The Medusa Plot

April 1, 2012

Gr 5-7-This subseries starring Amy and Dan Cahill starts off with a bang. Powerful members of their family are being kidnapped all around the world. The only attempt gone wrong was when the siblings managed to outsmart and outfight their enemies due to new techniques they learned to keep themselves safe. Soon, they discover that the Vespers, an ancient family with a long-standing feud against theirs, have taken their loved ones and will start killing them if their demands are not met. Amy and Dan realize that the clue hunt is starting all over again, but with much more at stake. A bit of background information is included for those new to the series, but nothing that slows the pace. Familiar characters and situations are intermingled with new dangers. Impossible tasks are asked of the siblings, but they are not alone this time as they are receiving help from other branches of the family working together. Action, adventure, and danger abound. And, of course, a cliff-hanger ending will leave readers stunned and wanting more. Without a doubt, if the first "39 Clues" series had kids racing to finish the books, this one is a must-purchase.-Mariela Siegert, Westfield Middle School, Bloomingdale, IL

Copyright 2012 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

November 1, 2011
Grades 5-8 The 39 Clues crew return to the well for this opener to a new series, Cahills versus Vespers. The Cahills, of course, are the world's most powerful family you never knew existed, and their family tree is a who's who of the past half-millennium. The Vespers are their secret, centuries-old rival, and now pop up to kidnap Cahills for some sure-to-be-diabolical reason. Dan and Amy, two years after solving the massive global puzzle of the 39 Clues, jump back into action to help save their relations and take down the villainous Vespers. Sure, it is as much a multiplatform marketing ploy (with collectible cards and an immersive online presence to swallow up chunks of fans' spare time) as a book series, but that doesn't take away from what it is at its core: a lean, easy-to-like thrill ride with guaranteed crowd-pleasing elements like secret societies, art heists, and heroes with unlimited cash and connections to fuel their around-the-world intrigue. Like the first series, a new author for each volume ensures lickety-split rollouts.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2011, American Library Association.)