The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Perilous Journey (Mysterious Benedict Society) | 
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Product Description
The fabulous foursome readers embraced as The Mysterious Benedict Society is back with a new mission, significantly closer to home. After reuniting for a celebratory scavenger hunt, Reynie, Kate, Sticky, and Constance are forced to go on an unexpected search--a search to find Mr. Benedict. It seems that while he was preparing the kids' adventure, he stepped right into a trap orchestrated by his evil twin Mr. Curtain.
With only one week to find a captured Mr. Benedict, the gifted foursome faces their greatest challenge of all--a challenge that will reinforce the reasons they were brought together in the first place and will require them to fight for the very namesake that united them.
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Customer Reviews:
• Another Wonderful Story To Read To Your Children 10 September, 2008
About 2 years ago Iread the original Mysterious Benedict Society to my sons and they enjoyed it. Now they are 9 and 10, and I think this sequel was an even better story to share with them. In the original book, there is a series of challenges, puzzles or tests that had to be solved by the protagonists. My boys really enjoyed trying to puzzle these out. After that it was something less of an audience participation mystery. In the Perilous Journey there are clues that Mr. Benedict has hidden for his proteges, that they have to solve if they are going to save him and Number 2 from the clutches of Ledroptha Curtain, Mr. Benedict's nefarious brother. These are spread evenly throughout the book, and with some good old fashioned puzzling and talking we were able to solve them all. My sons really loved this part because it made them feel like they could join the Mysterious Benedict Society themselves. Now I am impatiently awaiting a third installment (and Mr. Curtain's escape virtually assures of another sequel), and looking for other childre's books based on mysteries with clues a young reader can solve for themselves. The only qualm I have with this book at all is that in order to finally escape, Mr. Benedict had to badly trick SQ Pedalian, perhaps ruining his sense of trust, and we never did find out if he was rescued from the island (surely Mr. Benedict would have tried!) or was swept up into Mr. Curtain's circle again. Poor SQ! My sons really liked his bumbling friendliness. I hope Mr. Stewart is gentle with him in the next book.
- Reviewed by customer ID: A1P58UJ3B7ARFW
• Even Better Than The First 20 October, 2008
I enjoyed reading the Mysterious Benedict Society with my 10 year old daughter. We both found this book to be even better. It's full of suspense, humor, and adventure. This book is a bit more realistic than the first. It's a great introduction to suspense novels for children who aren't quite ready for a Harry Potter style book. However it is interesting and suspenseful enough to entertain more sophisticated readers, again pulling from each individual's unique talents. The 'ten men' are sinister, but nothing that should bother any but the most sensitive young ones. The character development is great, as is the descriptions of the many locations this book takes us. I'm hoping for a third book.
- Reviewed by customer ID: A10B9W1LL75UFB
• Nice, Refreshing Read 28 August, 2008
If you like a refreshing, relaxing read, a bit of whimsey, this might be what you'd want to pick up. Following the the footsteps of first Mysterious Benedict Society book, the youngsters set out on a journey across the ocean to try to solve a puzzle left for them by Mr.Benedict before his kidnapping by his evil twin.
- Reviewed by customer ID: A2UB85KCQ6ZZ4O
• Stereotypical But Entertaining 07 November, 2008
I read the first and second Benedict Society books as an assignment from a book club I belong to. They weren't my favorite among the "To Read" list, but they did provide for some entertainment.
I'll begin with the characters. Reynie and Constance were the only ones that were slightly original. I have the biggest problem with Kate. She was to an extreme the stereotypical "tomboy girl". Okay, so maybe her bucket was a little quirky and fun, but other than that, Kate's character was fore-head slapping unoriginal. Same thing for Sticky. Now I know the author was trying to point out all the characters different talents and how each of them contributed to the Society in their own way, and while I know there are many different talents and types of intelligences, there are very few people who are either "one way or the other" like these characters were. There are not very many people who only have one thing that they're good at or have only one type of intelligence (musical, verbal, physical, logical...) instead of a mix. This, among other things, made the characters feel flat.
My second complaint were the puzzles. These kids are supposed to be "talented", but I found myself figuring out the clues pages - and sometimes chapters - before the kids.
And finally, Constance. I found her even more annoying after she developed her special ability. If I were Reynie and she shouted "He's got it!" every time I figured something out, well, I can't imagine how incredibly irritating that would be.
Other than that, it was an entertaining and quirky read, though probably intended for a younger audience.
- Reviewed by customer ID: A2SA2O9KWHIPRB
• The Adventure Continues.... An Excellent Read For The Family!!! 14 August, 2008
This is the second book of an absolutely wonderful series that I have read aloud to my family. By reading aloud I have (perhaps inadvertantly) developed and created voices for all the different characters that have stayed with us long after we finished the book (which is quite a task!).
Reynie, Kate, Sticky, and Constance have a short period of time to find and save Mr. Benedict. They travel amazing distances in their adventure, and work together by relying on each of their own strengths. If you have not read the first book, I strongly suggest that you start there because it provides information you should know for this book (but is not necessarily required).
I really liked this book for the story and character development. My, how these kids have matured in their respective ways. In particular, I love how Constance grew (emotionally, of course) in this book and how her special talent is in process of being recognized. There is a wonderful tenderness and vulnerability about her in this book that picks up where the first book ended. As a parent, I found myself near tears when reading some of the lines dedicated to her. But it must be said that all the kids grew in this book. Kate, oh how we love Kate, for her athletic ability and I-can-do-this-despite-the-overwhelming-odds attitude. She shines. She makes us laugh. At the end of the book, she demonstrates great wisdom by making a choice that would be hard for any adult to make (or any modern viewer of action films, for that matter). She is simply amazing. My own daughter has taken to carrying her own version of Kate's bucket everywhere she goes. Really. Reynie, too, has a lot to learn in this book. His lessons are layered and multi-faceted. He is a very special person who wrestles with trust and meaning. That is quite a burden for such a guy. He wants to figure things out NOW! Sticky, on the other hand, was not as well developed in this book as the others were. However, that is not to say he didn't mature, he just was a little more smug after being a year away from their triumph at the institution. Sticky does show great fortitude at the end of this book, fully aware of what he beleives he has done to his friends.
There is a darker side to this book that I believe is necessary. The Ten Men are sinister and represent what is known AND what is unknown about the known. There is a very effective shadow that they cast in this book.
And what is to be said about Mr. Curtain? He has great plans, as always. Not good plans, mind you, but great plans for himself.
I was especially interested in S.Q. He is a likable fellow, who was a bit of comic relief in the first book, but has made some choices that he must now learn to live with. There is an especially poinient and painful moment in this book that surrounds him. I am very curious to see where this goes.
Which, as with any good series, is what these two books have developed into. I feel a bit like I did when the orginal Star Wars movies came out, especially after the second one which left us in limbo. I look forward to the next book in great anticipation at the very elusive Curtain and his schemes supported by his cast Ten Men and other agents. However, I also think these kids must save up their energy for whatever is coming next, and to let our own heart rates slow down a bit. Bravo. Well done! This is an excellent read, and should be on your bookshelves!
- Reviewed by customer ID: A7168XOAS22KJ
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