. Now if I was, let's say 12 years old, I would be all over this book!
      The message delivered in this book was fantastic, however, it had it's limitations on what type of readers it can attract.
      That said, when I have kids I would love to read it again with them, and maybe see it from a child's point of view.
    • 4/5
      This is a fun, adventurous, and exciting book written for ages 8-13 years. The four main characters, two boys and two girls, take a test to qualify for Mr. Benedict's "team" (the test section of the story is very funny and rather unusual!). At the time of the test, the children don't know what they are actually qualifying for, but as Mr. Benedict explains that the world is in danger and only children can save it, they are up for the challenge! Each child has his/her own special talents like being good at thinking and solving riddles/problems, or remembering everything they see/hear, etc. (but nothing magical or supernatural). So they each use their talent to help and, of course, you can guess how it ends! I really enjoyed this book and can see how children would like this adventurous thriller! It would also be fun to read with a child :)
    • 4/5
      I first came across this book when working on the children's library at our children's elementary school, a few years ago. Whew, this was a rather long book for this age group. It reminds me of the story in A Series of Unfortunate Events, not in the writing style, though. The sorry is based on farcical elements.i can handle that. I didn't find it terribly interesting. Two characters who play lead roles in the story could be perfectly portrayed by Steve Martin of this ever makes it to a streaming or cinematic platform. If he were playing those roles, I wpyld absolutely watch it.
    • 3/5
      Aimed at a middle-school audience, but enjoyable enough for their parents to read, too.
    • 4/5
      A great "tween" novel, well-written, clever, and a few surprises. A more "quiet" novel, it's story and characters are intriguing and there's still some action involved. Perfect for an established middle-school reader who isn't quite ready for Young Adult novels.
    • 4/5
      cute story
    • 5/5
      I have really been enjoying the exploration of my library's middle grade fiction section. For the most part, I just grabbed books from the shelves that had interesting covers. This led me to The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart with illustrations by Carson Ellis (I told you she'd be mentioned again). If you're looking for a contemporary adventure story mixed with science fiction then you've found the right book (and series). The reader follows 4 orphaned (or semi-orphaned as the case may be) kids as they are taken under the tutelage of Mr. Benedict, a narcoleptic genius intent on saving the world. These aren't your typical children either. They are all gifted in very distinct ways and their combined powers make a heckuva team and that's what Mr. Benedict is counting on to turn the tide in their favor. The kids are set a seemingly impossible mission and are beset with obstacles at every turn. And that is what makes this such a fun and exciting read. I'm being deliberately vague in regards to their gifts and the specific peril that they are fighting against as it would no doubt ruin the twists and turns of Stewart's narrative. Suffice it to say, this was a really enjoyable book and I fully intend to continue the series.
    • 5/5
      This is a wonderful book that I loved as an adult and would have cherished as a kid. This whole book had my mind reeling-- I was on the edge of my seat from the suspense. Also, I really enjoyed that each of the characters was quirky and cunning in their own way. I would love to read this book out loud to my class. This book contains a lot of underlying messages about education that could lead to greta discussions.
    • 2/5
      A quick summer read, fairly juvenile.
    • 3/5
      Quite enjoyable book, really cute, fast paced and no nonsense. Ended up getting a tattoo from the line "Schools and rules are tools for fools I don't give two mules for rules." really loved that bit. Worth a read, a quick read too.
    • 5/5
      The Mysterious Benedict Society challenges your imagination. It leads you on a journey with a group of children who think deeply and like to challenge their own abilities in various ways. They respond to an advertisement for gifted children and after being given some unexpected tests are engaged in a mission to save the world. There are many twists and turns in the story where I found myself trying to solve puzzles and enjoying unexpected events. There was a moment at the end of the book especially which completely surprised me!
    • 5/5
      It was EXCELLENT! I have to read the whole series now...

      Each character is an awesomely exaggerated caricature of a trait recognized in Gifted children: Contrariness/stubbornness, good with puzzles, good at remembering material we have read only once, very resourceful, etc. I think that may be the best young adult novel I have read since T.A. Barron's Lost Years of Merlin series. It definitely surpassed Harry Potter and Hunger Games, in my opinion. Of course, since I grew up in Gifted classes, I may be a bit biased.

