39 Clues Cahills vs. Vespers: The Medusa Plot

39 Clues Cahills vs. Vespers: The Medusa Plot
by Gordan Korman

Hello, loyal readers!  I’m sorry that I’ve been MIA for about a month.  It’s been a CRAZY month!  I moved into a new home and have been keeping super busy with everything that comes with that.  I also went to a librarian conference and had tons of fun.  But hopefully things will settle down and I’ll be able to bang out some more reviews on what I’ve been reading (because I have been).  So without further ado…

After Amy and Dan found the secret to the 39 Clues, they thought their troubles would be over.  Far from it.  There are other powerful, cunning families and groups who want that serum for themselves.  The Vespers are one such group.  They nearly perfectly execute the seamless capture of Cahills around the world.  3 intended victims escape – Amy, Dan, and Ned – while 7 are captured and held.  The leader, calling himself Vesper One, promises to kill one captive every day that Amy, Dan and the other Cahills do not act on his command.  Vesper One’s command?  They must get for him Caravaggio’s “Medusa” – a famous painting.  The youngest Cahills from all branches must now work together to save their relatives and loved ones from this cruel group.

We are back again with this illustrious family and their powerful sway on the world.  I admit, I am hooked.  Fans will not be disappointed with this continuation.  The only thing that confuses me is the passage of time.  Suddenly it seems two years have passed – it hasn’t been two years since the last 39 Clues book was published.  It also seems that these characters have been cast – instead of the other agents you met along the way while playing along online, there are actual photos in the book of our characters and videos in the online experience.  They just seem too old in my mind.  But the energy is there and the book is definitely engaging.  I know this is one series I will see through to the end.

Image taken from http://www.amazon.com.

For the Love of Music: The Remarkable Story of Maria Anna Mozart

For the Love of Music: The Remarkable Story of Maria Anna Mozart
by Elizabeth Rusch, Lou Fancher (illus.), and Steve Johnson (illus.)

Practically everyone who can speak in complete sentences has heard of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and has heard some of his music.  If you’ve read The 39 Clues, you probably also know that he had a very talented sister, Maria Anna (affectionately called “Nannerl”).  This is her often overlooked story.

Truthfully, this book drew my attention because I had read The 39 Clues: One False Note, so I had heard of Mozart’s sister.  I don’t really remember what The 39 Clues said about her or if it was accurate, but I am highly pleased that this story was written.  Very little is documented about her life, so this book was mostly created from the remaining correspondences between Maria Anna and her famous brother and pieces of her journals.  She was a devoted sister, and she never stopped loving music.  Her brother highly respected her compositions; but because she was a woman, she never got the exposure that Wolfgang got in the music world.  I was fascinated by her life and devotion, and I wish that some of her pieces remained.

Image taken from http://www.amazon.com.

The 39 Clues: Vespers Rising

The 39 Clues: Vespers Rising
by Rick Riordan, Peter Lerangis, Gordan Korman, Jude Watson

Warning!!  Contains spoilers for the 39 Clues series!!

What Amy and Dan found at the end of the clue hunt was not what they thought.  They thought there’d be rest, peace, family unity – or at least the beginning of that.  What they actually discovered were more secrets and dangers.  In Vespers Rising, the faithful scribes of the clue hunt introduce their fellow clue hunters to the Vespers, a secret society that has wanted Gideon Cahill’s secret for as long as his children have been hunting it.  They start in 1507 with Damien Vesper, an almost friend of Gideon Cahill, and the first of many horrible fires that the family would come to suffer throughout the generations.  Then we learn more about Madeleine Cahill, the founder of the Madrigals.  Then we see Grace’s debut onto the scene, guarding her family’s secrets from the dangerous Vespers.  And then finally Amy and Dan are back and they are introduced to the viciousness of the Vesper family.  The secrets they have to protect and guard now – will they ever have a normal life?

