by Trenton Lee Stewart (Author) Diana Sudyka (Illustrator)
Before there was a Mysterious Benedict Society, there was simply a boy named Nicholas Benedict. Meet the boy who started it all....
Nine-year-old Nicholas Benedict has more problems than most children his age. Not only is he an orphan with an unfortunate nose, but he also has narcolepsy, a condition that gives him terrible nightmares and makes him fall asleep at the worst possible moments. Now he's being sent to a new orphanage, where he will encounter vicious bullies, selfish adults, strange circumstances -- and a mystery that could change his life forever. Luckily, he has one important thing in his favor: He's a genius.
On his quest to solve the mystery, Nicholas finds enemies around every corner, but also friends in unexpected places -- and discovers along the way that the greatest puzzle of all is himself.
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Gr 4-8--The childhood of the brilliant and kindhearted leader of The Mysterious Benedict Society is fleshed out in this prequel to the popular series. Nine-year-old Nicholas Benedict is shuffled to yet another orphanage where he's sure to be teased for his intellect, disruptive nightmares, and struggle with narcolepsy. Sure enough, the resident gang makes him their latest target. Mr. Collum, the orphanage director, singles Nicholas out because of his night terrors and locks him in the attic each evening. After creating his own skeleton key in metal-working class, he begins sneaking out after dark to take solace in the library. He cannot resist entering Mr. Collum's locked office, where he finds the former director's diary, which describes a secret treasure room. This is the opportunity that Nicholas has been waiting for: a chance for the kind of financial freedom that will protect him from tyrannical adults and dim-witted bullies forever. While children new to the series, might get mired down by the amount of detail, fans will be thrilled with the rich backstory of a beloved character.--Alison O'Reilly, Suffolk Cooperative Library System, NY
Copyright 2012 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.