Book Review: The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart

The Mysterious Benedict Society is a mysterious, fast-paced book with several emotional moments for the readers and characters alike.  The story begins when a peculiar newspaper ad shows up in Stonetown reading, “Are you a gifted child looking for special opportunities?” dozens of children show up for a series of mind-bending, complex assessments, but when they’re all finished only four extremely special children will succeed. When Reynie, Kate, Sticky, and Constance finally get some answers, they find the man and his mission behind all of the puzzling tests: Mr. Benedict. 

Their real mission is to stop the evil Mr. Curtain from corrupting every mind on the planet by going undercover in his school, L.I.V.E. or the Learning Institute for the Very Enlighted.  As the genius antagonist, Mr. Curtain cleverly disguised his evil plans through his school L.I.V.E. As his mysterious plans unfold, the team discovers all the terrible secrets in Mr. Curtain’s plan, layer by layer, each one more sinister than the last.  “For L.I.V.E. spelled backward, is EVIL.”, as Reynie realizes. While attending L.I.V.E., The Mysterious Benedict Society learn that friendship is more than just developing a friendly demeanor with each other but depending on one another and treating them like family, giving their lives for each other. Throughout their journey they find surprises everywhere they turn, in each other and in their new school. 

The Mysterious Benedict Society is truly an incredible book and I think it is very deep and meaningful in such a way that it glues your eyes to the pages. At times, the book made me want to cry. At others, it made me want to shout.  The author expressed the character’s emotions so well, you could almost feel it vibrating through the pages of the book into the deepest recesses of your mind. 

The Mysterious Benedict Society has won one award: The Noticeable Children’s award in 2008. Trenton Lee Stewart also wrote The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Perilous Journey and The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Prisoner's Dilemma.  

I think that the recommended reading age should be 8-14 years of age because it is a very deep book that you probably would not understand if you were in second grade and it might be too easy if you were in high school. The Mysterious Benedict Society is a great book. Read it today!

My Top 10 Books in Random Order

1. The Girl Who Could Fly
2. The Cabinet of Wonders
3. The Red Pyramid
4. The Series of Unfortunate Events
5. The City of Amber
6. The Mysterious Case of Albright Academy
7. The Mysterious Benedict Society Series
8. Call Me Hope
9. Eleven Birthdays - Wendy Mass
10. Drums, Girls, and Dangerous Pie

Angry Cheyenne

Cheyenne.  Say that name to anybody in Manifest, Kansas and they would imagine a image of perfect heaven:  curly long brown hair, freckles and bright blue eyes and the best humanatarian in town.  Only one problem:  anger.

Cheyenne was on her daily routine after school:  run through homework, help out at the nursery home, and tutor at school.  She was a very organized young girl and disliked anything out of the order.  In fact, she bottled her anger every day and did pretty well at school.  Anything not on her perfect schedule shouldn't be happening.

How did she get over this predicament?  One day she was called to the counsler of gifted education, Mrs. Brock.  She assumed it was about her "problem".  When she got there she sighed and repeated everything every counsler told her.

"Okay Mrs. Brock, whatever.  I said it.  Can I go now?  This is interfering with my schedule."

"No my dear,"  Mrs. Brock said.  "Today we're just having fun."  Cheyenne started to yell in protest, but Mrs. Brock soothed her in her calm ways and gave her a quiz.

Cheyenne loved quizzes, and Mrs. Brock knew that.  It softened up her mood.  Then they played games:  Hide-and-go-seek, Mystery Box, and board games.

One day Mrs. Brock turned her life upside down.  That day during math class she was called to the counsler. Mrs. Brock said she was excused from school today and she may not do anything other than have fun.

Mrs. Brock had a plan.  Cheyenne knew it, but she went along with it anyway.  Mrs. Brock had one strength in her plan.  Cheyenne knew she had a plan but she didn't know exactly what it was.

Cheyenne rode home on her bike.  She wandered around the house looking for something to do.  She finally gave into the cookies on the counter and grabbed a soda.  She sat on the couch.  Tried to do something.  Wandered around town.  Finally she went back to school.

Cheyenne complained to Mrs. Brock.  "All day, I wandered around town, doing nothing!"

