Amy and Dan thought that when the clue hunt was over they could relax and be normal kids again. They thought that when they beat the vicious Isabel Kabra and secured the serum, things were going to be better.
So did we.
But Scholastic wanted more money.
For those who don’t know, The 39 Clues is a multi-author series in which Amy and Dan Cahill are surprised to learn that they are members of the most powerful family in human history. The source of their families power is hidden throughout the world in the form of 39 special clues. Unfortunately, their family members are also after the clues, and they’re willing to kill to get them. This is a great series for kids.
Learn more about The 39 Clues.
Even though The 39 Clues was originally supposed to be only ten books, they have kept the series running due to the success. I was pretty excited at the time that there would be another series because I just absolutely loved it.
The new series has to do with a rival family to the Cahills known as the Vespers. The Vespers are pure evil and will stop at nothing to steal the clues (and some other secret stuff) from Amy and Dan.
This book bridges the gap between the clue hunt and the fight against the Vespers.
Summary
The way this book is written is that it’s split up into four parts. As the series was multi-author, they also made this book multi-author. The first section is written by Rick Riordan, the second by Peter Lerangis, the third by Gordon Korman, and the last by Jude Watson.
The different authors travel through time and reveal different things about the Cahill family. It’s interesting to learn more about old secrets we’ve been wondering about for the whole series.
Riordan opens the book by telling us about what really happened at the time of Gideon Cahill. We learn about the Vesper founder, Damien Vesper, how Gideon’s kids got the clues, and what really happened when his lab was burned. We also learn about the mysterious ring.
The next story, written by Peter Lerangis, tells us about Madeleine Cahill, the founder of the Madrigal branch. Not many people know it, but Gideon and Olivia Cahill had a fifth kid named Madeleine. Madeleine was taught by Olivia to try to bring the warring family together. This is very well written and it tells us a cool story about how the Madrigal branch and the M started.
In the third section, written by Gordon Korman, we track the movements of young Grace Cahill. Grace realizes that the Vesper’s have stolen the ring from her father, James Cahill, and goes on a mission to Casablanca to recover it. Grace manages to get a pilot to take her there encounters George S. Patton. Patton tells her about the Vespers, but later learns that he may have tricked her. But Grace isn’t about to let the ring fall into the wrong hands.
Finally, Jude Watson takes us back to the present with Amy and Dan. They have returned home and are trying to start a normal life. However, they learn of the ring and are told that Grace wanted them to protect it. Amy starts wearing it, but soon after they are attacked while on the way to school. Luckily Amy knows jiujitsu, but the message is clear; the Cahill family better get ready for perhaps their toughest battle yet.
Review
This book is really good and interesting. I enjoyed learning secrets that I had wondered about for the two years since the series started, and also having the story moved forward. The adventures are very exciting.
If you haven’t read The 39 Clues, yet, though, then don’t read this book. This is a transition book for people who have already finished all ten books in the clue hunt series and are looking to tie up loose ends as they move on to the fight with the Vespers. Otherwise I’d recommend just starting with the first book of the current arc.
For obsessed clue hunters, however, this is a great book. After it they’ll be obsessed Vesper hunters 🙂
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