By Bianca Schulze, The Children’s Book Review
Published: November 4, 2009
Reading level: Ages 9-12
Hardcover: 160 pages
Publisher: Scholastic (March 3, 2009)
What to expect: Mystery, Action, Suspense, Babysitter, Brothers and Sisters, Family, Orphans
Book one: Rick Riordan set the pace well, creating a suspenseful adventure and scattering it with secretive clues.
Book two: Gordon Korman transitions readers smoothly into book two, One False Note, and manages to strengthen the readers relationship with the characters.
Now for book and author number 3 …
Where the excitement ended in book two, it picked right back up in the beginning of book three. Peter Lerangis is one of the country’s most in-demand movie novelization authors, he has adapted both The Sixth Sense and Batman Begins; so, as you can see, drama, action, mystery and suspense are not foreign to this guy.
Lerangis has Dan and Amy searching for clues in Japan; they are separated from their Au-pair, Nellie Gomez; and working in alliance with their Uncle Alistair Oh, even though they have been warned to trust no-one. There are some nicely executed action scenes that fit in well to this fast paced plot — it is definitely the quickest read from the series, thus far. We see more character development from some of the lesser known family members, which definitely adds more depth to the storyline. In fact, readers can expect some pretty funny and awkward moments.
Publisher’s synopsis: ATTENTION! Amy and Dan Cahill have been located once again, this time in the company of the notoriously unreliable Alistair Oh. Could they have been foolish enough to make an alliance?
Spies report that Amy and Dan seem to be tracking the life of one of the most powerful fighters the world has ever known. If this fearsome warrior was a Cahill, his secrets are sure to be well-guarded . . . and the price to uncover them just might be lethal.
Add this book to your collection: The 39 Clues: Book Three: The Sword Thief: Peter Lerangis
Read our review of The 39 Clues: Book One: Maze of Bones
Read our review of The 39 Clues: Book Three: The Sword Thief
Visit the 39 Clues website to win prizes: www.the39clues.com
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