The 39 Clues (10 Volume Set)

I bought this box set of the 39 Clues for my son for Christmas and it was a huge hit. We'd been looking for a complete set of the books for a while and couldn't find them anywhere until we looked here on the store. It arrived on time in superb shape. He was thrilled and so was I!

I was very disappointed in this series. The first of the series was actually well written but this book was repetitive and not fun to read; in fact, my grandson asked me to just stop reading so we could tell our own stories. Although I did purchase one additional book in this series, it was not well written either. Personally, I think a series should be written by one author and that author should be totally involved in what s/he is writing about. I'm sorry but I can not recommend this series.
Karyl Wade

This book continues the adventure that started in the first book - Amy, Dan and the rest of the Cahill family continue the search for the 39 Clues.
If you liked the first book, you will surely like this one too. Like the first book it's easy to read and it's impossible to put it down!

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{My Thoughts} – I like that this series is written though different authors. It will definitely help to keep things fresh.

Amy, Dan and their Au Pair, Nellie, head off to Europe in search of more Ben Franklin and Mozart clues. The siblings have an interesting plan in order to obtain all the clues that are needed to solve the ending mystery. They are under the belief that as long as they are with Nellie they will succeed and I can’t say I disagree with them, but I can say they have some rough travels.

Amy and Dan have a few brushes with death in this book as they did in the first. They also have some run-ins with the police, and many of their insane must defeat all and get clues to keep to themselves relatives. They siblings however, prove to be quite resourceful and are capable of keeping up with the rest of their relatives even though they don’t have all the perks of being rich and having everything pretty much handed to them.

I like that they are part of a non-privileged class in a sense and that they are overcoming those that assume to be greater. I kind of makes me think of Harry Potter. Orphaned children, overcoming the odds, defeating those that would otherwise be considered evil. It really is turning out to be a wonderful series to read and I can’t wait to pass it onto my children. This series is kind of making me want to finish reading or re-start the Harry Potter series. I don’t know for sure yet, I do have a load of books to read before that can happen.

I do think that this is a must read book for anyone that enjoyed the National Treasure Movie Series and Harry Potter even Sta Wars quite honestly. They all seem to have a little something of each in common. Main thing being the whole main characters are orphaned. It might be just what you need to read if you want different but similar takes on the stories you have read or heard before.

Another delightful installation in a book series that can easily be described as "National Treasure for kids." Our protagonists are Amy and Dan, two members of the Cahill family, a clan supposedly so connected that nearly every important historical figure in the world is a member. Which, given how far-reaching the members are, seems like it should logically include EVERYONE on Earth by now, but I digress.

The clan is on a hunt for the secret of the Cahill inheritance, and they are competing against one another with all their tricks. Some of which could prove deadly. This story focuses on Mozart and his equally-talented (but unsung) sister, and drives home how very many people are fighting against Amy and Dan, and how deep the legend of the Cahills goes.

Good fun. No, not historically accurate in its entirety, but this book could spark your young reader to check out some other books on Mozart. Or perhaps just read more of the 39 Clues. Really, it's the reading that's important, and this will get them turning pages!

One False Note take us on the second leg of Dan and Amy's quest to discover all 39 clues. This time they are headed to Austria to figure out what Mozart has to do with their heritage and the mystery that has take over their lives.

Dan, Amy, and Nellie, their trusted and so cool au pair are hot on, the trail of the next clue, with Saladin in tow. On top of figuring out the clues, they are puzzled by whatever it is that is making Saladin, their late grandmother's cat, scratch himself silly and refuse to eat.

In this adventure Dan and Amy uncover yet another secret fortress used by their diabolical, and very artisitc, relatives to thwart the Cahill's discovery of useful information.

We learn about Mozart and his sister and several links between the great musician and other famous people. And who knew that Mozart's sister was a musician herself?

One False Note is a good read, not as good as the first book, but still full of action. One thing I didn't so much like was the constant bickering between Dan and Amy. Even for brother and sister it almost overshadowed the story. And the historical information is a lot more blatant in this one and not made as interesting.

***NOTE MY REVIEWS OFTEN CONTAIN SPOILERS***

Following a musical score from Mozart as a clue, Amy and Dan Cahill make their way to Vienna on an all never hunt for the next clue. Their au pair Nellie becomes their partner in crime as they break into hotel rooms, museums and strong holds of family branches. Despite the fact that they were supposed to be the only ones in possession of the second clue it seem that almost everyone is still hot on the chases and hard in the running. With the least amount of advantages how will Dan and Amy ever find the third clue?

