The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Perilous Journey (The Mysterious Benedict Society, #2)

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The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Perilous Journey (The Mysterious Benedict Society #2)

by Trenton Lee Stewart (Goodreads Author), Diana Sudyka (Illustrator)

4.12 of 5 stars 4.12 · rating details · 13,782 ratings · 1,399 reviews

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 tr...more

Hardcover, 440 pages

Published May 1st 2008 by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers (first published January 1st 2008)

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Apr 16, 2008 Paul rated it 3 of 5 stars

A slow starter. When the author ties together a whole complete book, then he'll really have something, but the first book in this series was a strong starter and then trailed off, and this 2nd book is a slow starter and a poor (far too abrupt) finisher, but the middle section of the book really delivers.

I'd like to see more actual intelligence put down on the page as well. The four children are supposedly super intelligent, but Sticky's contributions are generally of the "he's super well read,...more

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Apr 02, 2011 Julie S. rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: read-in-2010, favorites, whimsical, nice-cover, series-i-like, smart-kids-and-teens, childrens-and-middle-grade, own-and-would-recommend, funny

I enjoyed the first book so much that I wanted to read this one shortly after. I was delighted to see more of the Mysterious Benedict Society since the story is so enjoyable, and the characters are so fun.

The illustrations that start each chapter are charming, and I loved the cover that tried to incorporate so many things from the book. The illustrator did a great job.

The author never talks down to his child audience. It is always a good sign when a children's author does not talk down to them....more

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Nov 28, 2011 Man Pik Chan rated it 4 of 5 stars

This book is above fair and I like it because there are lots of merits and some shortcoming that I don't like. I didn't read the first book of this series, but I didn't have too much trouble to reading it. However, I think that there are too many things that refer to the first book which I have some confusion to figure out and don't like it espeicailly with the assitants of Mr. Curtain which I couldn't regconize who is who. But this problem can resolve pretty soon, so I felt fine with it.

The...more This book is above fair and I like it because there are lots of merits and some shortcoming that I don't like. I didn't read the first book of this series, but I didn't have too much trouble to reading it. However, I think that there are too many things that refer to the first book which I have some confusion to figure out and don't like it espeicailly with the assitants of Mr. Curtain which I couldn't regconize who is who. But this problem can resolve pretty soon, so I felt fine with it.

The most amazing part that I really like about this book is the main characters because each of them has special talent and distinguished personality and I am dreaming to have those. The special memory that Sticky has, the logical sense that Reynie has, the physical agility that Kate has and the talents of poetry and pattern that Constance has are really amazing and I think my life will be so much easier with those talents. They also have strong personalities that make every scence rational to understand and capture my attention. The friendships and family affairs that books talk about of the differnent characters are really lovely, touched and inspire me and I feel better and hopeful after I finished this book.
I was captivated and entralled at the beginning with these four lovely characters, but I got boring on the middle of the book. The beginning and the climaxes of the book is really slow and it starts to get lots of unnecessary details and I got bored of these that I almost wanted to stop reading it. However, I didn't and I'm glad that I didn't stop it because the last part of the story which the emergence and danger of rescuing Mr. Benedict gets so excited and interesting that I really like. One of my favorite parts is the riddles that the book contain and I really like to play this game. Some are easy and some are hard and these take us to a different level of thinking. This book also has a happy ending which is what I prefer.

In conclusion, I recommend everyone to read it because there are amazing characters, excited and happy plots,little games, thoughtful thinking, remarkable action, lovely relationships and more, but you just have to be a little patient with the details and maybe read the first book of this series to have a more understanding of the book. (less)

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Mar 26, 2013 Ensiform rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: fiction

In this sequel to the first book, the children Reynie, Kate, Sticky, and Constance are meant to be reunited with their mentor Mr. Benedict, only to discover that he and his assistant Number Two have been kidnapped by his evil twin brother Mr. Curtain. Luckily, Mr. Benedict had previously planned a series of clues to his location, which is a key to the mysterious powerful plant known as duskwort, which, depending on whose hands it is in, can cure his narcolepsy or put a whole city to sleep.

