The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Perilous Journey
| Industry | Publishing |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | United States |
| Products | Books |
The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Perilous Journey is a bestselling children's novel authored by Trenton Lee Stewart with illustrations by Diana Sudyka, released in 2008. This book serves as the second entry in the series, succeeding The Mysterious Benedict Society (2007).
Plot
After their initial adventure, Mr. Benedict and the children's parents bring them back together for a fresh challenge that depends on their collective intellect and cooperation. Upon reuniting, they discover that Mr. Benedict has been abducted by his sinister twin brother, Mr. Curtain, who demands the whereabouts of a rare plant from someone close to Benedict. Rhonda, Mr. Benedict’s adopted daughter, provides a letter that sets the children off on a puzzle-laden expedition aboard the MV Shortcut, reputed as the fastest ship worldwide, bound for Lisbon.
The vessel is commanded by Phil Noland, a former naval associate of Mr. Benedict, who supplies them with a two-way radio—later discarded by Reynie out of suspicion. Their investigation takes them first to a Portuguese castle and then to a science museum in Thernbaakagen, Holland, where they uncover the elusive duskwort plant. Duskwort possesses properties that can either induce profound sleep or cure narcolepsy, the condition affecting both Mr. Benedict and his brother.
After spending time at a hotel, the group faces an assault from Mr. Curtain’s agents known as the Ten Men but are saved by Milligan, Kate’s father. Their journey continues to an island rumored to harbor duskwort, where they find Number Two weakened but alive. During an attack by the Ten Men, Milligan rescues the children but suffers severe injuries afterward. The group eventually confronts Mr. Curtain, who captures them briefly before they manage to escape through a clever ruse orchestrated by Mr. Benedict.
While descending a mountain path, Mr. Benedict succumbs to narcolepsy and is carried by the children until they reach Milligan. Surrounded by Ten Men at the bay, they are rescued by the Shortcut crew and the Royal Navy after Kate neutralizes a bomb threat. Although Mr. Curtain manages to flee, the children safely reunite with their families.
Characters
- Reynard "Reynie" Muldoon is an eleven-year-old orphan living with his adoptive mother Miss Perumal, who teaches him Tamil. As leader of the Mysterious Benedict Society, he excels in puzzle-solving and strategic thinking, finding joy in his friends despite occasional feelings of solitude.
- George "Sticky" Washington is also eleven years old and distinguished by his extraordinary memory—he retains everything he encounters. After previously running away due to feelings of rejection and pressure from intelligence tests, he now lives again with his parents and grows more confident in his talents. Sticky often nervously polishes his glasses and disguises himself by shaving his head.
- Kate Wetherall is twelve years old and known for her impressive strength, speed, agility, and stamina. Residing on a farm with her father Milligan, she serves as the team’s powerhouse and morale booster, employing unique skills—including regurgitation—to assist her companions while maintaining an upbeat attitude.
- Constance Contraire, the youngest member at three years old awaiting adoption by Mr. Benedict, appears ordinary but possesses remarkable stubbornness and pattern recognition abilities that allow her to foresee events, making her invaluable despite frequent naps.
- Mr. Benedict is the founder of the Mysterious Benedict Society and orchestrator behind recruiting the children. He suffers from narcolepsy and strives to find its cure while battling against his twin brother’s villainous plans.
- Mr. Curtain, Benedict’s malevolent twin sibling intent on global domination, is characterized by silver glasses and green plaid suits while using a motorized wheelchair. Like Benedict, he experiences narcolepsy triggered by anger; his given name is Ledroptha.
- Rhonda Kazembe, adopted daughter of Mr. Benedict from Zambia, supports him alongside Number Two; she has a strong memory comparable to Sticky’s and plays a vital supportive role.
- Number Two, another assistant and adopted daughter of Mr. Benedict who rarely sleeps and sustains energy through frequent eating breaks; she is abducted along with Mr. Benedict and later revealed to be named Pencilla.
- Milligan, Kate’s father and bodyguard for Mr. Benedict, was once a spy captured by Mr. Curtain whose memories were erased but subsequently restored. Renowned for his physical strength and resourcefulness—including lockpicking skills and handling tranquilizers—he risks everything to safeguard the children.
- The Ten Men serve as elite operatives under Mr. Curtain’s command; they are impeccably dressed and carry briefcases concealing deadly weapons designed personally by Curtain himself. Their names—McCracken, Crawlings, Sharpe, Garotte—reflect their mastery over ten distinct lethal techniques.
Reception
School Library Journal awarded the book a starred review, describing it as "more than just an exciting adventure ... but also a heartfelt and gratifying story about friendship." In contrast, Kirkus Reviews offered a less enthusiastic opinion, suggesting that the narrative "might test the patience of some readers" due to its writing style and superfluous details. Meanwhile, Horn Book Magazine commended Stewart for sustaining reader engagement throughout and emphasized the presence of "top-notch puzzles," a point also noted by School Library Journal which highlighted the "numerous ingenious twists."
The opening segment of the novel attracted some critique; Horn Book Magazine referred to it as containing "a few overly sentimental early scenes," while School Library Journal commented that "[t]he story takes some time to gain momentum." Despite this, Horn Book Magazine considered it "a fitting follow-up" to the earlier installment, whereas Kirkus Reviews argued that it leaned more heavily on the previous book’s clever elements rather than expanding upon them.
Sequel
The series continued with its third installment, The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Prisoner's Dilemma, which was released on October 6, 2009.
Television adaptation
This novel served as the basis for the second season of the TV show The Mysterious Benedict Society. Unlike the first season, which closely mirrored the original text, the second season loosely adapts only the initial half and diverges significantly in its latter portion by removing numerous characters and modifying key plotlines.
Among the major changes is Dr. Curtain’s shift from utilizing a potent flower named Duskwort to employing a neurological technique designed to induce happiness; Duskwort itself appears briefly in the episode titled "A Joyful Lens." Furthermore, Dr. Curtain’s abduction of Mr. Benedict and Number Two is portrayed as an effort to involve them directly in his scheme rather than to hold them hostage for ransom.
Perhaps the most significant modification occurs at the conclusion, where Dr. Curtain undergoes a transformation and discloses he has a sister who is "not as kind as [he once was]." Additionally, Number Two’s family is introduced with humor, revealing that "Number Two" is actually her real name.