When more than one write writes the same series you can't help but compare them. One thing I can say for this series so far is I didn't notice any contradictory facts between the two novels. As this is a common issue in shared series I have to applaud the writers for being so thorough on their story related facts. This was a well written mostly close third person with first person thoughts, mostly from Amy's point of view. Actually unlike the last novel, very few scenes came from Dan's point of view. While it did include a lot of interesting tidbits about historical figures, mostly Mozart, it didn't contain the same wealth of knowledge offered in the first novel. While I still feel this fictional novel offered some decent educational appeal, it just wasn't to the same degree as the first novel. There were some sections where the verb tense seemed a little varied which was odd for a professionally published novel, but it wasn't large sections, it was a present tense verb here and there easily overlooked if it's not a pet peeve of yours. Over all story wise it was a good second installment and a strong addition to the series.

Where this book really lost something compared to the first novel was its secondary character development. The search for the clues is a cutthroat and deadly competition at best. These characters are supposed to be playing for keeps, however most of the secondary characters barely make more than short cameo appearances in this novel. While we did get scenes from their points of view which I liked, they seemed less involved and less of a danger than they did in the first novel. We did however gain some major character development in Nellie, the au pair and the main characters, Dan and Amy remained true to form with some growth and depth added.

Overall I'd definitely recommend this book thought it doesn't have the same talent evidenced as Riordan's series debut, it's still a good addition to the series. I'm looking forward to reading the next title.

{My Thoughts} – I like that this series is written though different authors. It will definitely help to keep things fresh.

Amy, Dan and their Au Pair, Nellie, head off to Europe in search of more Ben Franklin and Mozart clues. The siblings have an interesting plan in order to obtain all the clues that are needed to solve the ending mystery. They are under the belief that as long as they are with Nellie they will succeed and I can’t say I disagree with them, but I can say they have some rough travels.

Amy and Dan have a few brushes with death in this book as they did in the first. They also have some run-ins with the police, and many of their insane must defeat all and get clues to keep to themselves relatives. They siblings however, prove to be quite resourceful and are capable of keeping up with the rest of their relatives even though they don’t have all the perks of being rich and having everything pretty much handed to them.

I like that they are part of a non-privileged class in a sense and that they are overcoming those that assume to be greater. I kind of makes me think of Harry Potter. Orphaned children, overcoming the odds, defeating those that would otherwise be considered evil. It really is turning out to be a wonderful series to read and I can’t wait to pass it onto my children. This series is kind of making me want to finish reading or re-start the Harry Potter series. I don’t know for sure yet, I do have a load of books to read before that can happen.

I do think that this is a must read book for anyone that enjoyed the National Treasure Movie Series and Harry Potter even Sta Wars quite honestly. They all seem to have a little something of each in common. Main thing being the whole main characters are orphaned. It might be just what you need to read if you want different but similar takes on the stories you have read or heard before.

Another delightful installation in a book series that can easily be described as "National Treasure for kids." Our protagonists are Amy and Dan, two members of the Cahill family, a clan supposedly so connected that nearly every important historical figure in the world is a member. Which, given how far-reaching the members are, seems like it should logically include EVERYONE on Earth by now, but I digress.

The clan is on a hunt for the secret of the Cahill inheritance, and they are competing against one another with all their tricks. Some of which could prove deadly. This story focuses on Mozart and his equally-talented (but unsung) sister, and drives home how very many people are fighting against Amy and Dan, and how deep the legend of the Cahills goes.

Good fun. No, not historically accurate in its entirety, but this book could spark your young reader to check out some other books on Mozart. Or perhaps just read more of the 39 Clues. Really, it's the reading that's important, and this will get them turning pages!

I hope my Grandson, an avid 9 year old reader, likes this series. I ordered this Thursday and received it on Friday as promised. I decided to read a few pages to find out what the story line is. I was pleasantly surprised to find out that each book has six clue cards inside the front cover. I didn't read that in the description. I was in a hurry. ;-) I started reading and didn't stop until the last page. I love the characters and the fact that it is a brother and sister that don't always get along. My grandsons is the oldest and has 2 sisters and 7 cousins, 4 who are girls. He is often very annoyed by his sisters, so he will relate to the boy in this story.

One False Note take us on the second leg of Dan and Amy's quest to discover all 39 clues. This time they are headed to Austria to figure out what Mozart has to do with their heritage and the mystery that has take over their lives.

