Reviews tagging 'Grief'

The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart

6 reviews

noellegrace8's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny hopeful lighthearted mysterious reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

This is maybe the... 4th? Time reading TMBS? So obviously, I adore it. It speaks to any kid who felt different, like an adult in a kid's body, too weird, too intellectual, or like an outcast. It's basically for G&T, ND people who can thoroughly enjoy an innocent story with great plotline and no raucous or raunchy shock factor. It's just great writing, great wordbuilding electric platonic chemistry, and deep characters. It's clever, emotional, and presents a beautiful look into what it means to be human. OH! And it's so funny, in such a casual way.

I give Del Roy 5/5⭐️'s. His vocal performance has the timbre to grab & keep your attention but a soft enough style to be soothing. He doesn't over-act or lack emotion; he's perfect!

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child abuse, Dementia, Kidnapping, Death of parent, and Abandonment

Minor: Bullying, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Vomit, Grief, Toxic friendship, and Injury/Injury detail

oliverreeds's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Confinement, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, and Abandonment

readingwithrylanne's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny hopeful mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

I have no idea how many times I've read this book, but each time I do, I fall in love with the characters all over again. I decided to listen to the audio this time around, which I hadn't done before, and it made the reading experience even better. This book makes me laugh and it also stresses me out to the extreme because there are so many unknowns throughout it. The friends and found family built throughout this book are heartwarming, and I'm excited to reread the next book this year as well!

"You must remember, family is often born of blood, but it doesn't depend on blood. Nor is it exclusive of friendship. Family members can be your best friends, you know. And best friends, whether or not they are related to you, can be your family."

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Bullying

Minor: Grief

orchidlilly's review against another edition

adventurous funny mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

If there's something I love, it's found family and mystery, and this story has both! the relationships are touching and feel very real, and the mysterious plot is gripping the whole way through

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Ableism, Animal death, Bullying, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Gaslighting, War, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Body shaming, Cursing, Medical content, Death of parent, Abandonment, and Classism

epeolatri's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny hopeful inspiring mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Loved every second of this book! I wish I had been so lucky as to read it when I was a kid, but I love it just as much at 22. Can’t wait to read the rest!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, and Abandonment

Moderate: Confinement, Violence, and War

skudiklier's review against another edition

adventurous emotional lighthearted mysterious reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

This was one of my favorite books as a child, but my copy got lost after loaning it to someone, and I've been waiting for years to get a new one so I could reread it. I really enjoyed it! I was surprised by how much I remembered. And like, it's true that some things about the book are problematic and on-the-nose (liking books isn't inherently good, TV isn't inherently bad, there's the ableist trope of

the bad guy getting up from the wheelchair

, and there's so much to unpack with all the "gifted" stuff). But still, I can't help adoring this book. I'm excited to reread the rest of the series! 

Also, spoiler:

I can't believe Constance is TWO?! I remembered that she was actually very young, so the whole book I was paying attention to how she spoke and acted and stuff, and in my head I was like "there's no way she's like four what the heck she's the most advanced of all of them." But I thought she was like four or five, not two!!! Wild.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Confinement, Kidnapping, and Gaslighting

Moderate: Ableism, Bullying, Death, Torture, Violence, and Abandonment

Minor: Animal death, Fatphobia, Mental illness, Blood, Medical content, Grief, and Death of parent