I enjo...more

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Dec 11, 2012 Cleo rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: owned-books

In the second book of The Mysterious Benedict Society series, Mr. Benedict arranges a special surprise for the anniversary of the children's meeting, but is kidnapped along with Number Two by Mr. Curtain. And no one knows his location because it was supposed to be a surprise. So the children set off by themselves to try and locate Mr. Benedict and Number Two and rescue them. Unlike many series, I think the second book was just as good (though not any better) than the first one. And that holds tr...more

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Oct 10, 2012 Pranav Murali rated it 5 of 5 stars

Genre: Mystery
Length: 440
Author: Trenton Lee Stewart
Date started: September 7th
Date finished: October 2nd

Do have what it takes to come and join us? You may continue if you dare. If you dare.

Reynie Muldoon, Kate Wetherall, Sticky Washington, and Constance Contraire have been reunited. They have never been this happy since the last time they saw each other, which was over a year ago. They are all expecting a surprise from Mr. Benedict, the man who started this special secret agency, but at the re...more Genre: Mystery
Length: 440
Author: Trenton Lee Stewart
Date started: September 7th
Date finished: October 2nd

Do have what it takes to come and join us? You may continue if you dare. If you dare.

Reynie Muldoon, Kate Wetherall, Sticky Washington, and Constance Contraire have been reunited. They have never been this happy since the last time they saw each other, which was over a year ago. They are all expecting a surprise from Mr. Benedict, the man who started this special secret agency, but at the rendezvous point (The place they were supposed to meet Mr. Benedict) trouble pummels them like a blind-sided quarterback. Mr. Benedict has been kidnapped by no one other than the villain they faced a year ago. Mr. Curtain. Mr. Curtain has requested them to capture and send a medicine that will cure narcolepsy (A sleeping disorder) in just a matter of 4 days. Realizing that they don’t have a lot of time, the kids decide to go on a mission. A mission that would save the person who brought them together in the first place. Clues are found along the way, but do the 4 brave, persevered, and relentless kids have what it takes to track down Mr. Benedict?
My thoughts about the novel, The Mysterious Benedict Society And The Perilous Journey, was great. I thought that this book, unlike the first one, touched many people’s hearts. It gave me, and I am sure that it gave a whole lot of others the same feeling, happiness. It touched my heart. This book made me realize that friends and family are the most important things in one’s life. It made me feel proud that 4 kids, who thought they were nothing but abandoned kids at first, finally realized that they had a voice, and that they could make a difference. They did something not a lot of people would have done. They risked their lives just to save a friend’s. This novel is great and it touched my heart. I recommend it to everyone. Everyone. Overall, The Mysterious Benedict Society And The Perilous Journey, is a great, sensitive, heart touching. Action packed, and adventurous novel.
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Oct 04, 2012 Dakota rated it 5 of 5 stars

This book expresses the adventure that the four heroes experienced in the previous book. This page turner certainly had me on edge. As Reynie, Sticky, Constance, and Kate draw closer to the "rare plant" that Mr. Curtain is using Mr. Benedict for, they encounter new vigilantes who are out to get them. And who could forget about our favorite boneheads, Jackson and Jillson, they are certainly quite the pair. No one knows how this story is going to end, there are just too many surprises.
I loved t...more

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Sep 12, 2012 Andrea rated it 4 of 5 stars

The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Perilous Journey:
A Book Review by Andrea Feider

The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Perilous Journey is a wonderful story about children and their mentor, Mr. Benedict, who engage in many mysterious puzzles and exciting adventures. Through their activities to help Mr. Benedict, the children learn more about themselves, each other, and the world.
The four friends, Reynie, Sticky, Kate, and Constance, meet for a reunion after defeating the evil Mr. Cur...more

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Sep 07, 2012 Book Whales rated it 3 of 5 stars