Dan, Amy, and Nellie, their trusted and so cool au pair are hot on, the trail of the next clue, with Saladin in tow. On top of figuring out the clues, they are puzzled by whatever it is that is making Saladin, their late grandmother's cat, scratch himself silly and refuse to eat.

In this adventure Dan and Amy uncover yet another secret fortress used by their diabolical, and very artisitc, relatives to thwart the Cahill's discovery of useful information.

We learn about Mozart and his sister and several links between the great musician and other famous people. And who knew that Mozart's sister was a musician herself?

One False Note is a good read, not as good as the first book, but still full of action. One thing I didn't so much like was the constant bickering between Dan and Amy. Even for brother and sister it almost overshadowed the story. And the historical information is a lot more blatant in this one and not made as interesting.

***NOTE MY REVIEWS OFTEN CONTAIN SPOILERS***

Following a musical score from Mozart as a clue, Amy and Dan Cahill make their way to Vienna on an all never hunt for the next clue. Their au pair Nellie becomes their partner in crime as they break into hotel rooms, museums and strong holds of family branches. Despite the fact that they were supposed to be the only ones in possession of the second clue it seem that almost everyone is still hot on the chases and hard in the running. With the least amount of advantages how will Dan and Amy ever find the third clue?

When more than one write writes the same series you can't help but compare them. One thing I can say for this series so far is I didn't notice any contradictory facts between the two novels. As this is a common issue in shared series I have to applaud the writers for being so thorough on their story related facts. This was a well written mostly close third person with first person thoughts, mostly from Amy's point of view. Actually unlike the last novel, very few scenes came from Dan's point of view. While it did include a lot of interesting tidbits about historical figures, mostly Mozart, it didn't contain the same wealth of knowledge offered in the first novel. While I still feel this fictional novel offered some decent educational appeal, it just wasn't to the same degree as the first novel. There were some sections where the verb tense seemed a little varied which was odd for a professionally published novel, but it wasn't large sections, it was a present tense verb here and there easily overlooked if it's not a pet peeve of yours. Over all story wise it was a good second installment and a strong addition to the series.

Where this book really lost something compared to the first novel was its secondary character development. The search for the clues is a cutthroat and deadly competition at best. These characters are supposed to be playing for keeps, however most of the secondary characters barely make more than short cameo appearances in this novel. While we did get scenes from their points of view which I liked, they seemed less involved and less of a danger than they did in the first novel. We did however gain some major character development in Nellie, the au pair and the main characters, Dan and Amy remained true to form with some growth and depth added.

Overall I'd definitely recommend this book thought it doesn't have the same talent evidenced as Riordan's series debut, it's still a good addition to the series. I'm looking forward to reading the next title.

Another fun installment in the 39 CLUES series!

Here, in book two, author Gordon Korman takes the helm from Rick Riordan to steer the Cahill siblings toward their next destination and their next big clue.

It's obvious that Korman and Riordan have different writing styles, and I admit it took me a few chapters to adjust, but once I did I ended up enjoying Korman's style quite a bit and felt he continued with the feel of the characters and the structure of the plot.

Are the books literary masterpieces? No, not really. But, they achieve something brilliant in their own way.
The great thing about these books is how easy they are to read and how quickly one can (and wants, in my case) to read through them. Of course, this does lead to sense of wanting/needing more. Sometimes I felt the arcs of the characters weren't as clearly defined as the arc of the plot, so that kind of was a bummer because I was left wanting more. I know this book is just one in a huge series, but still, I wanted more for the emotional place the characters were at the time.
However, the good of all this is that the books (so far) are page turners and I absolutely love the fact that you can "play along."

I've already ordered my copy of book three! I'm glad I embarked on this journey with the Cahills and I can't wait to take the next step with them.

I was surprised to find how seamlessly this book worked with book one. After all, with two different authors, you can hardly expect the writing styles to match completely. But if there were differences, I didn't notice them. It could be that had I read them back to back I might have seen it, but as it was, having two different writers didn't bother me as all. (I think Rick Riordan also gave the first book a simple style that isn't very difficult to emulate.)

Amy and Dan's clues take the first to Vienna and beyond, ultimately landing them in Venice where the only way to get around is by foot or canal. Nellie, the children's au pair, comes more to life in this book as she takes a slightly more active role in ensuring the kids' safety. (There's a little bit of question as to why she really cares so much about the Cahill siblings since she didn't really have much of a connection to them in the US. I kind of want her to secretly be scheming against them but waiting until the very end to turn-they did say trust no one right?) A part of me also hopes that Amy and Dan find some special letter from Grace to them at some point. Even though they know she's been giving them hints and information for the contest all along, it feels like it would be nice closer for them.