Mrs. Brock only replied, "Just think about it Chey.  Just think about it."

The next day, Cheyenne's friend, Madeline, said, "did you see that CD that came out yesterday?  It was all over town!"

The it hit her.  Anger was why she didn't have fun.  Mrs. Brock was trying to tell her that.

After school, she came bursting out of the school and hurridly biked to the counsler's office.  "I got it.  I got it!"  Cheyenne bursted with anticipation.  "It's anger isn't it?  Right?"

"You got it!"  Mrs. Brock exclaimed.

Now Cheyenne accepts that there are better things to do than being angry.

Harry S Truman

Harry S Truman was the 33rd president of the U.S.  He was the only Missouri-born president.

Harry S Truman was born in Lamar, MO on May 8, 1884 to John and Martha Truman.  His parents owned a farm in Independence, Missouri and his parents also owned one in Grandview.

Harry was a whiz in history in high school, and then went on to Kansas City Law School.

As a young adult, Harry became the Jackson County Judge with the help of a famous politician.  Truman was also a member of the National Guard and fought in France in 1918-1919.  Truman became a U.S. Senator in 1934.  He founded the Truman Committee during World War II to prevent Congress frivolous spending.  He was also Franklin D. Roosevelt's Vice President for his fourth term.

Truman served 2 terms after being elected and reelected by the Democratic Party in 1945 and 1949.  During his 2nd term his Vice President was Alben Barkley.  During both terms he ran against Republican, Dewey.  During his reelection, Truman proved everyone's predictions wrong by triumphing over Dewey with almost 200 electoral votes.

On the other side of the world, World War II was taking place.  Truman ended the war by hurling 2 atomic bombs at Japan.  Meanwhile, in the U.S., millions of workers were on strike.  Another war was waging in Korea where the U.S. fought for South Korea.

President Truman passed the Marshall Plan shortly after World War II to aid western European countries.  He also passed the Presidential Successional Act which restricted Presidents to only 2 terms.

Harry was pretty well-known and well-liked President because he was an honest politician.

Lidia's Journel

"I'll get you when I get out of prison," he hissed, with an almost evil grin on his face.  Lidia shrieked as loud as a foghorn.  That's how Lidia Spark woke up almost every day for 3 months.  "The nightmare," she whispered, then fainted.

Lidia was sent here 3 months ago in August, 1754, St. Solicitous, Rhode Island, all covered in bruises and scratches.  She even had a black eye and whip marks on her back.  Lidia had a wonderful family back then: a beautiful mom, an intelligent dad with their only child, blond haired and startling bright, ocean blue eyes.  But that was then.  After her mother died nothing seemed right anymore.  Lidia literally lived off her closet after then, most of her personal belongings missing too.  Her dad beat her up everyday so he was arrested for child abuse, which was why she was in an orphanage and more importantly was why she was terrorized at the sight of an adult.

The first time cook came in with supper, cook started introducing herself to Lidia as the cook of St Solicitous orphanage.

Lidia let out a blood-curdling scream and masked herself from cook by diving in the closet and locked herself in.  It even took 3 hours for her best friend, Oliver, to coax her out of it.  By now everybody knew not to let Lidia catch sight of a grown-up of the punishment was an ear-splitting shriek.  There is one more thing I need to tell you.  Lidia has a journel she writes madly in.  She has recorded every single hour of her life ever since she could write.

That afternoon she wrote about pea-soup with bolonga, nothing exciting, but she wrote it down nevertheless.  She (left) her journel on her desk.

The next thing she knew Oliver was shaking her and loud bell was ringing.  Then Oliver choked.  "Liddy!  There's a fire in the house!  Let's get out of here!"

"Be right there," Lidia mumbled, still drowsy.  Then Oliver's words sank in and she stumbled out of bet, swiped a pen and her journel and got out of there.

The day after the fire, Lidia's entry read "November, 1754 I am worried about my dad.  Now that I have nowhere to go, my dad is sure to hunt me down, as his sentence to jail ends in."

That's all what was there.  The rest was too wet to read.  That day at midday, Oliver mysteriously vanished.  Day by day, Lidia got better at not screaming at the sight of an adult, but occasionally one would slip out.

