Deliciously Reviewed: "The Mysterious Benedict Society"

Another Young Adult novel, The Mysterious Benedict Society was intriguing, but slightly disconcerting. It was very much like a children's version of George Orwell's 1984 with one very strange and unpredictable man, Lepthora Curtain, trying to control every one's thoughts in order take over the world.

The Mysterious Benedict Society itself is a group of four children who passed a random and inexplicable series of tests. It is their mission to prevent Curtain from succeeding in his diabolical plans. These children, no older than 10 or so, must muster incredible courage and strength to carry out their own plans. And, most importantly, they must learn to work together even though the four of them are completely and totally incomparable.

It was a good read, but I can't say I would read it again. I just thought it was a little weird. The possibility of someone, fictional or not, controlling the thoughts of the general public makes me shutter. It's just not something I want to imagine. I almost stopped reading the book a couple times because I was getting uncomfortable with it. But every time I walked away from it, I couldn't help but walk right back and pick it up again.

Hayley, my little fantasy genre lover, is sure to appreciate The Mysterious Benedict Society more than I did.