The series does a great job of making you suspicious of all but still wondering if maybe a temporary alliance might be a good idea. (A very temporary, highly suspicious alliance, but still.) One of the biggest mysteries I'm looking forward to having answered is which branch of the Cahill family are Amy and Dan a part of and how did their parents really die? (And of course, what is this powerful secret, but that will have to wait a long time. 39-40 books is it?)

I'd love to learn more about the history of some of the members of the Cahill extended family. We've got bits of history on each but I think there is still more to delve into that could add an extra dimension. Wouldn't it be interesting if there was reason to feel for the Kabras even as they are awful and sinister?

On a side note, I am exceedingly jealous that this author published his first book when he was fourteen. And more than a little impressed.

This is the second book to the 39 clues series. In this book, Amy, Dan, and their au pair, Nellie Gomez, found music by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart in the end of The Maze of Bones, leading them to Vienna, Austria, to learn about him and find a related clue. In Vienna, Amy and Dan discover that Mozart had an older sister: Maria Anna "Nannerl" Mozart. They go to a library to view her diary, only to realize Jonah Wizard, a fellow competitor in the search for The 39 Clues, stole it. They steal it from him, but then Nellie translates it and notices that three pages are missing.

Book By: Gordan Korman
Review By: Abigail Thomas

Review: There are four branches of family and founders in the Cahill family they are: Lucian branch founded by Luke Cahill, Tomas branch Founded by Thomas Cahill, Ekaterina branch founded by Katherine Cahill, and the Janus branch founded by Jane Cahill. The Cahill Family are looking for 39 clues, the person who finds them all controls the whole world.

The siblings Amy and Dan Cahill, and their au pair Nellie Gomez found a clue that leads then to Vienna Austria. The clue was music written by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Amy does some research on Mozart and finds out that he had an older sister, Maria Anna "Nannerl" Mozart. Amy and Dan go to a library, where they try to check out the original copy of Nannerl's diary. They find out that it was stolen by Jonah Wizard of the Janus branch, another competitor for the thirty-nine clues. Amy, Dan, and Nellie go to his hotel and steal the diary back.

When they get back to their hotel, Nellie translates the diary and notices that three pages are missing from it. In the diary it tells about a song titled "The Place Where I Was Born." So the do some research and find out that Mozart was born in Salzburg, Austria. So they go to Salzburg, Austria. Once there, Amy and Dan follow another competitor Uncle Alister Oh of the Ekaterina branch. They follow him to the Salzburg catacombs where someone explodes the building they were in. When the dust settles they see a thought to be rival The Man In Black.

While they were gone, Nellie finds a tracking device planted on their cat, Salidin's collar. When they get back Amy plants the tracking device on Alister Oh while he naps. Then she steals a clue from inside his cane.

They followed the clue to a CD shop, in which they find a secret entrance to a Janus stronghold. They break in and find the three missing pages of the diary. The pages tell how Nannerl though that her brother was going crazy looking for some kind of rare Japanese metal. She blamed Fidellio Racco for her brothers debt because he sold the metal to her brother for too high of a price. Amy and Dan go to Fidellio Racco's mansion. (which is now a museum), but Ian and Natalie Kabra of the Lucian branch, try to attack them. Ian and Natalie fall into a bobby trap and get knocked unconscious. They find out that the rare metal is tungsten, which leads them to Japan.

In the end Alister Oh finds the tracking device. He also finds out that the tracking device belongs to William Mclntyre, a long time friend and lawyer of Grace Cahill.

Personal thought: I think that this was a great book that you would love to read. Sometimes it can be funny, other times it can get depressing. Warning: If you don't like depressing books you won't like the whole series.

The second book in the 39 clues series picked up right where the first one left off. I was a little uneasy knowing that this was by a different author (and not knowing anything about this author), but I was generally pleased with the tone, voice and general pacing of the story that was presented.

It made me wonder about the serialization of the story and how much control/oversight Scholastic gives to the various authors taking part. I'm sure Scholastic has a general trajectory but I wonder if they provide the authors with outlines of specific elements each book requires or if they just give a start/end point and some character overview and let the authors run with it. I find the idea very intriguing.