One day she had enough courage, and pennies, to go to the train station where she had to buy a ticket to some place where her dad wouldn't find her so easily.  When she got there, she slipped and fell over the edge, when soneone, something caught her.  Was Oliver back to save her?  She looked back, screamed, and tried to writhe free of the iron-hard grip on her wrist when the woman said "Hi, my name's Marge nice to know your acquaintance!"

"Um, hi?" croaked Lidia.

"What 'chya doin' out here?  I've seen you out on the streets writing in that journel of yours."  Marge shouted. Lidia blushed "Thank you miss," Lidia said politely.  "No miss," Margie said.  "Why are you out by yourself."  Lidia told her the story.  When  it was over she said, "Hon, I am gonna take you to the adoption center right now."  Lidia was stunned.

"You mean," Lidia stammered.

"Yes, that's what I mean," Margie said to her.

Five months later

Lidia lived a happy life and so did Margie.

A Christmas Tradition

"Deck the halls with boughs of holly," the radio sings.

"Vroom, Vroom!"  Ethan growls, playing with his toy car.  That's the average Christmas morning in the Lai household.

"It's time to eat kids,"  Mom sings from the kitchen.  "What do you want?"

"You know!"  we chorused.  For Christmas, we always have hashbrowns and eggs.  We stay in our pj's all day until dinner time where we dress up and and listen to Christmas music over savory prime ribs and for dessert we have wonderful ... (recipie)

Hurricanes - for Adults (Audience Pieces)

A hurricane is actually a very large drizzle and a monsterous blast of air that kicks off over the ocean.  A hurricane is actually several rain storms bunched together and whirling around.

The ocean makes a hurricane more powerful because it provides it with moisture.  The windy storm is considered a hurricane when it is a whopping 74 miles per hour.  A hurricane is known as a cyclone when it forms in the Indian Ocean.  A hurricane is announced as a typhoon in the western Pacific Ocean.

Hurricanes consume almost everything in its path.  A hurricane watch means there is a chance a hurricane will come through your area within 36 hours.  You must be observant and gather these things:  food and water for 2 weeks, a flash light and batteries, several changes of clothes and blankets, portable radio, and first aid kit.

Hurricanes - for Kindergarten (Audience Pieces)

A hurricane is a lot of rain and big winds that starts over the ocean.  A hurricane is actually lots of rain storms spinning around and around together like a merry-go-around.

The ocean makes a hurricane bigger because it is wet.  A spinning storm is called a hurricane when it is 74 miles per hour.  A hurricane is called a cyclone in Austrailia and it is called a typhoon in Japan and China.

A hurricane destroys most things in its path.  A hurricane watch means there could be a hurricane in a day and a half.  You need to be ready and get food and water for 14 days, flashlight and batteries, clothes and blankets, radio, and a first aid kit.

New England Colony

This is an essay about the religion, clothing, town setup, economy, and education in the New England Colony.

A lot of the population in New England Colony were Puritans, Christians who wanted to make their churches "pure" by having very long and strict church services.  Their church services lasting almost all day!  You couldn't fall asleep or even go to the bathroom.  In other colonies, such as Rhode Island, you could have freedom of religion.  The Puritans had to wear pretty simple clothing to church; if you didn't you would probably be punished!

The town's most important building is the meeting house or town church which at least once a year people gathered together to vote on leaders and laws, but only white men who owned property could vote.  The common was an area that people could put cattle in; every house was build around it.

In New England almost everybody grew their own food.  Many people bartered their surpluses.  Lots of the free-market economy was made of the lumber industry.  Several people were fishers or whalers, people who used the whale's blubber to make oil for lamps.

New England's education system was that towns with at least 50 families must have a school.  A typical school consisted of one room with a, usually male, teacher.  The had strict teachers that would whip students for bad behavior or even a wrong answer!

The Prankster's Lesson

On a lousy afternoon after a bad day at school,
I was stomping down the street with my trusty duffel bag slung around my shoulder.

My name is Brody.

"Why do we have to go camping with our troop anyway?," I grumbled
still tramping towards the bus that would take me to
mosquitoes, prickly pines and cold food:  camping.

