http://www.bibliofagia.ro/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=flypage.tpl&product_id=83&category_id=30&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=1
http://shaukisbookcase.wordpress.com/2008/04/01/misterioasa-societate-benedict/
http://www.corintjunior.ro/products.asp?prod=226&cat=85&hierarchy=0
vineri, 29 octombrie 2010
duminică, 17 octombrie 2010
Veste buna!
Yahoo Answers, Answers.com si multe alte site-uri spun ca s-ar putea ca Misterioasa Societate Benedict sa fie un film in curand! Pentru mai multe detalii:
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20090609184034AA5kRSp
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20090609184034AA5kRSp
marți, 21 septembrie 2010
luni, 20 septembrie 2010
Link
http://media.barnesandnoble.com/?fr_story=b76229daab3e9d0539498b44eb4549bf835bf2cf&rf=sitemap
Link cu operele lui Trenton Lee Stewart.
Link cu operele lui Trenton Lee Stewart.
T. L. Stewart
http://media.barnesandnoble.com/?fr_story=b76229daab3e9d0539498b44eb4549bf835bf2cf&rf=sitemap
Da-ti click pe link si il puteti auzi pe Stewart in interviu!
Da-ti click pe link si il puteti auzi pe Stewart in interviu!
Misterioasa Societate Benedict si Dilema Prizonierului - rezumat
In a treia carte din Misterioasa Societate Benedict, Reynie, Sticky, Kate, Constance si cei dragi lor se reunesc in casa domnului Benedict, foarte securizata. Domnul Cortina vrea sa puna din nou mana pe Soptitor, care este acum in posesia domnului Benedict, pentru a controla din nou mintile oamenilor de la distanta. Cand un om de afaceri se prezinta cu niste acte false ca fiind tatal adevarat a lui Constance, il oblige pe domnul Benedict sa descopere trecutul scurt al fetitei. Dupa multa dezorintare si confuzie, Constance fuge. Domnul Cortina au nevoie sa obtina Soptirorul si au stability un plan pentru a-l fura. Dar bineinteles ca echipa Misterioasei Societati Benedict se afla in curand pe urmele lui.
Misterioasa Societate Benedict si Calatoria Periculoasa - rezumat
Povestea incepe la ferma lui Kate Wetherall, unde toti copiii doresc sa stea cateva zile inainte de a pleca la Stonetown pentru a-l vizita pe domnul Benedict, care vrea sa ii trimita la o cautare de comori internationala, pentru a testa abilitatile lor. Cand sosesc in casa domnului Benedict, primesc vesti proaste de la Rhonda: domnul Benedict si Numarul Doi au fost rapiti de domunl Cortina, personajul negative al cartii anterioare si fratele geaman al domnului Benedict. In scrisoarea de rascumparare, domnul Cortina descrie o anumita planta rara, si spune ca trebuie sa cunoasca identitatea unei persoane foarte apropiata de domnul Benedict, pentru ca acea persoana stie informatii despre planta misterioasa. Daca aceste informatii nu sunt furnizate repede, domnul Benedict si Numarul Doi vor fi in pericol. Constance le arata ca domnul Benedict i-a dat un pachet inainte de a fi rapit si i-a spus sa o deschida doar atunci cand vin si ceilalti copii. Constanţa arată că domnul Benedict ia dat o scrisoare înainte de el a fost răpit, şi ia spus să-l deschisă atunci când alţi copii sosit. Pachetul continea un mesaj de salut din partea domnului Benedict si o ghicitoare fara sens. In rezolvarea ghicitorii, ei descopera ca toate cuvintele sunt scrise in ordine alfabetica. Acest lucru ii conduce la un dictionary si apoi la un jurnal – in care se afla alta ghicitoare lipsita de sens. Copiii invata sa dea comenzi rapide la nava Äúfastest, care le da mai multe informatii, si ajung intr-un castel din Portugalia. De acolo, dovezile ascunse ii directioneaza intr-o biblioteca din Thernbaakagen. Acolo, ei isi dau seama ca instalatia UA este numita duskwort si este extreme de rara, poate chiar disparuta. Ea are puterea ca, atunci cand este arsa, sa adoarma sate intregi. De asmenea, este un antidote impotriva narcolepsiei (domunl Benedict a descoperit acest lucru cu ajutorul parintilor sai). Copiii au calatorit la un hotel, dar au fost gasiti de doi dintre oamneii de paza ai domnului