Oh, where to start.  I wished I enjoyed reading this book.  There were parts I did enjoy.  But I think maybe I’ve just been with Amy and Dan for too long, and I don’t care about them as much as characters any longer.  I found the reading experience choppy, as the four parts are written by four authors with very different styles and strengths.  I find myself wondering if I’ll start reading the Cahill vs. Vesper books when they come out, or if it’s too much of the same and not enough suspense or surprise.  I’m sure there will be twists and turns, but it’s just not fun any more.  Part of the reason it might not be fun for me anymore, though, is that I’m limited in the online experience now.  The newest “mission” is only accessible by adding the cards from the book.  Not cool if you borrowed the book from a library.  I also can’t do some of them because I haven’t purchased the card packs and therefore didn’t find all of the “clues.”  It’s kinda frustrating to say the least.

Image taken from http://www.amazon.com

The 39 Clues: The Black Book of Buried Secrets

The 39 Clues: The Black Book of Buried Secrets
by Mallory Kass

Thought you knew everything you needed to know about the infamous Cahill family?  Think again!  The Black Book of Buried Secrets pools all of the family branches’ histories and secrets into light in one book.  Why would the Cahills allow such a thing to happen?  Pooling all of their knowledge may be the only way the family can survive the upcoming challenges they will face.  The clue hunt was just the beginning.

Marketing to children is a very, very lucrative business.  The 39 Clues enterprise is no different.  The 10 books that compiled the clue hunt were naturally only an introduction to a greater journey for the Cahills.  But the Cahill vs. Vespers books aren’t going to start coming out until April of 2011.  So in the meantime, they’ve published a book about the books… or at least the main characters.  Like the other clue books, there are hidden messages throughout the text, and there are teasers for the upcoming tensions and trials that Amy, Dan and the other children will have to come to terms with.

I’m cynical about this book just because of the marketing aspect and how much money this series has made.  I mean, the author’s name only appears on the page verso; not on the cover, not on the title page.  The introduction by Rick Riordan stands out above all, drawing kids to probably the most well-known of the series’ authors.  But I still plan on reading the next installments.  Really, it’s a fascinating world they’ve created where all of the world’s most powerful and influential people are related… and you could be one of them.

And typing that last sentence made me think of one more thing.  It’s funny and cute and okay to suggest that Daniel Radcliffe is a member of the Janus branch (the artsy, creative branch, for those of you who aren’t familiar with the Cahills).  It is NOT UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES okay to say the same thing about Justin Bieber.  Fail.

Image taken from http://www.amazon.com.

The 39 Clues: Into the Gauntlet

The 39 Clues: Into the Gauntlet
by Margaret Peterson Haddix

Warning!!!  Contains spoilers!!

Amy, Dan, and Nellie are close.  So very close to the end of the clue hunt, they can taste it.  It’s hard to believe that only a month before, they were at their grandmother’s funeral.  Now they are racing against time and against one of the most evil women on the planet for the most powerful thing on earth.  This final series of clues takes them to London, England, and through the life of the great bard, William Shakespeare.  Of course, Amy, Dan and Nellie are not the only ones to have figured this out.  All of their enemies are right in front of their faces: Alistair, the Holts, the Kabras, Jonah Wizard, and a few surprise others, all waiting for the Cahills’ next move and waiting to take whatever they find from them.  But that’s not what Madeleine and Olivia Cahill had in mind when they began this clue hunt.  Will their ultimate goal prevail?

IT’S HERE!  IT’S HERE!  My second most highly anticipated series conclusion of the summer is sitting beside me, leaving the reader with multiple varieties of satisfaction.  The previous books, especially the 9th one, set up the story in such a way that there was really only one way it could end.  So there weren’t many surprises as a reader (save one)… but the rest of the family is in for some huge surprises.  You already know everything of course, if you’ve been reading along.  But all of the kids from each branch of the family begins to learn the unsavory truths about their families… and they begin to learn the truth about themselves.  Are they really as ruthless as their parents?