      My favorite quote in the book is from pages 256-257:

      "I was wondering if you ever wish you had a family," Reynie sputtered. He hadn't meant to speak so directly, but once he'd begun to ask it, the words just tumbled out.

      Mr. Benedict nodded. "Certainly when I was your age I did. But not anymore."

      Reynie wasn't sure whether to be comforted or depressed by this revelation. He'd been wondering how it would feel for him to grow up without relatives. "You . . . you grew out of it, then? You stopped wanting it?"

      "Oh, no, Reynie, you don't grow out of it. It's just that once you acquire a family, you no longer need to wish for one."

      Reynie was caught off guard. "You have a family?"

      "Absolutely," Mr. Benedict replied. "You must remember, family is often born of blood, but it doesn't depend on blood. Nor is it exclusive of friendship. Family members can be your best friends, you know. And best friends, whether or not they are related to you, can be your family."

      Reynie had drunk up those words like life-saving medicine.
    • 4/5
      A society of gifted children. The mysterious Benedict Society, a group of kids on a mission. Reynie (Reynard), George (a.k.a "sticky"), Kate, and Constance, are all gifted kids working together to stop Mr.Curtain, Mr.Benedict's twin brother. The children complete a series of tests before being sent to the institute, Mr.Curtain's school. Which is where children are used to send messages so that Mr.Curtain can takeover and become falsely famous. While the children attend the school as spies they work their way up to the top and gain Mr.Curtain's trust. They learn about his device, the whisperer, which would record children's thoughts so Mr.Curtain could use them for his plan. They use morse code to keep in touch with Mr.Benedict while they complete their mission. With careful planning Mr.Benedict shuts off the whisperer and they get out of the institute. I gave this book a 4 out of 5 star rating. I gave it only 4 stars because, though it was a good book, it was long and the story took awhile to develop. Also, the book seemed never ending. Towards the end it seemed to drag on. The Mysterious Benedict Society was a great book, I would recommend it to anyone who likes long, mystery-like books. All in all it was a good read.
    • 4/5
      This story was quite long (clocking in at nearly 500 pages) but worth every moment it took to read!The story was jam packed with action and memorable characters, and I would like to be their friend in real life. The mystery and the story was wrapped up nicely at the end. By the end of the book, I couldn't believe it was over!I'm intrigued to read the second book, but at the same time I liked how this story ended and I sort of don't feel the need to read more...I don't know.I highly recommend this book, and happy reading!
    • 3/5
      A fun mystery, with a group of kids thrown together under unusual circumstances. Has an old-fashioned feel to it, and although the plot is tight, the pace is more relaxed than some. I mean this in a very positive way. Carson Ellis did a lovely job with the illustrations. The contrived names struck a false note with me, but overall it was an enjoyable book.
    • 3/5
      So Del Roy, who narrated has a great voice. And I enjoyed it. But he has this deep, elderly voice and sorry to say, didn't hold my attention. I also thought at times the story was slowed down by too much description and explanation. Lots of explanations. But overall it was an interesting read.
    • 3/5
      3.5 stars

      When I saw this book (a jacket-less but still brand new copy that was very very very cheap), I didn't hesitate to buy this. I just can't resist buying books, I always have to have books, and since I heard good reviews about this, I decided to read it.

      However, it took me a long time to like this book. 480 pages of this, and all the while I thought, Couldn't this book be trimmed down?. So many descriptive narrations, the simplistic writing, all were designed to be enjoyed by a bookworm child. Maybe. I don't exactly remember what I would have enjoyed and loved when I was 12 years old. But I read this in my adulthood, and I couldn't get past how long winded some chapters were. I've read many children's books this year (How to Eat Fried Worms, Holes, Hoot, among them), but these were short, and very enjoyable, despite their target audience being children.

      But still, there were enjoyable parts, like when the 4 of the main characters met each other, while taking Mr Benedict's curious entrance test, and when they were trying to figure out Mr Curtain's (the villain of the story) secret. The conflict in this book was far-fetched, but, hey, it's a children's book. Children love adventure. This book has it.