Cortina. Cu toate acestea, ei sunt salvati de Layazar, care ii insoteste pentru a gasi mai multe indicii. In cele din urma, au gasit locatia plantei duskort – o insula abandonata. Au gasit-o pana la urma pe Numarul Doi, care le-a spus ca domnul Benedict este in partea de sus a muntelui. Ei sunt surprinsi de un grup de 10 oameni. Copiii au fugit in partea de sus a muntelui, in timp ce Layazar ii sprijina, incercand sa scape de cei 10 oameni. Cei patru urca pe munte, in timp ce Layazar aluneca si cade pe pietre. Ei il gasesc pe domnul Benedict legat de un perete dintr-o pestera. Acesta ii implora sa distruga planta. Insa copiii spun ca nu vor si domnul Benedict se arata ca fiind insusi domnul Cortina, care blocheaza peretele dupa care este ascuns adevaratul domn Benedict. Dupa multe trucuri si viclenii, copiii si domnul Benedict scapa (chiar daca cel din urma adoarme de narcolepsie, iar copiii sunt nevoiti s ail care). Jos, il gasesc pe Layazar grav ranit si domnul Benedict isi revine din somn. Urmariti de agentii de paza ai domnului Cortina, eroii nostril reusesc sa scape pe o barca, unde, din pacate, cei rai au pus explozibli la usa. Dar Kate reuseste sa ii scape pe toti distrugand explozibilul. Copiii se intorc acasa la familiile lor si totul se termina cu bine! Deocamdata…
Misterioasa Societate Benedict - rezumat
Dupa ce a vazut un articol de ziar adresat copiilor cu abilitati speciale, Reynard Muldoon, un copil de unsprezece ani, merge la o proba unde multi copii isi incearca norocul pentru a da o proba scrisa cu intrebari foarte caudate legate de logica, curaj, etc. El este singurul din incapere care reuseste sa treaca examenul si, dup ace toti copii ies afara la parintii lor, este invitat la o a doua parte a probei. Ziua urmatoare, la a doua parte a testului, o intalneste pe Rhonda, o fata care si-a pierdut unicul sau creion pentru test. Reynie isi rupe creionul sau in jumatate pentru a-l da Rhondei, iar aceasta ii ofera raspunsurile la testul care va avea sa vina. Reynie refuza acest lucru si merge la centrul de testare. Toate intrebarile testului sunt imposibil de grele, iar unii din ceilalti copii chiar au inceput sa planga. Dar Reynard isi da seama ca fiecare dintre raspunsurile intrebarilor se regasesc in alta intrebare din acel test. Baiatul isi da seama ca este doar un puzzle mare. Singurii copii care au putut trece testele au fost George “Stiky” Washington, un baiat cu o memorie vizuala foarte dezvoltata, Kate Wetherall, o fata foarte agila care se descurca in orice situatie, si Constance Contraire, o fata mica si incapatanata. Ulterior, sunt toti invitati in casa lui Nicolas Benedict, care le prezinta planurile sale. El le spune ca, prin utilizarea de mesaje ascunse in televiziune, prin folosirea unui anumit “Soptitor”, poti controla mintea oamenilor. Un exemplu de astfel de mesaje ascunse este: “Cei ce au disparut, n-au disparut, doar au plecat departe.”. Domnul benedict le spune ca expeditorul acestor mesaje este K. de Cortina, fratele sau geaman, cel care a creat Colegiul Academic pentru copii cu Rezultate Deosebite (CARD, citit pe dos DRAC). Institutul se afla pe o insula din largul coastelor orasului Stonetown. Cand au ajuns acolo, ca elevi spioni, copiii se intalnesc cu oameni ciudati. Lestiile sunt la fel de caudate, invatand multe chestii fara sens. Comunicand prin codul Morse cu domnul Cortina si cu ai lui, copii descopera planurile oribile ale domnului Cortina pentru a controla oamneii din toata lumea. Copii reusesc sa il infranga pe domnul Cortina, permitandu-I domnului Benedict sa inchida Soptitorul, masina oribila cu care erau controlate gandurile oamenilor. Desi nu au scapat definitive de domnul Cortina care este plecat pe mare, copii sarbatoresc in casa domnului Benedict cea de-a treia aniversare a lui Constance.
miercuri, 1 septembrie 2010
Misterioasa Societate Benedict si Dilema prizonierului
Cartea a fost scrisa in 7 editii. Aici se afla poza uneia dintre ele si... o poza cu Trenton Lee Stewart!