Originally posted @ Book Whales

We arrive for the second part of the series. In this book they finally embark on a journey. This time they are not only situated within the confines of their town but travels across the sea, countries and islands.
My impression about the book is that the style somewhat change. The quirkiness that I really liked in the first book is a little bit lost in this part. Personality of the characters changed so much too. Only a 1 year timeskip happened and majority of them...more

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May 19, 2012 Cindy rated it 4 of 5 stars

I was more than ready to continue on a journey with the members of the Mysterious Benedict Society. In this 2nd installment, their individual talents and character traits are more clearly defined and used. Their kind and generous benefactor, Mr. Benedict, has arranged a surprise trip for the children to commemorate the anniversary of their successful first adventure. However, as the kids and their families gather at the Benedict house to prepare for the journey, they discover that Mr. B and one...more

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Apr 04, 2012 Spencer Brokaw rated it 4 of 5 stars

I recently started the second book in The Mysterious Benedict Society series, The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Perilous Journey. I loved the first book, and couldn't see a series being made out of it. I'm glad the author chose to write another. The second book in the series was much better than the first. The first got boring at times, and the ending was too obvious and "happy." The second book is filled with action, and never bores you. I was reluctant to start it, but finally did. The...more

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Mar 17, 2012 Amelia rated it 4 of 5 stars

Very good story .I liked how mr.benedict hid the clues. Kate's new bucket was cool!!! I really liked this book!!!! This book took place EVERYWHERE!!!!!!!!!!!

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Mar 06, 2012 IndyPL Kids Book Blog rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: adventure

It’s been several months since the Society (Reynie, Kate, Sticky & Constance) had their first adventure in The Mysterious Benedict Society, and frankly, they’re bored! Nothing is going on until they each get an invitation from Mr. Benedict for a surprise reunion. Excited to be together again, the children happily head to Mr. Benedict’s house. When they arrive, his house is surrounded by policeman - something terrible has happened! Mr. Benedict and Number 2 have disappeared. The first clue, a...more

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Nov 13, 2011 Vanessa rated it 4 of 5 stars

I did not like this as much as the previous book.
And honestly? I felt quite dreary.

The interesting section came rather slowly, I felt. And when it came, it was far too long into the book. I mean I appreciate Trenton Lee Stewart's attention to details, but sometimes, it drags the story down, rather than propel it forward. The book would have fared better at half its size.

The climax was also a problem. I wanted to feel more excitement, but it seems that the most I'll get is from Milligan, apart...more

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Aug 02, 2011 Alin A rated it 4 of 5 stars

Untuk merayakan satu tahun pertemuan mereka, para persekutuan misterius Bennedict mengadakan acara di kediaman Mr. Nicholas Bennedict bersama dengan keluarga-keluarga mereka. Renny Muldoon dengan keluarga Perumal, Sticky dan kedua orang tuanya, Kate dan ayahnya mata-matanya yang bernama Milligan, serta Constance sebagai gadis cilik yang selama setahun belakangan hidup di kediaman Mr. Bennedict. Bagi para anggota persekutuan tersebut, petualangan mereka demi menghentikan niat jahat Mr. Curtain te...more

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Apr 01, 2011 Ciara rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: kids-books, read-in-2011

i don't know. i wasn't that into the first book in the series, which is why i waited ten months before seeking out the second book. i only picked this up because i am running low on books i want to read at my local library. i'm finally hitting the wall where they are starting to not have the books i request more than 50% of the time. so i was like, "i guess i'll see what happens next for the mysterious benedict society."

this book takes place one year after the previous book wraps up. the childr...more i don't know. i wasn't that into the first book in the series, which is why i waited ten months before seeking out the second book. i only picked this up because i am running low on books i want to read at my local library. i'm finally hitting the wall where they are starting to not have the books i request more than 50% of the time. so i was like, "i guess i'll see what happens next for the mysterious benedict society."

