The Mysterious Benedict Society

The Mysterious Benedict Society is written by Trenton Lee Stewart and published in 2007.  This book is an adorable adventure story and joy of all joys, it is the beginning of a series!! Four children are selected by Mr. Benedict to form a team of spies who are to go undercover at a private school isolated by water on all sides.  The children make astounding discoveries, as only children can, and as the reader gets to know each of the four characters, we find out how each child is an essential part of the team, even cranky little Constance Contraire who has a secret of her own.  As the children make discoveries and use morse code to relay messages back and forth with Mr. Benedict the situation becomes more and more dangerous and the impending Emergency more dire.  Will the children escape with their lives and can they save the world from the Emergency??  Read to find out.  Really.  Read this book!  Grades 3 and up.

Freddy and the Baseball Team From Mars

Freddy and the Baseball Team From Mars by Walter R. Brooks was published in 1955 and while there are some antiquated terms and phrases, the content of the story is excellent for that youthful reader seeking mystery, a little bit of fright, sports, and science fiction.  Freddy is a walking, talking pig, who mingles among animals and humans alike.  He is such a nice and intelligent pig that the aliens who have recently settled in town have long since befriended Freddy and ask him to help them find their missing friend.  The mystery unfolds as Freddy decides to investigate the missing critter by building a baseball team and competing with suspects.  The book holds all those key elements young readers are looking for as well as the gentlemanly behaviors and etiquette of the mid-20th Century, among animals no less.  Grades 3 and up.