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The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Prisoner's Dilemma (by Trenton Lee Stewart)

common sense media says

Not as inventive as first two books, but still great fun.

parents & educators say
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What parents need to know

Parents need to know that kids who are already into the Mysterious Benedict Society series will find the third installment a little milder than the second. Armed with their briefcases filled with various weapons (but no real guns), Ten Men kidnap the four central kids, and there's plenty of fighting -- mostly amongst adults -- with pencil darts and tranquilizer guns. One adult suffers broken bones, and one kid gets attacked with a Taser-like shock watch, passing out afterward. Part of the plot involves Constance developing her powers of mind-reading and even putting thoughts in others' heads. Overall the main characters are still great role models -- they're smart, resourceful, great friends who work together to save the day.

Educational value: Kids can solve the riddles and puzzles along with the super-smart members of the Society.
Positive messages: Reynie comes to the realization that holding onto anger, like Mr. Curtain does, isn't healthy. Friendship and teamwork are also strong themes. Reynie also learns that he doesn't have to fix everything himself, and Kate realizes that she should trust her friends more before she acts impulsively. Two instances of eavesdropping are only lightly reprimanded.
Positive role models: As always in the series, the four members of the Society are very admirable and possess talents that complement one another. Reynie is extremely consciencious and great at solving puzzles and thinking about others' motivations. Sticky has a voracious appetite for knowledge and remembers everything he reads. Kate is the athlete and strategic thinker who can get out of any trap. Constance may be ill-tempered, but she's also loyal, bright, and courageous.
Violence: The bad guy Ten Men are back from the second book, and they attack with various weapons in their briefcases -- pencil darts, tranquilizer guns, shock watches (Tasers). But there's no real guns or blood (except a bloody nose). Kids are kidnapped, and a shock watch is used once, which makes the victim pass out. An adult breaks bones in a fall.
Sex: Not applicable.
Language: Not applicable.
Consumerism: Not applicable.
Drinking, drugs, & smoking: Not applicable.
Our ratings and reviews are informed by child development guidelines. Learn more.

More on The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Prisoner's Dilemma

What to talk about

Talk to your kids
  • Families can talk about reading minds. Would you like to know what others are thinking? Or be able to change their minds without them knowing? How is this a potentially dangerous gift?
  • Talk about the puzzles. How long did it take to piece together the clues?
  • Which MBS member are you most like? Are you agile and resourceful like Kate? Great at solving puzzles like Reynie? Good at remembering everything like Sticky? Or stubborn and in need of a nap like Constance? Whom would you like to be more like?

What's the story?

What's the story?
In the third installment of the Mysterious Benedict Society series, Reynie, Sticky, Kate, Constance, and various loved ones find themselves holed up in Mr. Benedict's house, which is teeming with security. The evil Mr. Curtain is at large and hunting for the Whisperer -- now in Mr. Benedict's possession -- so he can try again to control minds from afar. When a shady businessman shows up with false records that say he's Constance's father, it compels Mr. Benedict to use the Whisperer to uncover her short past. Distraught and confused after all is revealed, Constance runs away, with the whole household after her -- just the distraction Mr. Curtain and his men need to steal the Whisperer and set his evil plans in motion. Of course, the rest of the MBS soon find themselves on his trail.

Is it any good?

Is it any good?
 

As with the other books in this inventive series, fans will be thrilled to spend more time with the MBS four. Kids who've read the first two books already know each character's strengths and quirks. As always, Constance provides the majority of the book's humor with her mood swings and unruliness that will remind kids of younger siblings. Constance is also the only one who develops more as a character in this one. Her mind-reading/changing abilities really come in handy in a pinch.

But the story takes awhile to get going (the first 100 pages could have been condensed to 20), and there's no travel adventure (The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Perilious Journey) or brainwashed island school (The Mysterious Benedict Society) to add that extra layer of intrigue. And we already know all about Mr. Curtain, his Ten Men, and what they're after. A few more surprises and twists would have been welcome. Not that the simpler story will keep fans away -- and once the action picks up in the last third, kids will definitely be engaged.

Book themes & details

Book Details
Author: Trenton Lee Stewart
Illustrator: Diana Sudyka
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Publication date: October 6, 2009
Number of pages: 400
Hardcover price: $16.99
Read Aloud: 9
Read Alone: 9
This review was written by Carrie R. Wheadon
 
 

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Most useful reviews by all members

mysterioussociety
kid, 13 years old
10
 
Mystery and not much adventure until the 200s, BUT STILL AWESOME!!!
YAY! I love this one!!! Prisoner's Dilemma has even BETTER riddles than the others! And all the characters seem to be a little more open! Don't listen to the reviewer down there! XD. I love this! Well except how they aren't really in danger until the 200s but...KATE ROCKS! Haha.
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helped me decide (3) | had useful details (2) | read my mind (6)
mysterious ...
kid, 13 years old
9
 
Great book!!!
This is a great book! It has great lessos and an excellent plot.
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helped me decide (6) | had useful details (2) | read my mind (2)
Scoutt99
kid, 13 years old
8
 
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helped me decide (3) | had useful details (2) | read my mind (4)
Fran VDV
adult
9
 
Good for 9 to 12, and even adults will find it entertaning.
I read this book as a local book club choice. I found it extremely entertaining and am happy to see that there are lots of "ten-dollar words" perfect to pique a child's curiousity.
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helped me decide (2) | had useful details (3) | read my mind (4)
KoolGuyL
teen, 14 years old
9
 
Great Book!
I think this is a very good book. There are more puzzles to solve than in the last books! Unfortionately, the book dosen't get exiciting until the last half of the book. Overall I think if you have read the first two books in the series you should check this book out. If you have not read the first two books you should take a look at the series, It is wonderfull!
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helped me decide (3) | had useful details (3) | read my mind (2)
BuddyBell22
teen, 13 years old
10
 
Good for begginning readers with great word choice
I love this book and would recemend it to everyone!!
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helped me decide (2) | had useful details (3) | read my mind (3)
aquabooks99
kid, 13 years old
9
 
4 smart kids in an adventure book.....what more do you want?
This is a really great book. There are a lot of riddles and one of the messages is to be yourself. It's a bit of a odd book and it doesn't really focus on themes that a lot of other books that I've read do (girl+boy, other world, vampires/werewolves etc.) Pretty much it's just adventure. It's set in such a real place that it doesn't qualify as a fantasy and It's definitely not comedy or romance. I am a big fan even though it might be for kids younger than me. I usually don't pay attention to that as long as it's a good story which this most definitely is.
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helped me decide (2) | had useful details (2) | read my mind (3)
44ys44
parent of 12 year old
9
 
AWESOME
Love it! I hate you, writer13. You say you are 11yrs old, you can't even spell bored right. What are you doing?? Borading a plane?????????
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helped me decide (2) | had useful details (2) | read my mind (3)
KatiedidKatie
kid, 12 years old
10
 
The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Prisoner's Dilemma
This book is really great! Kids can solve the puzzles as they read what the characters are doing. This was so good I used for a book review at my school!
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helped me decide (2) | had useful details (2) | read my mind (3)
writer13
kid, 12 years old
9
 
boring
i love the other stories in the series, but i couldnt get past the 35th page. i got really board with it. i usually dont get board with a lot of books, but i got really board with this one. dont read it if you get board easily.
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helped me decide (3) | had useful details (3) | read my mind (1)

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