this book takes place one year after the previous book wraps up. the children are looking forward to a reunion, & are told that mr. benedict has arranged a surprise for them. he has created a worldwide scavenger hunt which draws on their unique abilities. they have to follow the clues, which will lead them to a rendezvous with mr. benedict & number two. but before the children can set off, rhonda receives word that mr. benedict & number two have been abducted by mr. curtain. he is holding them for a ransom of information on a mysterious plant mr. benedict has been researching. but as mr. benedict hasn't told anyone exactly where he's going, let alone anything about the plant in question. the kids decide it's up to them, so they sneak off & start following the scavenger hunt clues.

however, mr. curtain seems to expect someone to send out some kind of rescue mission, so he has henchmen patrolling the areas that mr. benedict visited while planting the clues. the bad guys catch up with the kids & only the timely arrival of milligan (who suspected the kids would start trailing the scavenger hunt kids) saves them. the kids & milligan follow the trail to an abandoned island off the coast of scotland & learn about the plant, which could be used to cure narcolepsy (something from which both mr. benedict & mr. curtain suffer--of course, mr. curtain wants to use it to control the world). hijinks ensue, constance's well-developed powers of intuition (verging on psychic ability) come into play, battles are waged, & because this is a kids' book, there's a relatively happy ending with a certain amount of moralizing (specifically, untrustworthiness is more apparent & therefore seems more prevalent than trustworthiness, but don't let that color your perception of humanity).

i don't know. once again, the characters seemed pretty wooden & one-dimensional. the author tried to complicate sticky's character a bit by having him morph into a bit of a show-off, & at one point, he lets down his friends in a pretty significant way. i guess it was interesting to see one of the kids so catastrophically fail when the stakes are so high, but it's not like i thought for a minute that they wouldn't get out of their bad situation somehow. there are many deus ex machinas, & many of the "puzzles" that the reader is ostensibly supposed to solve along with the characters are far too opaque. the narrative does not provide enough information for readers to anticipate the next plot twist. mr. curtain continues to seem like a disappointing villain--a bizarre combination of count olaf from the "series of unfortunate events" books & lord voldemort, but with far less personality or derring-do than either one. one bad guy that menaces the children at one point is described as tall & thin with pale, long-fingered spiderlike hands. that's a description lifted wholesale from the "harry potter" series, which was very disappointing. several of the "quirky" new adult characters seemed like lemony snicket factory seconds. i guess it's just difficult for me to get too excited about a children's series that adopts so many of the tropes of more popular, better-written children's serieses. (less)

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Aug 17, 2010 Jane Meyer added it

Shelves: middlegrade

I won't rate this book because too many things were odd while listening to it...
First of all, I thought I had picked up the audio tape of the first book of the series, when in fact, I learned quite a ways into it that this book is the second...

Secondly, the narrator's style was odd. Though his voice is deep and rich, when he reads his inflection turns up near the end of most sentences, creating a bit of a question mark that threads most of the phrases. I got used to this style, but there were ot...more

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Feb 10, 2010 Chris rated it 3 of 5 stars

I think I liked this one better than the last--but not by much. Stewart keeps things moving along at a much better clip in this one. However, there is still much "fluff" that was both unnecessary to the plot and/or characterization. That being said, the characters were deepened a bit in this one, not all of them, but I think he did a wonderful job with Constance, exploring her personality much more.

Like Snicket's books, I can't help but feel like Stewart backs away from some deeper concerns/them...more

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Jan 23, 2010 Uci rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: buntelan-penerbit

Penggemar seri petualangan anak-anak/remaja tentu tidak pernah lupa dengan Lima Sekawan, Trio Detektif, STOP atau Pasukan Mau Tahu. Kehebatan mereka membongkar kejahatan kerap membuat saya (yang ketika itu masih anak-anak) terkagum-kagum. Bagaimana dengan segala keterbatasan yang mereka miliki (sebagai anak-anak yang sering diremehkan), mereka berhasil mengungguli pihak berwajib dalam mengendus keberadaan para penjahat.