Misterioasa Societate Benedict si Dilema Prizonierului este un roman pentru copii, publicat in 2009. Este a treia carte din seria Misterioasa Societate Benedict.
Mistrioasa Societate Benedict si Calatoria Periculoasa
Misterioasa Societate Benedict si Calatoria Periculoasa este o carte extraordinara pentru copii, scrisa de Trenton Lee Stewart si ilustrata de Diana Sudika, publicata pe 1 mai 2008. Este a doua carte din serie, care urmeaza dupa Misterioasa Societate Benedict.
Mistrioasa Societate Benedict si Calatoria Periculoasa a fost scrisa in 10 editii. Aici puteti vedea doar doua dintre ele.
Carson Ellis
Carson Ellis Friedman (nascuta in 10.05.1975) este o artista din Portland, Oregon. Opera ei de arta este cunoscuta pentru paleta subtila de culori si liniile distinctive.
Ea este cea mai cunoscuta pentru lucrarile sale la albumul trupei rock Decemberists. Ea a fost responsabila pentru coperta albumelor lor Crane Wife, Her Majesty, Copiii capitanului Grant, Pericole de dragoste, 5 piese din Tain, precum si la alte trupe, cum ar fi Beat Circus si Weezer. A facut, de asemenea, pliante pentru concertele lor. Carson Ellis a facut si ilustratiile din Misterioasa Societate Benedict, publicata in 2007.
Este casatorita cu cantaretul de la Decemberists, Colin Meloy, pe care l-a intalnit la colegiu, cand crea postere pentru Tarkio. Ea si Meloy au un singur copil, Henry “Hank” Meloy. Acestia lucreaza in prezent la o carte pentru copii cu o pisica vorbitoare, Albert.
Cei de la fostul orfelinat in care traia Reynie...
• Miss Perumal este tutorele lui Reynie, de origine indiana, foarte inteligenta si prietenoasa. Ea a fost singurul prieten al lui Reynard la orfelinat si il adopta la sfarsitul primei carti.
• Domnul Rutger este directorul orfelinatului unde si-a petrecut Reynie prima parte a vietii. Este orbit de lacomie: nu lasa niciun copil sa plece de la orfelinatul lui la o scoala mai buna pentru a nu pierde fonduri.
• Domnul Rutger este directorul orfelinatului unde si-a petrecut Reynie prima parte a vietii. Este orbit de lacomie: nu lasa niciun copil sa plece de la orfelinatul lui la o scoala mai buna pentru a nu pierde fonduri.
Si cei care lucreaza pentru Domnul Benedict!
• Layazar este o paza pentru copii, domnul Benedict, Rhonda si Numarul Doi. Este un om trist si sumbru, chiar este descris ca o sperietoare. Tristetea lui este cauzata de faptul ca i-au fost sterse toate amintirile din trecut de catre domnul Cortina, care a folosit Soptitorul.
• Numarul Doi este una din asistentele domnului Benedict. Ea a avut intotdeauna un nume de cod. Este declarata ca avand un aspect de creion galben: ten galben, parul rosu ruginiu si haine galbene. A dat si ea testul domnului Benedict acum cativa ani si a fost adoptata ulterior de catre acesta. Nu doarme aproape niciodata, asa ca este nevoita sa manance mult mai mult decat un om normal. Veti afla adevaratul ei nume in a treia carte. • Rhonda Kazembe este, de asemenea, o fosta studenta adoptata de domnul Benedict. Ea este prezentata o studenta excentrica cat timp s-au dat examenele, care le oferea copiilor raspunsurile la test. Dar orice copil care va trisa nu va trece examenul.
