39 Clues (Book)

Riordan, R. (2008). The maze of bones. New York, NY: Scholastic, Inc. ISBN: 978-0-545-06039-4

Interest Level: Ages 9 to 14
Genre: Mystery
Subjects/Themes: Action/Adventure, Mystery, Orphans, Code Breaking, Family Secrets, Travel,

Plot: Grace Cahill, matriarch of the Cahill family, has just passed away leaving behind millions of dollars to her relatives.  From all over the world, the many branches of the Cahill family have gathered for Grace’s funeral and for the reading of her will.  Dan and Amy Cahill aren't worried about who's getting their grandmother's money; they know she'll have left them something, however small.  They were her favorites and had spent every weekend of the last seven years since their parent’s deaths at her estate.  More importantly, Dan and Amy wonder what will happen to them now that the only relative in the world who has cared about them since their parent’s death is gone.  As relatives gather to hear Grace's will, each person is given five minutes to make a choice - 1 million dollars or the first of 39 clues which will lead to a secret that would make them the most powerful and influential person on the planet.

Brother and sister, Dan and Amy Cahill, have decided to take the clue despite their lack of resources and the risks involved.  Orphaned, poor, and now disowned by their Aunt Beatrice for not taking the money, the children start on their quest to find the other clues before anyone else does.  Grace’s lawyer informed those who had chosen the clues that there would be many different ways to finding the answers and the next clues. Dan and Amy's path starts in a secret section of their grandmother's library.  Unfortunately, the library and the rest of the house is set on fire with them still inside.  Narrowly escaping, they gather what little supplies they have and convince Nellie, their au pair (full time baby-sitter), to travel with them in their search.  Following the clues, they learn of their family relationship with Benjamin Franklin, dodge bombs, travel to Paris, almost get buried alive, and that’s only the start of their journey.

Personal Thoughts: I loved this book.  There is a lot of action and intrigue (bombs are getting set off, booby traps, and double/triple crossings).  The text is easy to read and filled with different historical information without the feeling of being weighed down.  In this book, the children are following clues linked to Benjamin Franklin's life and inventions which readers will learn random facts about.  The children are orphans and the rest of their family branches were fighting with one another even before Grace's funeral.  There are five other teams, out for blood, that the children are racing against.  All the other teams seem to think that the children have a better chance, being Grace's favorites, to find the clues and are trying to permanently take them out of the competition.  A great book for boys or girls who like a fast paced action read mixed with mystery.  Kind of like The Da Vinci Code for kids.  This is definitely a Must Read!

Note: The books in this series have been written by a variety of different authors (Rick Riordan, Gordon Korman, Peter Lerangis, Jude Watson, Patrick Carman, Linda Sue Park and Margaret Peterson Haddix.)

Series Info: Book One of the 39 Clues series
Sequel: One False Note (2008)
Book Talk: Check out my 2 minute book talk for Maze of Bones.

Awards/Recognition:
New York Times Bestsellers List
USA Today Bestsellers List
Publishers Weekly Bestsellers List
Wall Street Journal Bestsellers List

Book's Website: Scholastic's 39 Clues Website