Seiring perkembangan zaman, para penjahat tentunya semakin canggih dan semaki...more Penggemar seri petualangan anak-anak/remaja tentu tidak pernah lupa dengan Lima Sekawan, Trio Detektif, STOP atau Pasukan Mau Tahu. Kehebatan mereka membongkar kejahatan kerap membuat saya (yang ketika itu masih anak-anak) terkagum-kagum. Bagaimana dengan segala keterbatasan yang mereka miliki (sebagai anak-anak yang sering diremehkan), mereka berhasil mengungguli pihak berwajib dalam mengendus keberadaan para penjahat.

Seiring perkembangan zaman, para penjahat tentunya semakin canggih dan semakin sadis. Tak heran jika buku-buku petualangan yang muncul saat ini juga menghadirkan anak-anak yang semakin cerdas dan kuat, bahkan unik. Ancaman dan bahaya yang mereka hadapi hitungannya bukan hari demi hari lagi, tapi jam demi jam bahkan menit demi menit. Tak terbayang jika di sela-sela mengejar penjahat kejam yang cuma memberi waktu sekian hari untuk menyelamatkan seseorang, anak-anak itu masih sempat bersantai di padang rumput sambil minum limun dan makan roti jahe (Jangan salah, saya masih cinta Lima Sekawan dengan piknik-piknik sedapnya!).

Jenis petualangan seperti itulah yang kembali harus dihadapi oleh empat anggota Persekutuan Misterius Benedict. Belum kenal siapa mereka? Baiklah saya perkenalkan lagi. Sticky, bocah penggugup yang ingatannya luar biasa (disebut sticky karena semua yang dia baca langsung menempel di otak); Constance, si jenius berusia tiga tahun yang sering ngambek dan tersinggung (namanya juga anak kecil); Kate, anak perempuan lincah yang paling bisa diandalkan dalam olah fisik dan kecekatan tangan; serta Reynie, bocah cerdas yang paling kalem dan kerap menjadi tumpuan teman-temannya saat menemui jalan buntu.

Dengan perpaduan unik seperti itu, mereka direkrut oleh Mr. Benedict untuk menggagalkan rencana jahat saudara kembarnya, Mr. Curtain, yang ingin menguasai dunia. Jika di buku pertama mereka baru berkenalan, di buku kedua ini mereka diceritakan akan mengadakan reuni, tepat setahun setelah pertemuan mereka.

Sayangnya, rencana reuni yang ditunggu-tunggu itu rusak berantakan karena Mr. Benedict dan Nomor Dua (salah satu asistennya), menghilang. Yang tersisa hanyalah petunjuk dari Mr. Benedict, yang sedianya harus dipecahkan oleh anak-anak itu, sebagai bagian dari rencana reuni.

Melihat situasi yang tidak kondusif, para orang tua tentu tidak mau anak-anak mereka pergi dan mengikuti petunjuk yang ditinggalkan Mr. Benedict. Di sini, penulis Trenton Lee Stewart lagi-lagi menegaskan ide awalnya saat membuat serial Benedict Society, bahwa anak-anak bukanlah makhluk yang bisa diremehkan. Keempat sahabat itu tetap nekat pergi tanpa membawa uang dan perbekalan sama sekali, guna menyelamatkan Mr. Benedict yang sangat mereka sayangi.

Terbukti, kecerdasan dan ketangguhan keempat anak tersebut berhasil membawa mereka dari kota kecil Stonetown ke negara-negara lain di seberang samudera. Mencari keberadaan Mr. Benedict sekaligus menghindar dari kejaran Mr. Curtain dan anak buahnya. Ya, seperti beberapa buku petualangan lain yang beredar saat ini, di buku kedua biasanya para tokoh dibuat meninggalkan negara asal dan menjelajahi negara asing. Jadi lebih berwarna, tentu saja.

