The Extraordinary Education of Nicholas Benedict facts for kids
The US first edition cover.
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| Author | Trenton Lee Stewart |
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| Cover artist | Diana Sudyka |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Series | Mysterious Benedict Society |
| Genre | Children's |
| Publisher | Little, Brown and Company |
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Publication date
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2012 |
| Pages | 470 pp |
| ISBN | 978-0-316-17619-4 |
| LC Class | PZ7.S8513Ext2012 |
| Followed by | The Mysterious Benedict Society |
The Extraordinary Education of Nicholas Benedict is an exciting novel by American author Trenton Lee Stewart. It tells the story of Nicholas Benedict's childhood. This book happens before the events of The Mysterious Benedict Society. Get ready to meet Nicholas, a super smart nine-year-old orphan, and his friends, John Cole and Violet Hopefield, as they go on an amazing adventure!
Contents
Nicholas Benedict's Amazing Adventure
Nicholas Benedict is a nine-year-old orphan who is also a genius. He moves to the Rothschild Manor orphanage. He had to leave his old orphanage because of his narcolepsy. This is a condition that makes him fall into a deep sleep at unexpected times. For Nicholas, it often happens when he is laughing or feeling strong emotions.
Life at Rothschild Manor
Because of his narcolepsy, Nicholas has to sleep in his own room. The director, Mr. Collum, locks the room every night. The window in his room was blocked up. This was to stop Nicholas from sneaking out. But Nicholas is clever! He finds that the cement holding the blocks was not dry. He can remove it easily.
Nicholas quickly becomes friends with John, a boy with a scar on his face. He also makes enemies with the orphanage bullies. These bullies are Iggy, Breaker, and Moray. They are often called the Spiders. Nicholas is smart and outwits the Spiders when they try to hurt him. This only makes them dislike him even more.
A Secret Key and a Hidden Treasure
Because Nicholas is so smart, he comes up with a plan to get out of his room at night. One night, the director walks him to the washroom. Nicholas pretends he forgot his toothbrush. The director gives him the key and lets him run back to his room. Instead, Nicholas takes a candle and presses the key into the soft wax. This makes an impression of the key. He then quickly goes back to the washroom with the key and his brush.
Later, in metalworking class, Nicholas uses the impression to make a key. He finds out it is a skeleton key! This special key lets him wander all over the manor at night. He can go into many different places. This is very helpful because Nicholas learns about a legend. The legend says there is a huge treasure hidden somewhere in the Manor. Nicholas, along with his friends John and Violet, tries his best to find it. Violet is a deaf girl who lives on a nearby farm.
The Search for the Treasure
Things get complicated when John gets adopted. The Spiders then burn the letter John sent to Nicholas. Because of this, Nicholas runs away from the orphanage. He then meets a kind government attorney. Nicholas wants to be like this attorney. So, he decides to return to the orphanage.
When he gets back, he discovers that John was adopted by Violet's family! Violet wants to go to art school. But she plans to give up her dream so that Nicholas can also be adopted by her family. Nicholas, however, refuses this kind offer. He then makes a surprising discovery. The "treasure" was not gold or jewels. It was nothing more than a library!
Meet the Characters
- Nicholas Benedict: A very smart 9-year-old boy. He has a condition called narcolepsy, which makes him fall asleep suddenly.
- Mrs. Ferrier: An older woman who takes Nicholas to the orphanage from his previous home.
- Mr. Collum: The director of Rothschild Manor orphanage. Nicholas lives here during the story.
- Mr. Pileus: The general handyman at Rothschild Manor, also known as Child's End.
- John Cole: A 12-year-old boy who becomes good friends with Nicholas at the Manor.
- The Spiders: These are the orphanage bullies: Iggy, Breaker, and Moray.
- Mrs. Brindle: The woman in charge of cleaning at the orphanage.
- Ms. Candace: The nurse, sometimes called "Miss Pretty Pills." She sometimes gives children drops that make them sick by accident.
- Mr. Griese: The cook at the orphanage. Mrs. Brindle likes him a lot.
- Mr. Furrow: The man in charge of the barn and yard work at the orphanage.
- Violet Hopefield: A deaf girl who lives on a farm near Child's End. She becomes good friends with Nicholas and John.
