Gifted Issues Discussion homepage Forums Recommended Resources The Mysterious Benedict Society

Was it someone here that recommended this book (series, actually), or was it just that I came across it on Barnes & Noble while looking for something else that was recommended here? I think the latter, but I'm not sure.

Anyway, we're only two chapters into it since getting it for Christmas, and I can already heartily recommend it to you all! It's a book about gifted kids who respond to an ad in the paper and go through a series of mysterious tests before embarking on what can only prove to be a grand adventure of some sort that I haven't gotten to yet. Good stuff!

I wholeheartedly agree! My DD10 read the first book, when it first came out a few years ago, as part of the Duke TIP on-line book club. She waited with baited breath for the second book to come out last year. Finally, this October, the third book was released.

The characters are diverse and pretty well developed. She enjoys the fact that each of the characters brings their unique talents to the group.

Here's hoping a fourth book is on the way!

I'm reading this too. I'm on chapter 3. I am hoping my son will read it after I do and then we can talk about it.

DD11 read it last year, and just received the second book for Christmas. She loves reading about other children who are different or gifted and this is a great book for that. I wanted to read it as well and probably will once she starts the second book and we finish the Hobbit as our family read.

Jen

I've read the first 2 so far in my quest to find some good books to be able to read to DS5. I have a list of books that I may start reading to him (he still won't read chapter books, some aversion to them which both amuses and frustrates me since it's hard to find 3rd grade lvl picture books with ease.)

DD10 has inhaled these. She just got the third book before winter break and has already read it several times. DH is reading the first one to the kids as a bedtime story. DS seems to be enjoying it, too.

Courtney,

I had the same problem when DS was 5. We started reading lefts and rights. He chooses his side and I read the other. Two years later we still do this at bedtime. Chapter books aren't scary with someone helping!

My DH is reading the first one to my two eldest as a bedtime story, too. They love it.

Val

Thanks! I'm glad to hear that it helps to do that as that's the only way I can get him to read any of a chapter book at all. He's been on a picture book kick lately and we alternate reading at bedtime so it's hard for me to read him a chapter book lately since DH doesn't read it to him the next night. (We take turns with which child we read to, I think I'll have to change it to a weekly thing that way I have a few nights in a row with DS)

DD10 loved this book and the second one as well. She hasn't read the third one yet, but definitely has it on her "to read" list. I haven't read it yet, but it's on my list too

If you haven't read it yet, I would also recommend Surviving the Applewhites. Although it has a few "older" references, my DD feel completely in love with it at the age of 7 and re-read it several times after we first read it. It deals with giftedness in a roundabout way with an appreciation for individuality and quirkiness in both kids and adults--and it's fun!

Ooh, we might have to try that! We have the same problem with chapter books with DS7. He can read anything, of course, but mostly he won't. Good idea!

I read these threads with envy!!!. I am a voracious reader but nobody else in the house is. DD17 only reads the occassional novel and DS16 rarely reads novels, choosing textbooks and soccer magazines instead. It has always been like this. DS's favourite christmas present this year was Schaums Outline of Fluid Mechanics. Oh well each to their own.