Seperti di buku pertama, yang paling saya sukai dari kisah petualangan ini adalah bagian saat mereka harus memecahkan berbagai teka-teki untuk mengetahui langkah yang harus mereka ambil selanjutnya. Namun, hubungan batin di antara keempat anak tampaknya semakin kompleks dan mungkin agak membingungkan bagi para pembaca muda yang terbiasa menemui tokoh-tokoh tanpa pergolakan batin dalam buku yang mereka baca.

Trenton Lee Stewart rupanya memang tidak ragu untuk mengajak pembaca mudanya berpikir, dan tidak ragu pula menuliskannya dalam uraian yang cukup tebal untuk ukuran buku remaja/anak-anak. Stewart juga berkali-kali menggambarkan bahwa orang dewasa tidak selalu benar :) Mungkin itu sebabnya buku ini berhasil meraih beberapa penghargaan penulisan, termasuk 2008 E.B. White Read Aloud Award for Older Readers.

Tanpa mengecilkan tokoh lainnya, di buku ini saya semakin terpikat pada sosok Kate. Gadis berani yang selalu membawa-bawa ember berisi beraneka perkakas ini menunjukkan bahwa keberanian dan tekad kuat selalu bisa menjadi penyelamat. Dia juga ceria dan tidak mudah berkecil hati saat menghadapi masalah. Jadi ingin tahu, kira-kira bagaimana penulis akan mengembangkan karakter keempat anak ini di buku selanjutnya, karena mereka pastinya akan semakin dewasa.

Satu lagi, ilustrasi dan desain kovernya sungguh 'menggemaskan.' Salut untuk Matahati yang berani mengubah ilustrasi asli.
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Dec 14, 2009 swalterich rated it 2 of 5 stars

I was very excited to begin The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Perilous Journey as I am a big fan of its prequel. The first Mysterious Benedict Society was quirky and exciting, and had actual surprises, which, I find, few books do. This one, however, was a disappointment from the start, and I found the task of actually reading all 440 pages of it (which I did) a rather daunting task. Gone was the mystery and suspense that made the first book such a page turner and I realized that much of th...more I was very excited to begin The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Perilous Journey as I am a big fan of its prequel. The first Mysterious Benedict Society was quirky and exciting, and had actual surprises, which, I find, few books do. This one, however, was a disappointment from the start, and I found the task of actually reading all 440 pages of it (which I did) a rather daunting task. Gone was the mystery and suspense that made the first book such a page turner and I realized that much of the previous book's success was due to the character-building. With the characters already established, all that is left is the plot itself, and even that has become water-downed and weakened in this version. This second installment picks up where the last left off--making reading of the first a prerequisite--and the four children are ready to embark on a new adventure. The quirkiness of the first story continues here, but most of this plot is too far-fetched to be very believable. The children embark on a world-wide scavenger hunt to find their beloved Mr. Benedict. What was supposed to be a vacation for the children (with supervising adults) has turned into a rescue mission as Mr. Benedict has been kidnapped by his evil twin. Much of what happens to the children is itself far removed from reality, as they are chased all over the world by evil “Ten Men” so named for the ten available weapons they always have at their disposal. The specter of danger, however, though always present, never seems possible, and the children are always saved at the nick of time. The dastardly plan of the evil twin, itself the crux of the plot, makes little sense at close inspection and undermines the story itself. Even the characterization is weak in this story as Sticky, one of the four children, seems to disappear from the story entirely. Even in the “about the author' section,, Stewart names traits of Reynie, Constance and Kate that are admirable and makes no mention of Sticky at all. Unlike the first story, this one has neither the energy or ingenuity to make it a worthy companion. I was very disappointed by this second attempt as I was thrilled with the first. It was difficult to make my way through the plodding text, and even my respect for the first Mysterious Benedict Society, will not lead me to attempt the third. And if I am not willing to take on the 400+ pages, I am not sure there will be many children who will.(less)

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Oct 28, 2009 Shawne rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: fiction

I suspect Trenton Lee Stewart must have known that he was on to a good thing with his Benedict Society series - especially as the first was so very much the kind of book that would delight and mystify young children, while also not boring the adults who would have to read these books out loud until presumably their progeny fell into a dream-like stupor. With Perilous Journey, he takes the universe and characters first explored in the first book and expands their horizons, moving the story and th...more

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Mar 22, 2010 Kristin rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2010

Trenton Lee Stewart did it again! The second adventure of The Mysterious Benedict Society is just as clever and fun as the first! In fact, I would say I enjoyed the adventure a bit more, especially since I had a better understanding of Nicholas Benedict and his clever clues.

