Bound To Stay Bound

Bulletin for the Center... - 07/01/2008 Sensing that the gifted children who performed so heroically in saving the world the previous year (The Mysterious Benedict Society, BCCB 5/07) would be getting lonely without one other, their leader Mr. Benedict arranges a transatlantic scavenger hunt for them as an anniversary treat. Alas, he and his assistant, Number Two, are kidnapped by his old nemesis and twin brother, Mr. Curtain, while they are setting the clues, and the happy adventure turns perilous for the children, who naturally escape the watchful eyes of their adult guardians and set off to rescue their beloved benefactor. Enough clues have been laid for them to follow kidnappers and kidnappees to a remote island where a possible botanical cure for Mr. Benedict’s narcolepsy grows; unfortunately, that same cure has the power to plunge whole populations into deep sleep, making it attractive to the power-mad Mr. Curtain as well. Stewart knows his characters with the same deep intimacy as Rowling knows hers; the result is a remarkably self-assured mystery with the side benefits of developing character drama. His plotting is once again crafty and involving for readers as they figure out the clues alongside the children; the deliciously two-dimensional and sinister villains, as well as the helpers, both human and animal, lend a fairy-tale buoyancy to their quest. Every bit as chunky and satisfying as the first, this adventure will delight fans, particularly as young Constance comes into her own, discovering new talents along the way. Sudyka’s black-and-white chapter headings add style and atmosphere. KC - Copyright 2008 The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois.

School Library Journal - 05/01/2008 Gr 5-7-What was supposed to have been a reunion with Mr. Benedict turns into trouble for the four young heroes of The Mysterious Benedict Society (Little, Brown, 2007). Mr. Benedict and his assistant Number 2 have been kidnapped by the evil Mr. Curtain while abroad, so Reynie, Kate, Sticky, and Constance set off to rescue him, aided by a set of clues Mr. Benedict left before his abduction. Adventure and danger await the four onboard an unusual ship, at a castle in Portugal, in the Netherlands, and finally on a mysterious island, where they fall into the hands of Mr. Curtain and his henchmen. It is a combination of courage and their amazing talents that allows the youngsters to squeak out of every predicament. The action takes a while to get going in earnest as more attention is given to the worries and thoughts of the children and to their interactions with the various helpful, eccentric, or nasty adults they meet in their travels. They also learn to understand themselves and one another a little better by the end of their harrowing journey. As a result, this is not just a rip-roaring adventure with plenty of clever twists and hair's-breadth escapes, but also a warm and satisfying tale about friendship.-Eva Mitnick, Los Angeles Public Library Copyright 2008 Reed Business Information. - Copyright 2008 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.

Booklist - 03/15/2008 The daring foursome from the well-received The Mysterious Benedict Society (2007) returns in a second perilous adventure. As the book opens, the children reunite at Mr. Benedict’s home, where he has arranged a treasure hunt. Alas, they discover that Benedict and his assistant are being held captive somewhere, and dire consequences will result if Benedict’s evil twin doesn’t receive the information he desires in four days. The children undertake a worldwide journey to save Benedict and find the duskwort that will cure his narcolepsy. Lots of backstory is needed to set up this sequel, which makes for a choppy beginning. In the previous book, the protagonist’s personal stories provided heft, but this is pure adventure—lots of racing, scheming, fighting. Punches are pulled on the violence front, but the threat is always there, creating page-turning tension. It’s this roller coaster, along with the essential goodness of the characters (except, perhaps, for Constance), that will draw kids to this breathless follow-up. - Copyright 2008 Booklist.

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