The plot of this book felt a little faster paced than the first one. I attribute part of that to the fact that the first book needed to present the general build up and meta-story of the treasure/clue hunt and the dynamics of the family. Book 2 provided minimal references to the backstory (enough to remind readers of what's going on...or to potentially bring new readers up to speed) but kept the recaps brief enough to not interfere with the flow of the story.

There was a lot of increased tension as Amy and Dan bounced around various European cities in search of clues related to a small piece of music written by Mozart as well as obscure references from his family and friends.

There were a number of times I had to drastically suspend my disbelief in order to willfully follow the kids across multiple countries in high profile situations. The pace of the plot moved along so quickly though that I had little time to sit back and think about the "reality" of the situation, so instead I just rolled along with the fun.

As I said, the plot was more fast paced. It felt like there were more high-tension situations and more close calls or dangerous encounters. Looking back on book 1, I think there were many similar encounters, but for some reason, in this book, the suspense and anxiety feels like it was taken up a notch (cornered in underground family strongholds, breaking into hotel rooms and evading security, high speed chases around the city, etc.).

I'm a little torn as to the trajectory of the mystery/story in this book. Some of the clues and their resulting goals felt like blind leaps of faith that just happened to pay off with strange coincidences. Again, my suspension of disbelief had a hard time reacting to some of these clues/elements remaining where they were for as long as they had (particularly the final revelation of the book...I have a real hard time believing that nobody found what the kids found). But as to the overall mystery, I'm actually growing more intrigued...especially as to the identity of the "man in black", the motivations/actions of the lawyer who 'read' the will, and even some of the dynamics between the various family members.

These books are a very quick read and the kids really enjoy them. From an adult perspective, they're light and definitely have holes in the plot, but they're still a lot of fun when read with the right expectations. I look forward to following this series out and seeing where the clues lead.

As a general "adult" adventure/mystery book, I'd give this a 3 out of 5, but as a kids' adventure (which is what it is), it's a solid 4.

****
3.5 out of 5 stars

When Grace Cahill passed away, relatives oozed out of the woodwork in hopes of getting their hands on her fortunes. But Grace wasn't your typical old lady, and she didn't leave this world in typical fashion either. Instead of a will and an inheritance, she left behind a quest involving 39 clues that lead to a vast wealth and the highest authority imaginable. Now, six teams of Cahill relatives are racing around the world, chasing after intricately placed clues left behind by other famous Cahills, like Ben Franklin. The race is on, and there aren't any rules.

Fourteen-year-old Amy and her eleven-year-old brother, Dan, make up one of the teams. Orphaned and unwanted by everyone except their beloved, and now deceased, grandmother, the siblings don't have anything to lose and have decided to go for it. But unlike their opponents, they have no money, no connections and no special training, not to mention the fact that they're just kids. Plus, Amy is shy and stutters when she's nervous, and Dan tends to be impulsive. This team has the odds of winning seriously stacked against them. But they do have a few pieces of jewelry from their grandmother to sell for expenses, a very cool au pair traveling with them, and, above all, a great deal of spunk, smarts and determination. And they've kept up with their opponents so far, somehow.

Amy and Dan are now entering the next phase of the race. Some sheet music composed by Mozart leads them into Vienna, the Austrian Alps and even the watery canals of Venice. Dan isn't thrilled about touring more boring museums, but the boat chase through the canals make up for some excitement. Amy still worries constantly about everything, but manages to keep her head clear in case of emergency, which is about every other second with relatives hot on their tails. One team attacks them on the train to Vienna, while another makes their move in the Salzburg Catacombs. Someone else even hides a tracking device on them. Amy and Dan were warned not to trust anyone, and that is turning out to be very good advice. It seems some are willing to do anything for the 39 clues --- even kill!

Gordon Korman has written the second book in Scholastic's multimedia series The 39 Clues and has done an amazing job. Fast-paced and overflowing with lots of action, ONE FALSE NOTE is a thrill to read. Korman writes with an expressive style that not only brings the foreign settings to life, but also draws out Amy and Dan's personalities and emotions into full light.

"Amy felt a creepy unease as she stepped inside the mountain --- as if they were being swallowed by something ancient and immutable, an immense, silent creature as old as the earth itself. Amy and Dan exchanged a look of pure dread. The Paris Catacombs had been lined with human bones, grotesque skulls leering from all directions. This may have been lower on the ick scale. But the sense of leaving the familiar for the freakish and threatening was even greater here."

You may also find some inspiration in your own life after sharing Amy and Dan's adventures and their strong drive never to give up despite the odds they face.