• Numarul Doi este una din asistentele domnului Benedict. Ea a avut intotdeauna un nume de cod. Este declarata ca avand un aspect de creion galben: ten galben, parul rosu ruginiu si haine galbene. A dat si ea testul domnului Benedict acum cativa ani si a fost adoptata ulterior de catre acesta. Nu doarme aproape niciodata, asa ca este nevoita sa manance mult mai mult decat un om normal. Veti afla adevaratul ei nume in a treia carte. • Rhonda Kazembe este, de asemenea, o fosta studenta adoptata de domnul Benedict. Ea este prezentata o studenta excentrica cat timp s-au dat examenele, care le oferea copiilor raspunsurile la test. Dar orice copil care va trisa nu va trece examenul.
Cei care lucreaza pentru Domnul Cortina...
• S.Q. Pedalian este un executiv de lucru pentru domnul Cortina. Este cunoscut ca fiind un Klütz, dar se intampla sa fie doar executiv – chiar unul la fel de mistorios ca cei din Misterioasa Societate Benedict. Cu toate acestea, el este oarecum imun la efectele Soptitorului.
• Jackson este un alt sef executiv, dar este aspru, nepoliticos si crud.
• Jillson este un alt sef executiv, cu o atitudine de genul: „Eu sunt mai buna decat tine.”. Reputatia ei este ca a lui Jackson, fiind nepoliticoasa si cruda.
• Martina Crowe este o adolescenta cu parul lung si negru. Ea este cel mai important mesager al institutului, dar, mai tarziu, este promovata de domnul Cortina si devine executiv. Aceasta nu are incredere in membri Misterioasei Societati Benedict si ii dispretuieste, deoarece Reynie si Stiky luau note mult mai bune decat ea (mesagerii aveau un numar limitat). O uraste si pe Kate pentru ca acesteia nu ii era frica de ea.
• Jackson este un alt sef executiv, dar este aspru, nepoliticos si crud.
• Jillson este un alt sef executiv, cu o atitudine de genul: „Eu sunt mai buna decat tine.”. Reputatia ei este ca a lui Jackson, fiind nepoliticoasa si cruda.
• Martina Crowe este o adolescenta cu parul lung si negru. Ea este cel mai important mesager al institutului, dar, mai tarziu, este promovata de domnul Cortina si devine executiv. Aceasta nu are incredere in membri Misterioasei Societati Benedict si ii dispretuieste, deoarece Reynie si Stiky luau note mult mai bune decat ea (mesagerii aveau un numar limitat). O uraste si pe Kate pentru ca acesteia nu ii era frica de ea.
Domnul Benedict vs. Domnul Cortina
• Ledroptha Cortina Este personajul negativ al povestii si seful de la Colegiul Academic pentru copiii cu Rezultate Deosebite (CARD, citit pe dos DRAC). Domnul Cortina a creat Soptitorul si alte inventii, in scopul de a controla mintile din intreaga lume, pentru a fi declarat „Ministru si Secretar al tuturor Regiunilor Pamantului”. Acesta s-a dovedit a fi fratele geaman al domnului Benedict. El foloseste un scaun cu rotile pentru a se deplasa din cauza ca este narcoleptic, stare pe care o impartaseste cu fratele sau. Cu toate acestea, spre deosebire de fratele lui, narcolepsia sa este declansata de furie, in timp ce narcolepsia fratelui sau este datorata de fericire si de ras.
• Domnul Benedict este persoana care a oprit totul. El este cel care vrea sa il opreasca pe K. De Cortina. Acesta are narcolepsie, la fel ca fratele sau geaman, care este declansata de o emotie puternica. El nu prea ar fi vrut sa lase copii singuri pentru a distruge raul, dar cand si-a amintit ca nu exista nicio alta cale le permite sa plece. Numele său adevărat este Nicholas Benedict.
• Domnul Benedict este persoana care a oprit totul. El este cel care vrea sa il opreasca pe K. De Cortina. Acesta are narcolepsie, la fel ca fratele sau geaman, care este declansata de o emotie puternica. El nu prea ar fi vrut sa lase copii singuri pentru a distruge raul, dar cand si-a amintit ca nu exista nicio alta cale le permite sa plece. Numele său adevărat este Nicholas Benedict.
