Youthful Sleuths/ For the Younger Set: The Maze of Bones by Rick Riordan (Book 1 in the 39 Clues Series)

Summary

The mystery begins when Grace Cahill, the matriarch of the Cahill family, dies, leaving her relatives a strange choice: accept a one million dollar inheritance or attempt to find the 39 clues and have a chance at becoming one of the most powerful people in the world.  Amy and Dan, Grace's orphaned grandchildren, accept the challenge and receive the first clue, along with a number of their relatives.  As it turns out, the Cahills are an extremely powerful family to which a number of histories greatest men and women belong. The first clue leads Amy and Dan to the library of their grandmother's mansion where they find a connection to Benjamin Franklin: a copy of Poor Richard's Almanac with notes from various relatives, including Amy and Dan's mother. Before they can examine the book in depth, the mansion catches fire, and they are forced to flee.  The mansion burns down, Amy and Dan's Uncle Alistair disappears with the Almanac, and the two children are left with their grandmother's cat and her jewelry box. Amy and Dan ask their nanny to accompany them as they travel from the US to France in search of the solution to the puzzle on the first clue and information about the location of the next clue.  It soon becomes clear that many of their relatives will stop at nothing to find the second clue first, and Amy and Dan are in constant danger. Is there anyone Amy and Dan can trust?  Will they be able to find the second clue before their scheming relatives?  Read The Maze of Bones by Rick Riordan to find out!

Review


The Maze of Bones is sort of like American Treasure for kids.  The concept is an interesting one: 39 clues to discover over the course of ten books written by a series of popular authors.  To me, the book was a fast, easy read that did offer some suspense and interesting historical connections.  I think my eight-year-old would love it, and the historical allusions could offer opportunities for further inquiry and learning.  Riordan does a good job of making Amy and Dan the heroes and other relatives, like the Kabras and Irina Spasky the villains, while also introducing some gray characters like Alistair and William McIntyre. The idea of two fairly young kids running around the with their nanny, risking their lives to solve a family mystery all without the permission or support of their guardian Aunt Beatrice is more than a bit far-fetched, but kids will be more willing than adults to suspend disbelief and enjoy the ride.  My third grader is reading the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series right now, but I will certainly have him give this series a try when he finishes.  I just hope the remaining books in the series are as well done as the first and that the use of different authors doesn't compromise the story.

References


[Cover art for the maze of bones]. (2009). Retrieved from    

     http://www.thechildrensbookreview.com/weblog/2009/

    10/the-39-clues-book-one-maze-of-bones-rick-riordan.html

Riordan, R. (2008). The 39 clues: Book one: The maze of bones. New York:

     Scholastic Press.