The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart

Plot: when an ad shows up in the paper asking "Are you a gifted child looking for special opportunities?", a young boy named Reynie decided to go see what it's all about. This decision results in a dangerous and top-secret adventure with three other children, in which the fate of the world is rested on their shoulders! Will they be able to unravel the secrets in time?

Comments: I loved this book! It's great for someone who can handle a lot of thinking and puzzles. This is an adventure novel, but it's not so much adventure as it is a cleverly written puzzle with a good deal of risk involved. Mind you, this is most certainly NOT an action novel. The characters in this book are very life-like, and I like the way they are described. I can imagine them easily, and the way they interact with each other--the way they support each other, fight all the time, etc.--is easy to relate to and recognize, so they feel familiar. I like how each person has a secret, and how there isn't a lot of information coming at you all at once. Everything is slowly given to you, bit by bit, your store of information building up, until you realize you have quite a good picture of what’s going on.

The plot was quite creative; I’ve never read anything like it. I like the rather formal, old-fashioned way the characters have of speaking, though occasionally a bit of slang slips through so you remember they aren’t adults. The story line is easy to follow and it written so well that it’s difficult to be confused. Except for in the parts where you are meant to be confused, of course.

Rating: I shall rate this book a seven and a half out of ten.