I totally give this series an “A.”  It’s a little corny at some points (which is why it’s not an “A+”), but it totally hooks you in.  And kids don’t even realize they’re learning about history and geography.  It’s crazy.  And the characters are wonderful.  The Librarianista wonders: if you’ve been reading this series, who are your favorite characters?  Mine are the Holts

Image taken from http://www.amazon.com

The 39 Clues: Storm Warning

The 39 Clues: Storm Warning
by Linda Sue Park

Shared this morning: a big box of Verona to help get through class!  Just remember to call ahead if you need a box of joe to go!

Warning!  Here be spoilers!

Amy, Dan, and Nellie are getting so close to completing the hunt!  They know that they have to follow Anne Bonny, a legendary female pirate who sailed with Calico Jack.  It’s a toss up between Jamaica and the Bahamas.  Dan wants to go to the Bahamas because of the most excellent water slides available.  Amy wants to go to Jamaica because that’s where Anne Bonny actually spent time as a pirate.  They end up going to both, and it’s a good thing they did.  They acquire pieces that they need to solve a puzzle that involves the history of Jamaica, the Most Excellent Nanny, and Lester, an archivist whose dedication to help is incredible, even though he knows nothing about the clue hunt.  The kids discover some truth about their au pair, who is growing more suspicious all the time, and also how Grace has orchestrated almost everything up to this point way beyond what they knew.  Finally, the kids are starting to get some answers, but at a very, very dear cost.

Storm Warning sets everything thing up for the final book, and I am highly anticipating its release.  I can almost see exactly how it’s going to happen, but the authors are very good at constructing twists that some might and some might not expect.  Park’s leg of the story is filled with an incredible energy and emotion.  Some of the emotions I’d rather not have felt, but there were also moments during this book that I felt an incredible elation for the Cahills’ victories and I was glad that the kids caught a couple of breaks and are finally learning more and more about the big picture.  Madeline would be proud.

P.S. Don’t forget that the 39 Clues experience is available online!  Find my card!  P2P7HHHNXP

Image taken from http://www.amazon.com

The 39 Clues: The Emperor’s Code

The 39 Clues: The Emperor’s Code
by Gordon Korman

New coffee this morning – Starbucks three-region blend.  Pairing it with iced lemon pound cake will blow your taste buds away!

Warning!  Contains spoilers from previous books!

As the quest is getting closer and closer to being complete, Amy, Dan, Nellie, and Saladin are in the ancient land of China looking for their next clue.  They are also digesting the fact that they and their parents are and were Madrigals – the deadliest, most feared branch of the Cahills.  What’s more, Amy and Dan end up in a fight and are separated.  At first, they each are so mad at each other they don’t worry about things and Dan wants to give up the race altogether.  But after a few days, Amy and Dan are frantically looking for each other… which is very hard to do in a country of 1.3 billion people.  Amy and Nellie end up at the Great Wall of China while Dan falls in with his famous Janus cousin, Jonah Wizard on Mount Song learning ancient martial arts and exploring the terracotta army.  Both of their quests lead them to the same place where they are finally reunited after almost a week, the longest time they’ve ever been apart.  But once they’re back together, they’ve got another problem to face.  They know where the clue is… they just have to figure out how to get 29,035 ft above sea level to find it.

After reading the first 7 books all in a row… I needed a break from the 39 Clues.  But now that there’s another one, I want to read the last ones so that I know what happens!  Unfortunately because I did OD on them and it had been such awhile since I had read one, I had a little trouble remembering who was who.  But one thing I do really enjoy about these books is how much I learn about random things.  Granted, it has to be taken with a grain of salt because somehow the history of the world is wrapped up in this family… but there are a lot of interesting tidbits (like Shaolin philosophy for example) scattered throughout the book.  Like Wikipedia… it’s a cool place to start when you’re informing yourself… but it should, by no means, be your last stop.

Afterthought: it would be cool if the authors put links for further learning in the back of the book instead of just linking everyone to the 39 Clues website.

Image taken from http://www.amazon.com.