When we got there, I almost opened a can of soda,
though better of it, shook it up and
gave it to our leader.  And turned around so he wouldn't see me smirking.

Everyone heard him open the can
and when it sprayed him,
I whirled around in sync with everyone else
gaping, trying my best to look innocent.

That night while everyone was asleep after creepy ghost story.
I sneaked out of my tent soundlessly.
I could hear the crickets chirping,
inhaling the aroma of pine as I padded along in my socks and moaned 3 times pretty dramatically,
then with 1 last groan I scrambled back to my tent, panting hard.

Well, I don't know exactly what happened but I did get spanked.

Today our leader was going on about something about not going into the forest.
That night I slept like a log prepared for my journey the next day.
After breakfast I sneaked out into the so-called "Forbidden Forest" aka. Shady Waters.
5 minutes later I was sitting by the spring drinking cool water, when I saw a red flash.
Next thing I knew I was being chased by a coyote
while I was screaming and yelling, "Eeek! Help me!! I'm being chased by a coyote!!"
I tripped over a rock and howled in pain.
An adult came and scared the coyote away
and then gave basic first-aid to my bleeding ankle.
Only then did I realize that it was my leader that helped me.
Through chapped lips I mumbled,

"How did you know I was here?"
"I heard your cries for help and I came immediately," he said still wrapping the bandages,
"Next time though remember it's important to listen and to respect adults.
I suddenly realized that respecting adults could get you out of big trouble.
I apoligized to him.

Now I am very polite to everyone, especially adults.

Chasing Vermeer by Blue Balliett

This is a brief book descripion about an intriguing book called Chasing Vermeer.  I would recommend this book especially if you're interested in mysteries.

Join Calder and Petra as they follow the trail of the thief of a famous Vermeer painting, A Lady Writing.  (That lady is definitely not me. ) :-)  They work together as they follow a mysterious trail of coincidences and they find help in unexpected places.

With mysterious codes and clues, will Calder and Petra be able to rescue A Lady Writing?  Read this book to find out.

Happy Father Day

Dear Dad,

HAPPY FATHERS DAY!

Everyone wants to find a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.
But spending time with you is just as great.

Love,
Isabel

Happy Father Day

Funny
Awesome
Creative
Intelligent
Cool
Advice colomn
Generous
Can make anybody laugh
Social
Special
Always there for you
Loving
Nice
Spends time with me
Good at giving out compliments

All of these words add up to 2 words:

My Dad

Happy Birthday

Dear Ethan,

Happy Birthday!

I'm sure that you'll have a great year!

After all,

Isn't 7 the lucky number?

Love,
Isabel

Happy Mother's Day 2010: Then and Now

You used to tie my shoes,
but now I tie my own.

I used to need help reading easy books,
but now I read novels.

I used to fall down when I ride a bike,
but now I don't get injuries.

I used to swim on the shallow end,
but now I can dive in the deep end.

I used to think you were the best mom,
but now I know you are.

Love your daughter,
Isabel

The Cousins of Andy

Once upon a time there was a family who was going on a trip to their cousins' house.
In the family was a 8 year old boy named Andy, his 12 year old sister Aggie, and their parents.

On the day of the trip Aggie got up and went to her brother's room to wake him up.
Aggie woke her brother and saw that he was glum,
whereas when they usually went to their cousins' house he had ants in his pants.

Aggie asked, "What's wrong? Have you waken up on the wrong side of the bed?"

Slowly and cautiously Andy questioned her, "Promise you won't tell?"
"Promise," replied Aggie.

So steadily Andy let the cat out of the bag,

"Well our cousins just drive me up the wall,
they kick me and hit me until I'm bruised and scratched,
but I'm too scared to tell mom and dad."

"Well," started Aggie considering.

Just then their parents shouted, "Aggie! Andy! Let's hit the road!"

So minutes later the two of them in the driveway.
Then Aggie suddenly ran into the house leaving Andy to wonder.

Meanwhile, Aggie was spilling the beans to her parents,
reminding them carefully to not tell Andy until the right time.

The family got in their car and drove to their cousins' house which took 4 hours;
to Andy time flew too fast.

When they got there Andy groaned,
caught himself
and quickly changed his pained expression to a wide grin.

