MMGM (11/21/2016) (plus giveaway): The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart (plus a giveaway of a signed copy of The Secret Keepers!)

For today's MMGM, I'm recommending The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart. (See the bottom of this post for a giveaway!)




Here's the publisher's description:

"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. 

I love this book! One of the best parts of this book is the plot. It is gripping, with many events and discoveries, some small, and some large. The book also has many funny moments, as well as several emotional ones. The villain's plan is complex and very evil. The villain is also interesting, but he does not seem to have been made with weaknesses specifically designed for the main characters. Speaking of the main characters, they have many different well-developed personalities, such as the main character, Reynie, a kind boy who has a balance between audacity and reason. It says a lot that as I am trying to write this review, I keep getting caught up in reading the book!

The author of The Mysterious Benedict Society, Trenton Lee Stewart, has recently released a new book called The Secret Keepers. I have a signed copy of this book that I am giving away. To enter, fill out the form below with your email address and a nickname (it does not need to be your real name, or any name, for that matter). If you win the contest, your nickname will be published on my blog. The contest will end at midnight (12:00 AM) on Tuesday, November 29. Please don't leave your email address in the comments. Please use the form below to enter. Again, you do not need to provide your real name on the form. Your email address will be used to contact you and ask for a shipping address to mail the book to. If you don't get a response from me after the deadline, be sure to check your spam inbox.



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Comments

  1. SydneyNovember 20, 2016 at 12:58 PM

    The Mysterious Benedict Society sounds interesting! I hadn't heard of it before, but I hope to be able to read it soon. Thanks for the recommendation!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Joanne RobertsNovember 21, 2016 at 7:36 AM

    I remember reading this book. No spoilers, but I remember being annoyed with one particular character but the weird twisted end-reveal about that character made me laugh out loud and I thought about the book for a long time after that too. When I recommended it to kids in my life I could only say, "just keep reading. You've GOT to read to the end." Thanks for the review and a trip down memory lane and the giveaway.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Patricia T.November 21, 2016 at 8:56 AM

    I love your enthusiasm for the Benedict Society! Great review. Will have to check it out.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Kim AippersbachNovember 21, 2016 at 1:18 PM

    I love this whole series. Such an intriguing premise, and great characters. I have a bit of a thing for geniuses—I think they're my favourite kind of main character!

    ReplyDelete
  5. AnonymousNovember 21, 2016 at 6:12 PM

    My kids loved this series! As someone commented before the genius angle is very appealing! Thanks for the great review!

    ReplyDelete

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