This adventure starts off as a reunion of sorts for the four child prodigies: Reynie, Sticky, Kate and Constance. However, what had originally been intended on a vacation with a challenging twist, turned into a life-saving mi...more

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Jun 22, 2009 Hannah rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Liesl, anyone who enjoyed the first book in the series

Shelves: kid-lit

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Good. I liked it as well as the first, I think. There was some really great character development, too. Mostly of Reynie, because we're in his head most often, but all the children had to deal with some flaw in themselves and come out on top. Reynie deals with mistrust, Sticky with pride (and the shame that comes ofter the fall), Constance - well Constance is only 3. She matures a bit in this story, and develops an awesome talent/gift, but is for the most part still her cranky rhyming self in th...more Good. I liked it as well as the first, I think. There was some really great character development, too. Mostly of Reynie, because we're in his head most often, but all the children had to deal with some flaw in themselves and come out on top. Reynie deals with mistrust, Sticky with pride (and the shame that comes ofter the fall), Constance - well Constance is only 3. She matures a bit in this story, and develops an awesome talent/gift, but is for the most part still her cranky rhyming self in the end. :)

But my absolute favorite part (which comes in the penultimate chapter and therefore is mildly spoiler-ish) happens in Kate's head:

"The men in the Salamander, powerless to do anything else, bent down and shielded their heads with their arms. They were sitting ducks. This would be the easiest thing in the world...

Except that Milligan was right.

Kate was not like Mr. Curtain and his nasty associates. Not at all. Back on that rooftop in Thernbaakagen Milligan had told her as much, and she saw now what he meant. Seeing those men there, helpless to stop her from doing what they themselves would never hesitate to do, Kate realized - with a certain degree of disappointment but also with a degree of pride - that she could never do it, could never do something that would make her more like her enemy and less like her father."

Kate's struggle with the temptation to avenge herself and her friends ends with her choosing mercy. I guess it stuck out at me because it is a very Christian concept - that of not repaying evil for evil. The ideas of revenge, vigilante justice, and that we have a right to try to hurt those who have hurt us is applauded in so many stories these days. Good to see a character who chooses not to be overcome by the evil around her, who lets fact not feeling determine her actions. Kate saw the choice she had and the consequences - revenge may feel right at that moment, but ultimately it takes you further away from Whose image you want to become. Romans 12:21

(Now I realize that this is not a perfect analogy and may be far from what the author intended, but it is what stuck out to me at the time. I can't help myself. I see that God guy EVERY WHERE! :P )

So. Final grade: A/G. I will recommend this one and I look forward to the next in the series.(less)

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Oct 02, 2012 Jennifer Mobley rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: young-adult-fiction

I had to read the second installment in this series of three. A fun adventure-mystery plot is enhanced by the development of characters introduced in the first book. Each of the four children in the society deal with their own inner conflicts based on their personalities and stages in child development. As a teacher, I appreciated the way these inner struggles were differentiated and expressed, creating opportunity for discussion with kids who read this book. Larger themes of right and wrong, co...more

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Aug 29, 2011 Danielle rated it 2 of 5 stars

the story has a very interesting and creative plot and after i finished reading it, i couldn't help but smile. first because the story stuck to my head and second because finishing it is quite a hard task, i wouldn't say i "couldn't put the book down" because i put it down too many times as reading it is much too exhausting. the writing style just isn't the type to draw me into its story.