Fans of The 39 Clues will be thrilled to know that the wait for book three won't be too long --- THE SWORD THIEF will be available in March. In the meantime, log on to [...] and start hunting for the clues yourself!

My first warning is to go and read book #1 The Maze of Bones before you read this one. You can read book #2 without reading book #1, but it is hard to sum up a book in 1 or 2 pages (as the author does at the beginning of the book here) and not miss out on anything. My second warning is this - do NOT start this series if you don't plan on buying all of the other books in the series as it is highly addictive! I found myself racing along with Amy & Dan to find out what happened next and swallowed the book in one sitting. It was also great to learn a little bit more about the famous composer Mozart and his family. The book also really made me want to travel to Austria to see everything that the children saw for myself. If only I had the money and the time.

Anyway, this book is a bit different in that Amy & Dan argue a lot in it. Most of their arguments are due to Dan being a little know-it-all and Amy constantly putting herself, and her brother, down and intimating that neither of them is clever enough to really win the prize at the end of the 39 clues. Some may say that they are being typical siblings, (and I would agree), but it may be perceived as a little bit excessive. I understand why the author felt that it was necessary, though, as the 2 siblings are together all the time and I know that I need my alone time to enable to me to keep an even keel around other people. Also, in the first book, Amy & Dan were reacting to circumstances around them and now they have to be more active in choosing their routes and deciding if they want to continue in the race now that they know what they are in for. This naturally leads to discussions, which can easily become heated. Dan & Amy are definitely opposites in almost everything so there were a lot of these "discussions." I wasn't too bothered with the arguing, actually, as I come from a really big family and I am sure that is how we sounded to outsiders, too. Only someone who a brother or sister can truly understand that you can argue with someone and still love them and back them up no matter what.

This book is much more fast paced than the first book, which had a bit of a slow start for me. For those of you who didn't really enjoy the first book in the series, The Maze of Bones, and were a little bit bored, please give this one a try as I think that you will enjoy it more. The first book was needed to set the stage and introduce the characters, but, now that is over, we are ready to get to the good stuff. I really couldn't wait to find out what would happen next! There was more dialogue and action in this second book and it may be due to the fact that it was written by a different author. It appears that each book will be written by a different, well-known children's author so the style of this book is a little bit different than the first one, but I didn't really notice and it wasn't different enough to jar me out of the story. I found Gordon Korman's writing style was well suited for children and was clear and easy to read. This book also comes with a pack of 6 cards that you can use to play games and collect clues online. Many of the cards contain puzzles that children need to solve to unlock clues online and I love that Scholastic tried to make this a completely interactive series. My nephew and I spent hours in front of the computer entering all of the cards, playing the games, and solving the puzzles on the missions that were available. This is a great book to read with children.

This book is about two kids named Amy and Dan Cahill and their au pair Nellie Gomez. They go on an adventure to find the family treasure. This is the second book in the series. Dan and Amy have to follow clues to be the first ones to find the treasure. They are competing with their relatives. Dan and Amy found a piece of music. They think that Mozart made it, but his sister did. They figured out that Maria Mozart kept a diary in Vienna, Austria but they find out that their pop star relative, Jonah Wizard, already has it. So they had to go the hotel where Jonah is staying to steal the diary.

While Amy and Dan are trying to get the diary, Nellie is distracting Jonah's bodyguards from going into Jonah's room. But then, another person who is staying at the same hotel noticed that Nellie has a pierced nose. He asks why she has a pierced nose, because it is illegal to have one in that country, for some reason. She says it's because she is a big fan of Jonah's from another country.

The clue inside the diary leads them back to France. They find where the Janus family (part of the Cahill Clan) hideout. "The Janus' must be artists," says Dan. After that, Dan and Amy found themselves trapped in the hideout. It took a lot of wit, but they got away. They then discover a very important clue but that's all I can tell you. You'll have to read it for yourself.

I would recommend this book, because there is a lot of action in it and that is the type of book I like to read. My favorite character is Dan, because he looks forward to doing new things, just like me.

