Rose Rosetree’s Reviews > The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Riddle of Ages > Status Update
Rose Rosetree
is 90% done
Goodreaders, I'm nearly done with this book. And I've had it.
An excellent, highly original book is here. But it's overlong and maybe self-indulgent about the "genius" of the pack of children who are defending humanity... not just a saga of good against evil, but maybe saving the world.
— Sep 16, 2026 03:24PM
An excellent, highly original book is here. But it's overlong and maybe self-indulgent about the "genius" of the pack of children who are defending humanity... not just a saga of good against evil, but maybe saving the world.
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Rose’s Previous Updates
Rose Rosetree
is 40% done
The author, Trenton, showed unusual courage in showing Constance and Thai, at different times, to act in ways that were extremely unlikeable--at least to this reader.
It has been fascinating to me, comparing this novel with other novels where a villain might cause problems for a while, but this played itself out in a relatively small number of chapters.
— Sep 15, 2026 04:28PM
It has been fascinating to me, comparing this novel with other novels where a villain might cause problems for a while, but this played itself out in a relatively small number of chapters.
Rose Rosetree
is 35% done
Now, Constance is the one to act up. Talking with the older kids, she makes some valid points. Undoubtedly, she's talented.
Yet she's continually reading minds, which made her insistence on being accorded more power within the group? A squirmy proposition to this reader.
— Sep 14, 2026 05:39PM
Yet she's continually reading minds, which made her insistence on being accorded more power within the group? A squirmy proposition to this reader.
Rose Rosetree
is 25% done
Those spunky kids, parachuting and digging up a weird kind of groundcover, and otherwise showing one kind of ingenuity after another.
Suspense is growing. The good guys have to win.
— Sep 13, 2026 05:58PM
Suspense is growing. The good guys have to win.
Rose Rosetree
is 15% done
Oh dear, I'm starting to find precious 5-year-old Thai to be spoiled and annoying.
Wouldn't any of the older members the family teach him some manners?
And honestly! Can't anybody stop him from eating great quantities of sugar at every opportunity?
— Sep 12, 2026 04:43PM
Wouldn't any of the older members the family teach him some manners?
And honestly! Can't anybody stop him from eating great quantities of sugar at every opportunity?
Rose Rosetree
is 7% done
It's fascinating to read about a group of people, preparing for a high-stakes adventure, with huge diversity of ages and big talents.
Consistenly, the narrative shifts the point of view from one character to another to another. Dazzling!
— Sep 11, 2026 04:06PM
Consistenly, the narrative shifts the point of view from one character to another to another. Dazzling!
Rose Rosetree
is 6% done
Reading this story is like hanging out with intellectually gifted, caring people. Puns and rhymes are a feature, not a bug.
One character is known as "SQ." A section within one chapter is entitled:
"To Rescue SQ."
And the wily team members succeed at just that.
— Sep 10, 2026 04:09PM
One character is known as "SQ." A section within one chapter is entitled:
"To Rescue SQ."
And the wily team members succeed at just that.
Rose Rosetree
is 5% done
The puns zing through the stories. So do the references to reading people's thoughts.
Although I have no interest in doing that, it's as close as I get (as a reader) to finding characters who have good skills for co-creating with the Divine for energetic literacy. Ah! So satisfying to have all that literary company!
— Sep 09, 2026 05:26PM
Although I have no interest in doing that, it's as close as I get (as a reader) to finding characters who have good skills for co-creating with the Divine for energetic literacy. Ah! So satisfying to have all that literary company!
Rose Rosetree
is 4% done
It's such a delight, toggling between the precocious intellects and well-developed talents of characters who are mostly children.
The dialogs are a delight.
— Sep 08, 2026 04:46PM
The dialogs are a delight.
Rose Rosetree
is 2% done
What a treat, having children own the serious adult responsibilities. While older and younger members of the extended family treat each other with heartfelt respect.
— Sep 06, 2026 05:39PM
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Jasmine
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Sep 16, 2026 07:29PM
I’ve been following along with your updates, Rose, interested in your insights and all you found to enjoy in this book. Personally, I didn’t make it more than 3 chapters!
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Oh, actually, it was a different book in this series that I attempted to read- Book 1.
Ooooh, Jasmine, do tell. The reason(s) you stopped after three chapters may be very relatable to me. Plus, of course, I'm curious about you as a reader, since I consider you to be an uncommonly astute reader.
In the first book, as I remember it, there is something early on about the main gang of characters blithely taking part in propaganda mind control through television and radio. The way it was described struck me as amoral, oblivious, and kind of shocking.
Perhaps Stewart fixed this up later in the book with some consequences... but for me, the characters had gone so far afield morally that I could not continue reading. Of course, the book was published in 2007 and I was reading it in 2025, quite sensitized to this topic. Don't do propaganda folks! And while you're at it - don't try to control or manipulate other people.
Controlling people subconsciously through the TV was not my idea of fun hijinks.
Jasmine wrote: "In the first book, as I remember it, there is something early on about the main gang of characters blithely taking part in propaganda mind control through television and radio. The way it was descr..."There was a bit of this in the second book, but it seemed like a new thing. You've taught me something here, Jasmine.
Using telepathy or TV to control anybody's mind is nothing short of disgusting.Really, really bad Karma to even try.
Jasmine wrote: "Perhaps Stewart fixed this up later in the book with some consequences... but for me, the characters had gone so far afield morally that I could not continue reading. Of course, the book was publis..."Emphatic and wholehearted agreement from me, Jasmine. My goodness!
Jasmine wrote: "Controlling people subconsciously through the TV was not my idea of fun hijinks."Exquisite use of the word "hijinks" there, Isabella.
To me, that word has always involved something supposed to be sooo cutesy, and something utterly unconvincing to me.
So I love this latest comment of yours. Thank you, Jasmine.