The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Riddle of Ages

The puzzles add so much charm and tension, but I'm curious whether they were planned from the start or evolved during writing. Did they influence the story's direction?

The kids' unique personalities made the team feel real, but I wondered if their traits were inspired by real children or just imagined. What do others think?

The world feels so vivid and magical, almost like a dream. I'm curious if the author drew from real-world locations or built this universe entirely from scratch.