Constance Contraire
• Constance (sau micuta Connie) Contraire este o fetita mica, extrem de inteligenta si precoce, dar, de asemenea, extrem de incapatanata si neplacuta. Ea are capacitatea de a scrie poezii inteligente si capricioase, iar mintea ei ultra-sensibila este de asemenea cea mai grav afectata de mesajele ascunse venite de dincolo. Ea este prezentata la sfarsitul cartii ca avand aproape trei ani, spre surprinderea tuturor.
(in poza: stanga - se afla Constance, langa care sta Sticky)
Kate Biruietot
• Kate (care isi spunea „Marea Masina Biruitoare Kate”) Biruietot este o fata de doisprezece ani, care este plina de resurse si atletica, care poseda agilitate extrema si dexteritate supraomeneasca. Are parul blond si pielea deschisa la culoare. Ea poarta, agatata de pantaloni, o galeata care contine elemente diferite, inclusiv un cutit Swiss Army, o lanterna, un stilou cu lumina, o sticla cu lipici extra rezistent, o coarda, un sac de marmura, un Slingshot, ata de pescuit, creion si radiera (clar), un magnet potcoava, un ochean deghizat in caleidoscop si cate si mai cate. Ea este o fata foarte vesela si optimista. Mama lui Kate a murit cand aceasta era foarte mica, iar ea crede ca tatal sau a abandonat-o. Ea s-a alaturat, mai tarziu, unui circ. Cu toate acestea, spre sfarsitul povestii, aflam ca Layazar, ale carui memorii au fost distruse de domnul Cortina, este tatal de mult pierdut al lui Kate.
Sticky Washington
• George (poreclit „Stiky”) Washington este un baiat negricios cu capul chel. El are, la fel ca si Reynard, unsprezece ani. Acesta are o memorie vizuala extraordinara si un talent unic la citire. Cu toate acestea, este timid si nervos in situatiile se stres sau atunci cand isi sterge ochelarii. El a fugit de acasa, deoarece parintii sai l-au ortat sa participe la competitii academice si a avut, mai tarziu, un motiv ca sa creada ca acestia nu il mai doreau.
Reynard Muldoon
• Reynard (sau Reynie) Muldoon este un baiat de unsprezece ani de la orfelinatul Stonetown. El este extrem de bun la rezolvarea problemelor, deductie logica, si invatarea limbilor straine. Istetimea lui a dus la alocarea unui tutore special, Miss Perumal. Reynie se dovedeste foarte bun in probleme cu linii, observare, chestionare de logica si mai e si cel mai bun la rezolvarea puzzle-urilor. El este descris ca un baiat de talie medie, cu parul saten, tenul palid si haine obisnuite.
(in poza: Reynie este cel din fata, iar in spate se afla Kate)
duminică, 15 august 2010
Misterioasa Societate Benedict
Primul volum din Misterioasa Societate Benedict a fost publicat in 15 editii! Aici puteti vedea 4 dintre ele.
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Flood Summer
Flood Summer este o alta carte scrisa de Trenton Lee Stewart, care nu este in seria "Misterioasa Societate Benedict".
vineri, 13 august 2010
Interviu - Martie 2007
In this interview, Trenton Lee Stewart - author of THE MYSTERIOUS BENEDICT SOCIETY - describes how his interest in puzzles and his love of riddles inspired the idea for this story, and explains how creating his characters was one long exercise in "wishful thinking." He also offers advice to aspiring writers, discusses the kinds of books he read as a kid and shares fun facts about himself --- such as his favorite superheroes, hobbies and dessert foods.
Question: First, let's talk a little about The Mysterious Benedict Society, which character in the book do you most relate to? Why? Which character do you WISH you were like?
Trenton Lee Stewart: I probably relate most to Reynie, who has a wry sense of humor and a lot of curiosity, although I’m not half as clever as he is. I wish I had Reynie’s shrewdness and his gift of perception, just as I wish I could read as quickly and remember as well as Sticky does, and be as acrobatic as Kate, and have a fraction of Constance’s ability to say what she thinks. Obviously this book was one long exercise in wishful thinking.
Q: The names in the book are very clever --- how did you come up with things like Ledroptha Curtain and Nomansan Island?
TLS: I was just being playful. I wanted the names to be distinctive, and eventually I decided it would be fun for them to reflect the characters’ personalities, or to refer to something that might add meaning to the book or serve as a hidden joke. A few characters are named for friends of mine, however, and don’t hint at anything deeper. (So if you’re pulling your hair out trying to find the joke, it may be because there isn’t one.)