My name is Jack Andrews. I loved this book because the story is written in picture perfect detail. "One False Note" starts off with little Amy and Dan Canhill on their adventure to find the 39 clues. Their hunt takes them to Vienna, Austria. They had found a piece of sheet music in the first book. Jonah Wizard (a Janus-one of the 4 branches of the Canhill family) had stolen a diary written by Mozart's sister. Amy and Dan stole into Jonah's hotel room. They took the diary and a little Jonah Wizard action figure with a little code on the back of it to play on a computer game. Later, they were in their hotel room and another Canhill burst in! She said that she had Nellie (their babysitter)and would give them Nellie for what they stole from Jonah. They gave her the toy action figure as a decoy and she gave them Nellie. Amy played the sheet music on the piano downstairs in the hotel lobby. The song gave them the hint to go to the place that Mozart was born. Amy and Dan went to Mozart's house and hid in the bathroom until night. They played a couple of notes on his harpsicord. Then they were tied up by the Cobras, who were also looking for the 39 clues. The Cobras played their own incomplete copy of the music and the organ blew up and they were knocked out! Amy and Dan untied themselves. They realized that in the word "Gateau" was all of the notes of the harpsicord, except "t" and "u". "T" and "u" stood for tungsten, and tungsten was the next clue.

A pretty good kids book, my 13-year-old re-read it several times. This one involves the life of Mozart, and his interaction with American contemporary genius Benjamin Franklin, but also involves Mozart's equally-talented older sister Maria Anna "Nannerl" Mozart.

The action is nutty, and still based on enemies alternately endangering and rescuing Amy and Dan Cahill, and is sometimes hard to follow. We get a lot of Jonah Wizard, maybe a bit too much, and cool adventures in Salzburg and Venice. Deciphering the clues is fairly clever, although who can understand why anyone would leave such an elaborate trail of clues anyway?

I'm already looking forward to the third book, which will be set in... Tokyo!!

'One False Note' picks up right where the first book in the 39 Clues series left. Amy and Dan Cahill have joined their fellow heirs in a race around the world, for the ultimate prize (which still remains unknown).

I love how these books are able to teach kids about history and geography, by creating vital clues or problems concerning certain educational topics. In book #2, Amy and Dan have followed their first clue to Vienna. They learn much about the life of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and his sister, Maria Anna "Nannerl" Mozart. Trap doors, secret societies, and the next clue await!

O.k. first I have to confess I listened to a library loan from my local library but through an app on my Iphone called Overdrive. I did not make a note of the reader but I am pretty sure it was the same reader as book one. I know I was going to be left with a cliff hanger as they now sell 10 book bundles and I saw some spinoffs. Some people could tell that we changed writers but the story and characters seemed pretty consistent to me.

By now the pattern is set. Dan, Amy, and Nellie navigate through the gauntlet of unscrupulous cousins in the race to find the next clue. Some fantasy sprinkled with some real facts make us wonder if we are being spoon fed history on the way. As the title implies maybe a little about music also. By the end of this episode you will get a new insight as to what the clues really are.

I doughty I will make it to the end but I cannot help but get at least one more book:
"The Sword Thief"

If you like a book about adventure and a book that leaves you hanging then you should read The 39 Clues: One False Note by Gordan Korman. This book is realistic fiction. If this book was a movie I think it would be rated PG-13. If I were to rate this book I think it should be 4.5 stars. In this book Dan, Amy, and Nellie, their trusted au pair are hot on the trail of the next clue with Saladin in tow. On top of figuring out the clues, they are puzzled by whatever it is that is making Saladin, their late grandmother's cat, scratch himself silly and refuse to eat. In this adventure Dan and Amy find another clue that will bring them one step closer to finishing the challenge and becoming the richest and most powerful people in the world. Three things that I thought were good about this book was that it was funny, action packed, and a cliff hanger. The writing style of the book was in 3rd person, for example "Amy and Grace Cahill had been so close". I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good easy read and an action packed book. One thing I didn't so much like was the constant bickering between Dan and Amy I feel it almost overshadowed the story. Review by Briana U.

Amy and Dan barely escaped with their lives in the French catacombs. Now, they're on their way to learn more about Mozart. They're not alone in tracking down these clues, but is someone tracking their movements? From the train ride out of France to the escape from Venice, Amy and Dan barely survive. They're not above stealing clues from other Cahills, breaking into hotel rooms, distracting store clerks in order to search their store, and entering the Janus branch's secret underground hideout. The trail for Mozart leads them through Germany, Austria, and Italy and all countries lead them into danger. but they're determined to play, after all, their life depends on finding all 39 clues first.

My Thoughts: A great second adventure that left me anxious for Amy and Dan while rooting for them all the way. The action driven plot made me read it in one sitting because I couldn't put it down. Now, I'm anxiously awaiting the 3rd book.

