A book for
children that encourages real thought, "The Mysterious Benedict Society" is a novel in the same vein as the Lemony
Snicket series and the Chronicles of Narnia (by CS Lewis) books. This book in the first of what looks like a new, promising series.
The plot centers around four
children who, for some reason or another, are without families. They each answer a newspaper ad offering an opportunity for bright children, and are chosen by an eccentric visionary to become a team capable of thwarting a nefarious madman's plan to control the world. The plan can only be carried out by children, and only by very capable and independent children who are willing to work together.
The story is rich with ethical and moral implications, as the means of control is mass media (television, radio, and even cell phones). The children have to enroll in the madman's school in order to sabotage the plot from within, they must destroy the machine that will be used to brainwash the world.
The only way they are capable of accomplishing this is by their innate love of truth, and their disinterest in watching television (thus not being affected by the secret messages already being drilled into other children). Also, they must learn to trust each other and learn to really care about each other...they must build their own family.
The themes of the story are love, trust, family, and also truth, freedom, and the need to be aware of the messages that everyone is being inundated with. This book encourages children (and adults, as well) to be conscious of their surroundings, and also to appreciate their loved ones more. It is also rich in plot twists and adventure, and brings new twists to commonly used aspects of children's literature. It is also worth mentioning the great illustrations, done in watercolor and pen & ink, that head up every chapter. There is already at least one sequel to this book, and hopefully there will be many more to follow.