Guest Author - Michelle Anne Cope

I’m a big advocate of reading. Yes, I do think writing is important, it’s what we want to do, what we need to do, however, reading plays a very big part in our writing skills.

Every few weeks, I plan to share with you a work of fiction that has had impact on the way I look at writing. I picked this first selection because the story was so complex and I was intrigued at how the author was able to combine the plot, characterization and dialog together to make an incredible timeless story.

The Mysterious Benedict Society
Reading Level: Ages 9 - 12

Trenton Lee Stewart’s The Mysterious Benedict Society will be a part of my literature collection times three. I have the hardback cover with the beautifully illustrated dust jacket on my shelf of favorites, the audio file on my laptop so that I can listen to the story anytime, and I will order the paperback edition when it becomes available. I love to have paperback copies of all my favorite books so that I can doodle and write messages in the margins.

Messages are what this book is all about. A series of special and secret messages that could change the world, and not in a good way, are being broadcast. Who can try to stop them? Children!

The adventure begins when orphan Reynard Muldoon (Reynie) answers an advertisement in the paper – “ARE YOU A GIFTED CHILD LOOKING FOR SPECIAL OPPORTUNITIES?”

Answering the ad leads Reynie to a strange building that is only open at odd times and is filled with classrooms of children taking bizarre tests. I found myself taking the tests along with Reynie, and although I was utterly confused by the questions, I was extremely relieved when Reynie was able to ace every test.

At the end of the testing, only four children are picked to take the final exam. Reynie, Sticky (George Washington), Kate Wetherall (who would really like to be called The Great Kate Weather Machine) and Constance Contraire must master a maze as the final test. Do they all make it? I'm not telling!

This story was wonderful. It gave me the same feeling as the Harry Potter series. A little bit of science fiction, with a lot of mystery and adventure combined with a great ending. I loved the description of the places and people throughout the story and it was complete with big spooky houses, bridges over troubled waters and creepy laboratories. This story also brings back the art of Morse code.

If I would have to give you a theme, I would say that this story shows that we all have fears that can make us incapable of living productive and happy lives, but we can overcome them.

This story is well written and weaves an ending that I didn’t even suspect, but was not at all disappointed by. You know how in some stories you feel cheated that you didn’t get a foreshadowing of the ending, well, that doesn’t happen here at all. I was cheering the author for his clever and creative story telling.

I studied the description skills that the author used. Every character, every room, building and sidewalk were described so well that I almost felt as if I’d seen them in real life. This book took over my imagination, meaning, I didn’t feel like I was an adult pretending to believe. I just believed. I consider that to be great writing. It's how I want to write.

Read, Write, and Be Yourself!
Chel