The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Perilous Journey

As enjoyable as the first, and again read aloud. R recently told me she wishes we'd named her Katherine, so she could go by Katie-Cat. Clearly, she likes not just the name but the character.

Stewart does a good job of expanding the franchise: the expected structure and features, fit to a new setting, enough new so as not to seem a re-hash, but familiar enough to satisfy the cravings. This one plays a bit with that cliché, in that Benedict's original plans for a reunion are spoiled by Curtain, thereby transforming Benedict's riddles and scavenger hunt into the means for his rescue.

I especially appreciated Stewart's thoughtful development of each character, given their individual traits and their likely reactions to the experiences of the show more first novel. Reynie worries now that he sees more bad in people than good, we wonder how this might taint his usual disposition. Mr Benedict suggests the bad is simply easier to see. It comes to a head with Reynie's dilemma as to whether to trust Captain Noland. Sticky, so used to being a target of ridicule and the insecurities flowing from that formative experience, behaves in ways suggesting the admiration of friends might easily lead him to a certain arrogance, however unintended, and we wonder whether his newly-won confidence will survive his own shame once he realises.

We immediately requested the third book and began it.

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Again decorations via headpieces incorporating the chapter names, but a different illustrator. show less

The author didn't know how to end his book. It's a weird place to get writer's block. But the preceding chapters made up for the lame ending.

Though the book has more positives than not, it is a forgettable book that will not bear rereading from me. The clues were pleasant to think about. The dead ends were startling in their lack of resolution.

The first book was better, but though I won't ever reread this book, I will try to read the sequels, even in the face of the law of diminishing returns. It was nice to read this book and the ample time taken, I feel, has not been a waste

If I remember correctly, Lisa got me started on this series. I love it. Like [book: The Penderwicks], it's a throwback to classic stories, but it is undeniably contemporary. It's so gosh-darn enjoyable that it's easy to forgive its minor flaws. I like how the tasks and mysteries that the children solve are, in truth, solvable. The solutions are logical, and the reader can try to work it out with the characters. It's a nice balance- being neither so easy that the reader is wondering when the characters will figure it out, nor so hard that it answer seems to come from left field.

I wonder if, given the popularity of The Penderwicks and this series, if we might see a return to more innocent children's stories, at least in some books. I show more suppose stories about the grim realities of childhood are here to stay, but it would be nice to have some good, old-fashioned, home-before-supper adventures, too. show less

This is how Lemony Snicket's Unfortunate Events should have been! The Perilous Journey is the second in the series about 4 highly intelligent but very unusual kids who are taken under the wing of a recluse called Mr. Benedict.
In this book, the "society" are about to meet for a reunion since their last adventure and Mr. B has set up lots of clues for them to follow to get to the reunion place. Unfortunately, he has disappeared and the kids don't know if it is part of the reunion or something more sinister.
I loved all the quirky character defects in these smarter than average kids and my favorite was 4 year old Constance who is how the youngest Beaudelaire child should have been. Great fun and with lots of plot twists and turns and never show more a dull moment. show less

Second book in the series, just as entertaining and exciting. I love how this group of four off-beat kids rely primarily on themselves, but get some help from a few trustworthy adults. I love how what makes them misfits also makes them extraordinary.

In this adventure, the kids' beloved mentor Mr. Benedict and his assistant/adopted daughter have been kidnapped by Benedict's evil twin (they were separated shortly after birth), the diabolical Mr. Curtain, who wants to take over the world. Much like Count Olaf in [b:A Series of Unfortunate Events|492365|A Series of Unfortunate Events (A Series of Unfortunate Events, Books 1 - 7)|Lemony Snicket|http://www.goodreads.com/images/nocover-60x80.jpg|480561], he's the villain who always escapes at show more the end of the book only to return in the next. Of course, the kids are able to sneak past their parents/guardians and various government agents to search for Mr. Benedict, figuring that only children can sneak under Mr. Curtain's radar (and past his evil henchmen, the "Ten Men") to save Mr. Benedict.

As there's a third book, you already know they'll succeed. show less

When we first met the intrepid, orphaned quartet that made up a large part of the Mysterious Benedict Society we were left feeling that surely this couldn't be the last adventure that they'd be on together...and we were absolutely right. The whole gang is back in the second book in the series by Trenton Lee Stewart titled The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Perilous Journey. (Note: A new illustrator, Diana Sudyka, has penned the drawings for this book and forthcoming books in the series.) The beginning of the book starts off with the kids separated and trying to live as close to normal as possible. The reader is once again following the main character, Reynie, as he heads to meet up with everyone on the anniversary of their last show more adventure together. However, when they are all reunited at Mr. Benedict's house they are met with a very unpleasant surprise. (No spoilers here!!) What follows is a treacherous journey (hence the name of the book) that takes them on boats, trains, and up the side of a mountain in another country. While the central theme of friendship and working together is still present, this book is much darker in tone and a sense of foreboding lingers over every page. (In some ways, it reminds me of the progression of the Harry Potter series.) The illustrations again accompany a portion of the text and even though it's a different illustrator the sense of whimsy is ever-present. Overall, very enjoyable and fun to see how the author expands on each of the characters personalities and abilities. (Constance plays a much larger role in this book.) I have to confess that I've had the third book in the series gathering dust on my desk at work (and a copy of it here at home) but I haven't felt an overwhelming urge to pick it up just yet. I have a feeling this will be one of the first books I get to in the new year. XD If you read the first book in the series then I'm confident you'll enjoy the sequel. 8/10 show less

Not as good as the first book in the series, but still amazing. I haven't read this book since far too many years ago (unlike the first one), so it was awesome to rediscover the parts I remembered and the huge chunks of the book I had no recollection of.

This time around, I really enjoyed Reynie and Constance's new character arcs, and the developing sibling-like friendship between the two of them, as well as between each of the four children, all of whom I adore. And Milligan, Mr. Benedict, and the rest of their friends are always favorites as well!

I felt that the omniscient POV in the first book was very skilled and enjoyable, but it got on my nerves a little more often in the sequel, and didn't seem quite as smooth. I also had one show more huge nitpick about children and parents negotiating over obedience, and justifying disobedience in the face of danger (the time that obedience is essential), but I won't go on a rant even though I could.

Definitely a worthy sequel, and I'm excited to reread the third book of the original trilogy and to read the soon-to-be-published sequel for the first time. show less