Q: The puzzles that the children encounter are a bit challenging. How did you come up with them? Do you feel the story would work without them? And, most importantly, do your kids call you the "Puzzle Master?"
TLS: It was the puzzles that led me to write the book in the first place. I’d long had an image in mind of a child taking a difficult test that was more than it appeared to be. To me that seemed the beginning of an intriguing story. When a similar idea occurred to me later, I thought of it as a possible addition to the first one. From there the story began to take shape. So although the book might work without the puzzles, it would not exist without them. As for being a puzzle master: the truth is I’m not one; my kids are more likely to think of me as the sleepy guy who pours their cereal. But I’ve always loved riddles, which are so often a kind of sleight-of-hand with words; that is, their trickiness depends on making you look in the wrong direction. (If a riddle mentions a cabin, for instance, you will probably picture a building made of logs rather than a room in a ship.) Thinking about how riddles work helped me when I was trying to come up with new ones.
Q: It’s pretty cool how the kids are challenged to basically save the world --- do you think that in the real world kids could really have that much power?
TLS: I’ve read accounts of kids who felt so passionate about a cause that they single-handedly raised incredible amounts of money to donate --- and did it while going to school, playing sports, learning to play oboe, you name it. Kids are capable of amazing things. Of course, in the real world doing good on a large scale usually requires many people --- be they kids or adults --- to work together with dedication and passion. And there are people, including kids, doing exactly that every day. That kind of work may sound less exciting than what my fictional kids do, but it’s extremely important --- and much less dangerous.
Q: What was it like to work with the illustrator, Carson Ellis ?TLS: I didn’t work with Carson Ellis directly, but she’s a marvelous illustrator and I feel lucky she worked on this book. Some of her illustrations are the best I’ve seen anywhere.Q: Can you give us a sneak preview of the next book? C'mon! Just a quick teaser?
TLS: Someone very important goes missing, someone very dangerous is responsible, and a certain four children take it upon themselves to get involved.
Q: OK, enough about the book --- let’s talk about you! Who is your favorite superhero? Why?
TLS: I learned to read with Spider-Man comic books, and Spidey has always remained my favorite. My reasons are the same as everyone’s: He’s a regular guy with a lot of problems, and he has to work hard for everything --- whether that’s defeating a super-villain or paying the rent. And, of course, nothing is cooler than being able to jump around the way he does.
Q: What kind of books did you read back when you were a kid? And how about now?
TLS: When I was a kid I read just about everything I could get my hands on, which meant I read a lot of bad books along with the good ones. But my favorites were always adventures about kids in strange and difficult circumstances. Or if not kids, then rabbits (as in Watership Down), rodents (as in Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH), or hobbits (as in --- you guessed it --- The Hobbit). I seem to have preferred my heroes on the small side. As an adult I’ve been drawn to classic novels, though I read a lot of modern fiction, too. Until recently, I hadn’t read books for older children or young adults in a long time, but I often looked back upon my favorites with a certain longing --- I missed them --- and since writing The Mysterious Benedict Society I’ve been rediscovering the pleasures of books written for that age range.
Q: Can you describe the best pizza you’ve ever had?
TLS: You wouldn’t believe the trouble I’ve had trying to answer this question honestly. The simplest answer, apparently, is “no.” I’m sure that it was cut into slices and covered with cheese and tomato sauce, and that it was more or less flat, but beyond this my powers of recall and critical judgment fail me.
Q: If you had to choose between chocolate chip cookies and apple pie, which would you pick?
TLS: A good chocolate chip cookie usually wins out over a good apple pie, but a bad cookie definitely loses to a good pie. So a chocolate chip cookie should never feel comfortable in its superiority. (Unless it’s unbaked, because I love chocolate chip cookie dough more than anything.)
Q: What else do you like to do besides writing?
TLS: I love to read, watch movies, take long walks, play music (inexpertly), visit art museums, play chess and poker, and of course spend time with my family --- especially reading to my young sons and playing with them. I also spend a lot of time being mysterious.
Q: When you were in school, what were your favorite subjects? Did you know then that you wanted to be a writer?