      The last few chapters were the redeeming quality for me. I just like my stories to end well, if not exactly happily. Not to say that this book has a sad ending. The 'final battle', as I like to call it, was entertaining, and neatly resolved. I uttered an oh.my.god. when i found out Milligan was actually Kate's missing father. Nice twist!

      So yeah, I give this books 3.5 stars, because I'm judging it as a children's book, and in that, it succeeds. But I didn't enjoy it as much as I wanted. :(
    • 4/5
      It's always a pleasure to have smart protagonists in a kids book, and this one doubles down. The adults are equally intelligent and compassionate. (It's especially interesting how Stewart makes it clear early on that there are many many ways to be smart, a point that's often overlooked.) I really hope we get a movie version of this someday. Plot aside, it's nice to read this just for the joy of spending time with the characters.
    • 4/5
      a solid, fun read. It's a chunkster, but has good plot pacing and is totally worth the read. Many children answer the ad found in the newspaper: "Are you a gifted child looking for special opportunities?", but only 4 orphans make it through several rounds of testing. They are Reynard Muldoon (the hero), George "Sticky" Washington (the smart one), Kate Weatherall (the prepared and resourceful one), and Constance Contraire (the stubborn one). They are selected by the mysterious Mr. Benedict to go on a secret mission to save the world. I thought this book was going to be like Harry Potter, but it's really much more like a Roald Dahl book. Grown-ups, with the exception of Mr. Benedict, are either stupid or evil and also stupid. Many of the names mean things, like "Nomansan Island" and the evil "Ledroptha Curtain". There are puns and hidden foreshadowing everywhere, for the kids who pay attention.SPOILERS!My only real issue with the book is that at the end, all of the orphans get families. That seems like an inferior ending versus having them realize that they don't need "real" families to be happy, secure, beloved kids.I enjoyed it a lot as a standalone novel, but I don't think I will be reading the sequels.
    • 4/5
      In A NutshellFun story with intelligent characters who hate T.V. and rage against the machine... Yep, I think this is exactly what I want my kids reading!The Whole EnchiladaI purchased The Mysterious Benedict Society because I liked the idea of a story for kids that was fun, filled with intelligent characters and had as part of the story some fun puzzles for the reader to solve right alongside the characters. Not only was I not disappointed, but The Mysterious Benedict Society exceeded my expectations. The book tells the story of Reynie, Sticky, Kate and Constance; all orphans who answer a mysterious ad in the paper looking for "a gifted child looking for special opportunities." These four end up as the only children out of all who answer the ad who are (for various and unusual reasons) qualified to help the mysterious Mr. Benedict with his secret mission that just might save the world. When they all agree to help Mr. Benedict they find themselves put in a situation that will force them to work as a team, face their fears, stand firm in the face of extreme peer pressure, and strain the very limits of even their very considerable intelligence. If this isn't enough to pique your interest, then let me assure you that the book also includes plenty of thrilling chases, hand-to-hand combat, and chilling super-villains. This is a good time for juvenile and Y/A literature, and although The Mysterious Benedict Society may not have the attraction of being set in a magical or mythical world, it does tell an exciting and well-written story which may be just as compelling--and important--because the dangers and challenges it contains are all too recognizable in the world we see around us every day. This book is a call-to-arms to all young readers who feel underestimated, overlooked, or pandered to.
    • 4/5
      This was a good book. Not a great book, but a good book, and one that I would be happy to pass along to my kids.The book is strongest where it shows how different personalities can approach the same task differently. It is weakest where it falls into the cartoon physics and silliness that also plagued "A Series of Unfortunate Events."I will be reading the sequels, and I only hope that the play to the strengths.
    • 4/5
      I enjoyed this book. Very cute. The tests the children have to take are rather interesting and its fun to see how they solve them. I think ill buy more of this series and see if they are just as good as this one.
    • 4/5
      I think I'm one of the few people I know who didn't love this to death. I thought the beginning with the contest was really intersting and different, with really well drawn characters. But then it just turns into another "kids save the world" book. Not that I have anything against "kids save the world" books. I have read lots of fabulous ones, this just isn't one of them.