The Extraordinary Education of Nicholas Benedict (2012) by Trenton Lee Stewart is the prequel to The Mysterious Benedict Society (2007).

Nicholas Benedict is a 9-year-old orphan who moves to the Rothschild Manor orphanage. He’s been removed from Littleview orphanage because he has narclopesy.

In the Rothschild Manor orphanage, Nicholas becomes friends with John and makes enemies with the bullies there. The bullies are known as the Spiders & clever Nicholas often outsmarts them.

When his friend John is adopted, Nicholas runs away.