I've read the Mysterious Benedict Society (2007) and the sequel, The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Perilous Journey (2008). I see there is a third one coming soon: TMBS and the Prisoner's Dilemma. The MBS consists of four children -- Reynie Muldoon, Kate, Sticky, and Constance -- who are specifically selected by a stranger, Mr. Benedict, to foil a heinous plot by the sinister Mr. Curtain, who is planning to take over the world. Each child has special abilities -- Reynie is able to think through problems logically; Kate is physically fit and has a bucket full of contraptions that would make McGyver drool; Sticky can remember everything he ever read or heard (information sticks to him) and Constance -- well, Constance is good at being grumpy -- which helps to save the day in the end.Stewart does a great job with Reynie -- he is an orphan who really appreciates being part of this small, quirky family -- but as with all families sometimes you get a little tired of your siblings. Reynie is a very realistic character -- he displays a great ability to think things through, but he is also very conscious of his role of leader of the little group. I really like Kate, too -- she is the swashbuckling type who always has a way for getting out of trouble.
I think boys in particular would like this series, as the books move along at a great pace, there is a cliffhanger at the end of every chapter, and Reynie is a very likeable hero.
NY: Little, Brown and Company
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