His sister whispered, "Take this bull by the horns!"

Andy gulped nervously,
he had butterflies in his stomach.

When the cousins started poking Andy in the back,
he hissed to one of them, Abby,
"Cut it out!"

When Syd kicked him under the table he said,
"Stop being a wet blanket!"

At the end of dinner Andy mustered up all his courage and told his parents,
"Our cousins are a bad egg," while showing them a bruise.

His mom told him that the matter was already settled by telling the cousins' mother.
Andy felt a huge weight lift off his shoulders.
The matter of the cousins was settled.

Helen Stephens

My report is on Helen Stephens. Helen Stephens was born on February 3, 1918. Her parents owned a farm and Helen had to work hard with her younger brother, Robert Lee. As a child she dreamed that she was the fastest runner in the world. Helen went to Middle River School, but it didn’t have sports teams for her.

Luckily, when she went to Fulton High School the P.E. coach, Coach W. Burton Moore, realized how fast Helen could run and he played a part in helping her dream come true. When she was 15, he timed Helen running the 50 yard dash. Coach Moore was amazed when his stopwatch read the time 5.8 seconds, which tied the world record held by Elizabeth Robinson. Coach Moore took Helen to her first official race which was against Stella Walsh, who won a gold medal in the 1932 Olympics. Helen beat her during the 50 meter dash with 6.6 seconds, which set a new record for running on an indoor dirt track. 

Helen went to the 1936 Summer Olympics to compete in the running area. On August 4, 1936, Helen Stephens set the Olympic world record at the 100 meter dash, winning at 11.5 seconds. Nobody could beat it until Wilma Rudolph did 24 years later. Helen also competed in a relay race where she ran the last leg of the race as her team made a new world record of 46.9 seconds in the 400 meter relay race.

When she returned to Fulton, she got her college degree at William Woods College. She also played in the All-American Red Heads basketball team the Helen Stephens Olympics Co-Eds. During the World War II she worked at an aircraft plant and then the Women’s Reserve of the U.S. Marines. After the war she became a research librarian at the Defense Mapping Agency Aerospace Center in St. Louis. Helen faced the challenge of being feminine in a masculine world.

Helen Stephens had no children and was always single. She died on January 17, 1994 at the age of 75. (Reason for death unknown.)

Helen Stephens broke many world records which led to her fame. She is in the Women’s Hall of Fame and the National United States Track and Field Hall of Fame.  She is an inspiration to many people.

                       

Isabel

Is very sensitive
Seriously silly
Awesome pal
Black hair
Envious every once in a while
Love to learn

Letter

Dear Beth,

Today I went to Hannah and Mary's house to make apple cider.
I had a great day!
Making apple cider was not hard,
all we had to do is we took out the seeds by cutting apples in half with a knife,
then we chopped all the apples.
After that, we got 2 boards to squeeze the juice out while,
I got the bucket to hold the juice.
Finally we got a barrel & saved it.

Sincerely,
Isabel

First Swim Lessons

My hands were playing nervously in the crystal clear water.

I was sitting on the pool steps of
the Springfield Gymnastics and Aquatics Center.

I was thinking about how much I think I'm going to stink.

"Come on up, Isabel.", said my instructor, Kelsey, disrupting my thoughts.

I walked out in the water.

When my teacher let go I felt a rush of panic,
"Oh no! I can't swim!" thought half of my mind.
"Calm down, Isabel. You can do it." thought the other half.

This fight of thoughts kept going until my arms started to flash wildly and I was kicking serverely trying to keep afloat the water.

I was splashing everyone in sight!

I tried taking a gulp of air, my chest felt stuffy.
I felt the pool bottom scraping my feet,
my hands trying to jerk myself over and into the air.

I swallowed a mouthful of pool water instead of fresh air.

Kelsey tapped my back and told me to get up.

I cane out of the water, smiling sheepishly,
face red hot as a tomato thinking
"Please don't laugh at me! This is my first time!"

But the kids were laughing so loud it filled the room.
I went back to the steps quietly.
My legs were sore from franticly kicking,
arms aching from trying to hard to keep on top of the water.

Now I've told you my most regrettable story I have,

so far...