The 39 Clues: The Viper’s Nest

The 39 Clues: The Viper’s Nest
by Peter Lerangis

The Viper’s Nest takes the Cahill kids and their kooky au pair to South Africa.  After cleverly tricking some competition into thinking that they are in Illinois, Amy and Dan discover more and more about how far reaching their family tree is.  Apparently Grace Cahill has done a lot of work in Johannesburg, both philanthropically and for the 39 clues.  They meet up with a lot of Grace’s friends who are absolutely essential in their hunt for this heavily-guarded Tomas clue, especially when they’re going up against the likes of Isabel Kabra and the most athletic and warring branch of the Cahill family – the Tomas.  As an added bonus, Amy and Dan finally find out what branch of the family they belong to!  But that may or may not be a good thing…

To tell the truth, I’m kind of glad for a break after this book (you probably are too!).  The next 39 Clues isn’t expected out until April.  Of course, you are left with a ridiculous cliff-hanger and you’re just sitting there thinking, “Whoa!!!  Now what are they going to do?!?“  And I’m still going to read it as quickly as I can.  I am not sure how they’re going to fit the last 32 clues into 3 books.  But I’m sure Scholastic has something planned.

Image taken from http://www.amazon.com.

The 39 Clues: In Too Deep

The 39 Clues: In Too Deep
by Jude Watson

Amy and Dan are taking a lead from their past, from a trail their parents left, and heading to Australia.  The stakes are getting higher, and head-honchos from the other branches are coming out personally to make sure these Cahill children do not take the lead in the hunt for the 39 clues.  The Lucians dispatch Isabel Kabra – Ian and Natalie’s mother.  This woman, while impeccably dressed and refined, is also ruthless and deadly.  She confronts Amy and nearly kills her, first physically and then mentally – Amy is trying to remember what actually happened the night of the fire, and Isabel is poisoning her mind.  Or is it Irina?  She can’t tell and doesn’t know who to trust.  All of this stress and guilt is putting strain on her relationship with Dan, plus they’re not even sure if they can trust their au pair any more.  They run across more family than expected in this adventure, and history has a tendency to repeat itself.  What is it with the Cahill family and fires?

What I really liked about this book was the flashback technique that Watson uses to help Amy remember what happened when she was a little girl.  It’s just as confusing as it probably is in a 14-year-old’s mind.  Well done, sir.  I also liked discovering the family history alongside Amy and Dan.  Sure, I’ve looked on Wikipedia about these books to see if there’s something I missed, but I like learning about who they are the way it’s told in the story.  I also really like Amelia Earhart, and she features prominently in this book.

Image taken from http://www.amazon.com.

The 39 Clues: The Black Circle

The 39 Clues: The Black Circle
by Patrick Carman

In The Black Circle, Amy and Dan receive a strange telegraph from someone who calls themselves NRR.  Whoever this person is, they knew Amy and Dan’s parents, and they are sending them on a scavenger hunt through Russia in order to discover the knowledge that they have.  The Cahills ditch Nellie (not permanently), team up with the Holts (an impressive feat in itself), and traverse through Russian history and geography.  One major problem is that Russia has long been a Lucian stronghold, and their most feared foe (apart from the Madrigals) knows the country inside and out: cousin Irina Spasky.  Nevertheless, Amy and Dan seem to infiltrate the Lucian stronghold and make it out with some very interesting information.

The more I read these books, the more I get lost in time.  With something like Harry Potter or Artemis Fowl, the books span several years over several years of publication.  Because of the nature of these books and frequent publishing (every few months), it’s easy to forget that even though this journey has taken over 1000 pages at this point, it’s only been maybe a week for Amy, Dan, and Nellie.  That’s just strange to think about (Amy and Dan think about it, too).  Honestly, since I’ve read all of these books so quickly, it’s hard for me to remember what’s happening in each one.  I do remember some interesting character development re: Hamilton Holt (I still can’t believe that each family member has a presidential name…), and I very much want him to be friends with the Cahills after this whole thing is done.

Image taken from http://www.amazon.com.