The Mysterious Benedict Society (The Mysterious Benedict Society: Book 1)

In a city called Stonetown, near a port called Stonetown Harbour, a boy named Reynie Muldoon was preparing to take an important test. It was the second test of the day – the first had been in an office on the other side of town. After that one he was told to come here, to the Monk Building on 3rd Street, and to bring nothing but a single pencil and a single rubber, and to arrive no later than one o’clock. If he happened to be late, or bring two pencils, or forget his rubber, or in any other way deviate from the instructions, he would not be allowed to take the test, and that would be that. Reynie, who very much wanted to take it, was careful to follow the instructions. Curiously enough, these were the only ones given.