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Jan 06, 2009 Sara rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: middle-grade, 2009, sci-fi-fantasy

4.5 stars. I think I enjoyed the first book in this series more, but this sequel was still quite an entertaining read. In it, the four members of "The Mysterious Benedict Society" - Reynie, Sticky, Kate, and Constance - are reunited and set off for an adventure, trying to rescue their mentor, Mr. Benedict, from certain danger. They travel across the ocean, all the way to Europe (and around Europe quite a bit), and solve puzzles and dodge bad guys along the way. Lots of characters from the first...more

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Nov 01, 2012 elaynne rated it 3 of 5 stars

Downloaded from Audible.com
Narrated by Del Roy

Reynie, Stickie, Kate and Constance are all reunited a year after their first adventure. Mr. Benedict and No. 2 are MISSING after arranging an exciting scavenger-type trip for the 4 friends. Using the hints he left behind, the children all sneak away from their parents to look for Mr. Benedict and No. 2 on their own.

If I was 10-12 years old, I probably would have LOVED this book (as well as the previous one.) It was full of improbabilities and misadv...more

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Jun 24, 2012 Garylikesmanga rated it 5 of 5 stars

To put it simply, what I enjoy about the Mysterious Benedict Society series is the sense of adventure. When puzzles are incorporated, that's fun, too, but that's never been a main focus of the series, despite the genius children as protagonists (and whatever Constance is). I preferred the sequel, 'the Perilous Journey' to the original, due to the grander scale of the adventure. I had trouble really getting into the first story's mission, while the getting to that point was more enjoyable. In thi...more

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Feb 11, 2012 Stephanie rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: childrens, my-library, mystery-suspense-read, series

My Summary: It's been a year since the Mysterious Benedict Society discovered the evil Mr. Curtain's plans to take over the world and foiled any chances he had of doing so. Reynie, Sticky, Constance and Kate haven't seen each other in almost six months but have kept in touch. After each receives an invitation from Mr. Benedict and a cryptic description of some sort of adventure, the group reunites at Mr. Benedict's home... only to find that he and Number Two have been kidnapped by none other tha...more

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Nov 14, 2011 Daniel rated it 5 of 5 stars

Time 2:30
18%
The mysterious benedict society and the perilous journey

Reynie was walking to Kate’s farm. Reynie got to Kate’s Farm and he greeted Kate. Kate showed all the improvements she made to her bucket. Kate introduced Reynie to Madge that is her eagle. Kate introduced Moocho Brazos to Reynie. Sticky got to Kate’s farm with his family and in front of them came Miss Perumal and her mother. When they went to Mr. Benedict’s house a telegram came and Moocho Brazos read it. The Telegram said tha...more

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About Trenton Lee Stewart

Trenton Lee Stewart is the author of the award-winning, bestselling Mysterious Benedict Society series for young readers, as well the adult novel Flood Summer. He lives with his family in Little Rock, Arkansas.

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Books by Trenton Lee Stewart

The Mysterious Benedict Society (The Mysterious Benedict Society, #1)

The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Prisoner's Dilemma (The Mysterious Benedict Society, #3)

The Extraordinary Education of Nicholas Benedict (The Mysterious Benedict Society, #0.5)

The Mysterious Benedict Society Collection (The Mysterious Benedict Society, #1-3)

The Mysterious Benedict Society: Mr. Benedict's Book of Perplexing Puzzles, Elusive Enigmas, and Curious Conundrums

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“May your adventures bring you closer together, even as they take you far away from home.” — 119 people liked it

“Did the men steal the papers?" Reynie asked, fearing her response.
No, because they are fools," Sophie said bitterly. "They demanded to see the papers, and when I did not answer fast enough -- they were very frightening, you see -- they hurt me so that I was not awake. . . . When I opened my eyes they were still trying to find the papers. They did not understand how we organize the library, you see. They were angry and creating a bad mess. . . . The police were coming and the men decided they must leave. I shouted at them as they left: 'It is a free and public library! All you had to do was ask!” — 37 people liked it

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The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Perilous Journey (The Mysterious Benedict Society #2)

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