The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart

This is what my friend wanted me to read, since apparently it was her favorite book of all time. It probably would have been my favorite book too, if I had read it when I was eight years old. That's not an insult though; this book was obviously written for little children, I thought the author did a spectacular job. I think little kids who enjoy Harry Potter or stuff like that would love this book, especially younger ones, because it doesn't involve the darkness and death that are often present in adventurous kids books. It seemed to be written very carefully, full of deliberate, good messages for children. The main characters, alone at the beginning, learned important lessons about conquering their fears, believing in themselves, and being true to their friends.
The protagonist's name is Reynie, and he and three other students are chosen from a large number of children that take a mysterious test. The four of them are sent to a strange island, where an evil scientist who runs a school for children is trying to take over the world. The children enroll in the institution, spy on him, and end up saving the day. Since this story is definitely aimed at young children, it is very unrealistic at parts. In real life, a story like this would probably involve lots of violence and people getting killed. But it is a great, happy story for little children. I might not recommend it to any of my classmates, but I think it is a fantastic choice for younger children.