A supporting cast of equally well-developed adult characters gives the story all the more oomph, as it were. While never displacing or overshadowing the children, each big person’s story is brought to life, and light, with enthusiasm.
The sequel, The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Perilous Journey, is just as fun, calculating, and adventurous - more so for those who readily identified with one of the characters from the first book. (I didn’t so much identify with any one child character personally as I did see my own daughter in one them. This pulled me into the story maternally, and upon finding out more about that character at the end of the first book, I felt fiercely attached to that character well into the second book.)
Those children who have had to relocate around the globe with their parent(s) might especially delight in the travels of The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Perilous Journey.
Trenton Lee Stewart’s work has been compared to that of Roald Dahl and others, but I didn’t find TMBS dark or creepy at all – something I definitely felt upon reading Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and James and the Giant Peach. I take issue with other comparisons as well. While I enjoyed the Harry Potter series and was especially taken with the language style of A Series of Unfortunate Events (and recommend both), I found Stewart’s work a much smoother read than J.K. Rowling’s, and an easier page-turner than Lemony Snicket’s.
I love a story that has me forgetting clocks exist. Of all the juvenile fiction I’ve read, Stewart’s is the only one that kept me up all night reading.
Any adult fan of chess who ventures into The Mysterious Benedict Society might consider brushing up on the rules of the game first.
Article comments
1 - Michael Sandler
Hi Diana,
Thank you for this wonderful review. How old is your ADHD daughter? I only ask because, though it may not be up your alley, I have an ADHD book I'd be happy to send you for review. It's College Confidence with ADHD...written for students in their pre-college and college years.
If you're interested, let me know, and keep up the fun reviews!
~Michael Sandler
2 - Michael Sandler
Hi Diana,
Thank you for this wonderful review. How old is your ADHD daughter? I only ask because, though it may not be up your alley, I have an ADHD book I'd be happy to send you for review. It's College Confidence with ADHD...written for students in their pre-college and college years.
If you're interested, let me know, and keep up the fun reviews!
~Michael Sandler
P.S. Keep up the great work with your daughter, and NEVER believe what they tell you about how much she can or can't achieve. They don't mean to, but they lie. She can achieve anything she wants in life...perhaps even better than those without ADHD...because SHE has a hyper-creative mind. And that's a great thing!!!!!
3 - Diana Hartman
Dear Michael,
Thank you very much! Feel free to contact me about taking receipt of a copy of your book for review here on Blogcritics. You can contact me by clicking on my name as it appears on the front page of the Culture section next to "Culture Editor."
Sincerely, Diana