The Extraordinary Education of Nicholas Benedict (The Mysterious Benedict Society #0) [B1018]

2013 PB in excellent condition. Before there was a Mysterious Benedict Society, there was simply a boy named Nicholas Benedict. Meet the boy who started it all.... Nine-year-old Nicholas Benedict has more problems than most children his age. Not only is he an orphan with an unfortunate nose, but also he has narcolepsy, a condition that gives him terrible nightmares and makes him fall asleep at the worst possible moments. Now he's sent to a new orphanage, where he encounters vicious bullies, selfish adults, strange circumstances -- and a mystery that could change his life forever. Luckily, he has one important thing in his favor: He's a genius. On his quest to solve the mystery, Nicholas finds enemies around every corner, but also friends in unexpected places -- and discovers along the way that the greatest puzzle of all is himself.

From recent Amazon/GoodReads reviews: "This prequel to the MBS series offers a heartfelt and clever origin story for Nicholas Benedict, a brilliant but narcoleptic young orphan with a knack for solving puzzles. It's touching and engaging, perfectly setting the stage for the larger series. The mix of mystery, friendship, and challenges faced by a smart, vulnerable protagonist makes it a standout middle-grade read with emotional depth and warmth."; "This one was actually my favorite of the series. More adult than the others. Really enjoyed the characters and the writing."; "OH. MY. GOSH. No doubt, this is better than the other books. I at first didn't like Nicholas when I first started reading, but now that I've read this book... I can tell how much work Trenton put into making Nicholas's personality in all the books, but Nicholas in this book is the best."