TLS: Although I was interested in most everything, English was always my favorite subject, and I wrote poems and stories even in elementary school. For a brief time I thought I wanted to be an inventor, but that dream fell apart (as did the things I tried to invent), and by the time I graduated high school I knew I wanted to be a writer.
Q: How can I become a writer when I get older?
TLS: Write a lot --- every day, if possible --- read a lot (including a few reputable books on the craft of writing), and stubbornly refuse to be discouraged. If you like to tell stories and compose sentences, and if you work hard at being good at these things, then you are a writer even if you haven’t published anything. And if you keep at it long enough you very well might publish something. I know a lot of excellent writers who haven’t been published, though, because there is a certain amount of luck involved in finding publishers who appreciate your particular kind of writing. So if you want to be a published writer, you should also try very hard - every day, if possible - to be lucky.
Question: First, let's talk a little about The Mysterious Benedict Society, which character in the book do you most relate to? Why? Which character do you WISH you were like?
Trenton Lee Stewart: I probably relate most to Reynie, who has a wry sense of humor and a lot of curiosity, although I’m not half as clever as he is. I wish I had Reynie’s shrewdness and his gift of perception, just as I wish I could read as quickly and remember as well as Sticky does, and be as acrobatic as Kate, and have a fraction of Constance’s ability to say what she thinks. Obviously this book was one long exercise in wishful thinking.
Q: The names in the book are very clever --- how did you come up with things like Ledroptha Curtain and Nomansan Island?
TLS: I was just being playful. I wanted the names to be distinctive, and eventually I decided it would be fun for them to reflect the characters’ personalities, or to refer to something that might add meaning to the book or serve as a hidden joke. A few characters are named for friends of mine, however, and don’t hint at anything deeper. (So if you’re pulling your hair out trying to find the joke, it may be because there isn’t one.)
Q: The puzzles that the children encounter are a bit challenging. How did you come up with them? Do you feel the story would work without them? And, most importantly, do your kids call you the "Puzzle Master?"
TLS: It was the puzzles that led me to write the book in the first place. I’d long had an image in mind of a child taking a difficult test that was more than it appeared to be. To me that seemed the beginning of an intriguing story. When a similar idea occurred to me later, I thought of it as a possible addition to the first one. From there the story began to take shape. So although the book might work without the puzzles, it would not exist without them. As for being a puzzle master: the truth is I’m not one; my kids are more likely to think of me as the sleepy guy who pours their cereal. But I’ve always loved riddles, which are so often a kind of sleight-of-hand with words; that is, their trickiness depends on making you look in the wrong direction. (If a riddle mentions a cabin, for instance, you will probably picture a building made of logs rather than a room in a ship.) Thinking about how riddles work helped me when I was trying to come up with new ones.
Q: It’s pretty cool how the kids are challenged to basically save the world --- do you think that in the real world kids could really have that much power?
TLS: I’ve read accounts of kids who felt so passionate about a cause that they single-handedly raised incredible amounts of money to donate --- and did it while going to school, playing sports, learning to play oboe, you name it. Kids are capable of amazing things. Of course, in the real world doing good on a large scale usually requires many people --- be they kids or adults --- to work together with dedication and passion. And there are people, including kids, doing exactly that every day. That kind of work may sound less exciting than what my fictional kids do, but it’s extremely important --- and much less dangerous.
Q: What was it like to work with the illustrator, Carson Ellis ?TLS: I didn’t work with Carson Ellis directly, but she’s a marvelous illustrator and I feel lucky she worked on this book. Some of her illustrations are the best I’ve seen anywhere.Q: Can you give us a sneak preview of the next book? C'mon! Just a quick teaser?
TLS: Someone very important goes missing, someone very dangerous is responsible, and a certain four children take it upon themselves to get involved.
Q: OK, enough about the book --- let’s talk about you! Who is your favorite superhero? Why?
TLS: I learned to read with Spider-Man comic books, and Spidey has always remained my favorite. My reasons are the same as everyone’s: He’s a regular guy with a lot of problems, and he has to work hard for everything --- whether that’s defeating a super-villain or paying the rent. And, of course, nothing is cooler than being able to jump around the way he does.
Q: What kind of books did you read back when you were a kid? And how about now?
