The Mysterious Benedict Society

{{Main|The Mysterious Benedict Society (book)}}

Four young children, who are each gifted in different areas, are bound by a common factor: they are either orphans or unwanted by their parents. The children become involved with the strange Nicholas Benedict and his guild of assistants who are trying to stop Benedict's twin, Ledroptha Curtain, from taking over the world via brainwashing. The children must enroll in Curtain’s school to be able to defeat him and his minions -the Ten Men- from the inside. During this perilous adventure, these four friends must learn to rely on one another, and think further outside the box than they ever have before.

{{Main|The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Perilous Journey}}

{{Main|The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Prisoner's Dilemma}}

{{Main|The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Riddle of Ages}}

A companion book featuring a collection of puzzles and riddles.

{{Main|The Extraordinary Education of Nicholas Benedict}}

• Reynie Muldoon is the main character of the series; an average-looking but logical boy who is a natural leader of his friend group. The core four texts follow Reynie closely. Reynie is an orphan; Ms. Perumal serves as his teacher and tutor during his time in the orphanage, and later adopts him as her son. Mystic Inscho portrays Reynie in the television series adaptation.
• George Washington is an extraordinarily smart boy with eidetic memory, meaning he can remember everything he sets his eyes on. Because of this, he is called "Sticky". Seth Carr portrays Sticky in the television series adaptation.
• Kate Wetherall is an athletic and adventurous girl who never goes anywhere without her red bucket of tools, which she uses quite often. She is also able to determine any distance of any room. Emmy De Oliveira portrays Kate in the television series adaptation.
• Constance Contraire is a young girl who is incredibly stubborn and can read people's minds and (later) send mental messages to people. Marta Kessler portrays Constance in the television series adaptation.

{{main|The Mysterious Benedict Society (TV series)}}

Written by Matt Manfredi and Phil Hay, with Tony Hale cast as Mister Benedict and Mister Curtain,{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2020/02/tony-hale-cast-star-the-mysterious-benedict-society-hulu-series-based-on-ya-novel-mr-benedict-curtain-1202868480/|title=Tony Hale To Star In 'The Mysterious Benedict Society' Hulu Series Based On YA Novel|first=Nellie|last=Andreeva|date=February 26, 2020|access-date=April 18, 2020|website=Deadline}} the series aired on Disney+ and Disney Channel,{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2020/11/the-mysterious-benedict-society-moveing-hulu-to-disney-plus-1234615445/|title='The Mysterious Benedict Society' Moves From Hulu to Disney+ Ahead Of 2021 Premiere|first=Peter|last=White|date=November 13, 2020|access-date=November 13, 2020|website=Deadline}} with the first of eight episodes premiering June 25, 2021.{{Cite web|last=Pedersen|first=Erik|date=February 24, 2021|title=Disney+ Sets Premiere Dates, First Images For 'Turner & Hooch', 'Mysterious Benedict Society', 'Chip 'N' Dale: Park Life' & 'High School Musical: The Series'|url=https://deadline.com/2021/02/disney-plus-premiere-dates-turner-and-hooch-mysterious-benedict-society-high-school-musical-the-musical-series-chip-n-dale-park-life-1234699824/|access-date=February 24, 2021|website=Deadline|language=en-US}} Additional cast members include Kristen Schaal as Number Two, MaameYaa Boafo as Rhonda Kazembe, Ryan Hurst as Milligan, Gia Sandhu as Ms. Perumal, Mystic Inscho as Reynie Muldoon, Seth Carr as Sticky Washington, Emmy DeOliveira as Kate Wetherall, and Marta Kessler as Constance Contraire.{{cite web|last1=Petski|first1=Denise|date=April 23, 2020|title='The Mysterious Benedict Society': Hulu Drama Rounds Out Cast With Eight Series Regulars|url=https://deadline.com/2020/04/the-mysterious-benedict-society-cast-hulu-drama-kristen-schaal-series-regulars-1202914536/|access-date=November 23, 2020|publisher=Deadline Hollywood}} The series creators have suggested any subsequent season would mix elements from multiple novels, rather than adapt each book as its own season.{{Cite web|title='Mysterious Benedict Society' Creators Say Future Seasons May Not Follow the Books|url=https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/mysterious-benedict-society-showrunners-future-195206407.html|access-date=July 28, 2021|website=www.yahoo.com|date=July 2021 |language=en-US}}

