Author: Trenton Lee Stewart Review
Reynie, Sticky, Kate, and Constance are four gifted children chosen by Mr. Benedict to complete a secret mission. Mr. Benedicts explains that there are hidden messages broadcasted by televisions and that the messages must be stopped. In order to do so, the four children become secret agents to infiltrate an institute led by a mysterious man called Mr. Curtain. Inside the institute, the children must find their own way to be trusted by Mr. Curtain in order to become his Messengers in order to find out Mr. Curtain’s plans and to destroy them.
The story starts really fine. Reynie, Sticky, Kate, and Constance are nicely depicted. Each of them possess unique gifts. However, the story becomes really boring when the character Mr. Benedict shows up. First, Mr. Benedict’s character is too plain. Second, there seem to be lack of explanation to the children why the messages are dangerous and why they must be stopped now. It’s funny how gifted children such as them do not question Mr. Benedict’s motives and just follow his plans without sufficient explanations. Their stay at the institute does not pose enough adventure let alone action. There is no hidden tunnel, surprises, ambush or any other elements that can make the story more interesting. Instead, the messengers and executives Mr. Curtain has seems to be unintelligent and careless enough that the four children manage to get away every single time.
Overall, I would say the story could have been made more interesting.