TLS: When I was a kid I read just about everything I could get my hands on, which meant I read a lot of bad books along with the good ones. But my favorites were always adventures about kids in strange and difficult circumstances. Or if not kids, then rabbits (as in Watership Down), rodents (as in Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH), or hobbits (as in --- you guessed it --- The Hobbit). I seem to have preferred my heroes on the small side. As an adult I’ve been drawn to classic novels, though I read a lot of modern fiction, too. Until recently, I hadn’t read books for older children or young adults in a long time, but I often looked back upon my favorites with a certain longing --- I missed them --- and since writing The Mysterious Benedict Society I’ve been rediscovering the pleasures of books written for that age range.
Q: Can you describe the best pizza you’ve ever had?
TLS: You wouldn’t believe the trouble I’ve had trying to answer this question honestly. The simplest answer, apparently, is “no.” I’m sure that it was cut into slices and covered with cheese and tomato sauce, and that it was more or less flat, but beyond this my powers of recall and critical judgment fail me.
Q: If you had to choose between chocolate chip cookies and apple pie, which would you pick?
TLS: A good chocolate chip cookie usually wins out over a good apple pie, but a bad cookie definitely loses to a good pie. So a chocolate chip cookie should never feel comfortable in its superiority. (Unless it’s unbaked, because I love chocolate chip cookie dough more than anything.)
Q: What else do you like to do besides writing?
TLS: I love to read, watch movies, take long walks, play music (inexpertly), visit art museums, play chess and poker, and of course spend time with my family --- especially reading to my young sons and playing with them. I also spend a lot of time being mysterious.
Q: When you were in school, what were your favorite subjects? Did you know then that you wanted to be a writer?
TLS: Although I was interested in most everything, English was always my favorite subject, and I wrote poems and stories even in elementary school. For a brief time I thought I wanted to be an inventor, but that dream fell apart (as did the things I tried to invent), and by the time I graduated high school I knew I wanted to be a writer.
Q: How can I become a writer when I get older?
TLS: Write a lot --- every day, if possible --- read a lot (including a few reputable books on the craft of writing), and stubbornly refuse to be discouraged. If you like to tell stories and compose sentences, and if you work hard at being good at these things, then you are a writer even if you haven’t published anything. And if you keep at it long enough you very well might publish something. I know a lot of excellent writers who haven’t been published, though, because there is a certain amount of luck involved in finding publishers who appreciate your particular kind of writing. So if you want to be a published writer, you should also try very hard - every day, if possible - to be lucky.
Trenton Lee Stewart
Trenton Lee Stewart s-a nascut in 1970, in Statele Unite si este un cunoscut nuvelist pentru copii si adulti.
A absolvit Seminarul Scriitorilor din Iowa. Ideea de la cel mai cunoscut roman al sau, si anume “Misterioasa Societate Benedict”, a pornit de la ideea ca cei mici sunt deseori vazuti, rar intalniti si intotdeauna subestimati! El locuieste impreuna cu sotia sa in Little Rock, Arkansas, unde este inspirit de cei doi fii ai sai.
Trenton Lee Stewart a scris:
• The Mysterious Benedict Society, Carson Ellis (ilustrator), publicata in 2007, 15 editii
• The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Perilous Journey, Diana Sudyka (ilustrator), publicata in 2008, 10 editii
• The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Prisoner’s Dilemma, publicata in 2009, 7 editii
• Flood Summer, publicata in 2005
• The Mysterious Benedict Society Box Set, publicata in 2010
A absolvit Seminarul Scriitorilor din Iowa. Ideea de la cel mai cunoscut roman al sau, si anume “Misterioasa Societate Benedict”, a pornit de la ideea ca cei mici sunt deseori vazuti, rar intalniti si intotdeauna subestimati! El locuieste impreuna cu sotia sa in Little Rock, Arkansas, unde este inspirit de cei doi fii ai sai.
Trenton Lee Stewart a scris:
• The Mysterious Benedict Society, Carson Ellis (ilustrator), publicata in 2007, 15 editii
• The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Perilous Journey, Diana Sudyka (ilustrator), publicata in 2008, 10 editii
• The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Prisoner’s Dilemma, publicata in 2009, 7 editii
• Flood Summer, publicata in 2005
• The Mysterious Benedict Society Box Set, publicata in 2010
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