The series has sold over three million copies.{{Cite web|date=April 11, 2019|title=The Mysterious Benedict Society is back!|url=https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/landing-page/the-mysterious-benedict-society-is-back/|access-date=June 22, 2021|website=Hachette Book Group|language=en-US}} Many critics praised the enigmatic plot and puzzles included in the storyline of The Mysterious Benedict Society; journalist Michele Norris, writing for NPR, said, "Almost everything inside this book is an enigma."{{Cite web|last=Norris|first=Michele|date=February 29, 2012|title=March Book Pick: 'The Mysterious Benedict Society'|url=https://www.npr.org/2012/02/28/147601656/march-book-pick-the-mysterious-benedict-society|access-date=August 15, 2020|website=NPR|language=en}} Additionally, the ethical decisions and moral lessons contained within the book were praised. Kirkus Reviews said that the book was "rich in moral and ethical issues."{{Cite book|url=https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/trenton-lee-stewart/the-mysterious-benedict-society/|title=THE MYSTERIOUS BENEDICT SOCIETY by Trenton Lee Stewart, Carson Ellis|publisher=Kirkus Reviews|language=en-us}} In a starred review for The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Perilous Jounrey, School Library Journal described the book as "not just a rip-roaring adventure ... but also a warm and satisfying tale about friendship."{{cite web|date=April 30, 2008|title=The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Perilous Journey by Trenton Lee Stewart|url=http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/article/CA6555446.html|publisher=School Library Journal|accessdate=June 17, 2008}} Kirkus Reviews was less positive, saying that the book "may wear down less patient readers", citing the prose and needless elaborations in several areas.{{cite web|date=April 15, 2008|title=Editorial Reviews, as archived on BarnesAndNoble.com|url=http://search.barnesandnoble.com/The-Mysterious-Benedict-Society-and-the-Perilous-Journey/Trenton-Lee-Stewart/e/9780316057806|publisher=Kirkus Reviews|accessdate=June 17, 2008}} Horn Book Magazine disagreed, saying that "Stewart keeps interest high throughout".{{cite web|date=May 1, 2008|title=Trenton Lee Stewart: The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Perilous Journey.|url=http://www.accessmylibrary.com/coms2/summary_0286-34520927_ITM|publisher=Horn Book Magazine|accessdate=June 17, 2008}} They especially praised the "first-rate brainteasers", with School Library Journal also commenting that it had "plenty of clever twists".

For The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Prisoner's Dilemma, Booklist stated "Displaying much of the charm of the first book, this would make a fitting end to the series, but the Society's legion of fans probably wouldn't say no to more."{{cite web|title=The mysterious Benedict Society and the prisoner's dilemma|url=https://www.buffalolib.org/vufind/Record/1769377/Reviews|website=www.buffalolib.org|publisher=Buffalo and Erie County Public Library|accessdate=January 2, 2016}} while the School Library Journal wrote "the story lacks the facile agility of its predecessors. On the other hand, the opening gambit is fresh and frightfully funny ... If this is the last Society installment, readers had better, as Reynie says, 'acquire a taste for the bittersweet.'" Kirkus Reviews called the book The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Riddle of Ages "Clever as ever—if slow off the mark—and positively laden with tics, quirks, and puns."{{Cite web |date=April 28, 2019 |title=The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Riddle of Ages |url=https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/trenton-lee-stewart/mysterious-benedict-society-and-the-riddle-of-/ |access-date=August 17, 2020 |website=Kirkus Reviews}} The American Booksellers Association named Riddle of Ages one of their ABC Best Books for Young Readers in 2019.{{Cite web |last=Button |first=Liz |date=September 4, 2019 |title=Titles Announced for ABC Best Books for Young Readers Catalog |url=https://www.bookweb.org/news/titles-announced-abc-best-books-young-readers-catalog-573297 |access-date=August 17, 2020 |website=American Booksellers Association}}

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Category: Series of children's books

Category: The Mysterious Benedict Society