Gordon Korman the author of a fantastic novel the 39clues book 2:one false note. It inovle Amy and Dan going on a adventure and solve mystery around the world. The setting takes place in Europe when Amy and Dan are two hours from Paris to go to a banquet to receive there quest and watch a video of there grandmother changing her will while she's dying. So Amy and her cousin finds theirs clues and head for the hotel. Then while on the computer while observing Mozart last sheet music before he dies. Dan pointed out that the music repeat on the third line. Then the lady said that someone stole the art book from the art muesum. So Amy ,Dan,and theirs cousins solve the mystery and figure out that the lawyer was behind this and he tried to confuse them .I would recommend this
book because its adventurous book that will make you feel like a dectective.

Much as book 1, Maze of Bones, focused on the life and times of Benjamin Franklin, book 2, One False Note, focuses on Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and his sister Nannerl. Continuing almost immediately after book one, the pace of this one is much quicker. Moving from Paris to Vienna, the Cahill kids, Dan, Amy and their chaperon are ambushed by the big burly Holt clan. Narrowly escaping them, the dangers from other family members only intensifies. With more bombs, boat crashes, and run-ins with everyone from their aunts, uncles and cousins to Benedictine monks, this book is one wild chase scene.

The adventures in this book take our trio from Paris to Vienna then onto Salzburg then finally Venice. This book not only has a faster pace than book one, but also more dialogue. Some of that may be due to the writing style of the different authors, and some the point in the story arch and plot development. Gordon Korman does an excellent job continuing from the story started by Rick Riordan in Book 1.The transition is almost effortless. The feel is slightly different but the story continues to flow well.

It is interesting reading a series of 10 books with seven different authors, in part because we do not know how much freedom each author has. Do they write their section and hand it off and the next author has to create from there, or is there an overarching story arc already sketched out and the authors are composing the different scenes as movements in a musical piece? Either way this book is excellent and like the first leaves the reader hungry for more. I cannot honestly remember the last time I read a series that was so addictive. I picked up the next book immediately and dread when I will have to await the next release. All in all an excellent book in what is shaping up to be a great series.

The 39 Clues:

The Maze of Bones - Book 1 - Rick Riordan
One False Note - Book 2 - Gordon Korman
The Sword Thief - Book 3 - Peter Lerangis
Beyond the Grave - Book 4 - Jude Watson (June 2009)
Book 5 - Patrick Carman (August 2009)
Book 6 - Jude Watson (November 2009)
Book 7 - Peter Lerangis (February 2010)
Book 8 - Gordon Korman (April 2010)
Book 9 - Linda Sue Park (June 2010)
Book 10 - Margaret Peterson Haddix (September 2010)

Card Pack #1 - Books 1-3
Card Pack #2 - Books 4-6 (June 2009)
Card Pack #3 - Books 7-9 (February 2010)
Rare Card Pack (June 2010)

(First published in Imprint 2009-03-27.)

After Rick Riordan laid the foundation for Scholastic's event-driven, history-drenched, cross-platform series, 39 Clues: THE MAZE OF BONES, YA fave Gordon Korman picks up the baton for the second leg of the journey. Korman pulls out all the stops up as he ratchets up the thrills and pace in 39 CLUES: ONE FALSE NOTE.

The series is projected to run for 10 novels. The five writers involved with the books will write two volumes apiece. All of the writers are heavy hitters in their own rights. Scholastic didn't spare the expense to put this series together.

In addition to the books, the series has online support as well as a collectible card game. The contest connected to the books offers $100,000 to the person who solves the final mysteries of the Cahill family. The Cahill family is related to numerous historical figures around the world. Benjamin Franklin, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, and several other people kids will recognize from school work as well as movies are all tucked into the pages.

Korman begins his offering immediately after the events of the first book. Amy and Dan, the Cahill siblings orphaned by a tragic accident, start out on a passenger train with their au pair Nellie and their grandmother's cat Saladin and immediately run into another family searching for the 39 Clues. They quickly manage to outwit the Holt family (again!) and continue on their way to ferret out the secret of the clue they got in Paris.

This time the clue centers on the life of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, one of the most brilliant musicians in the world. Mozart is supposed to be part of the Janus branch of the Cahill family. So far, the Cahills are broken up into four branches: Lucian, Ekaterina, Janus, and Tomas. Dan and Amy don't yet know which branch they belong to, and this will probably be part of the big mystery of the books.

The action remains fast and frantic throughout the book, taking our young heroes from Paris to Germany to Austria to Italy. Korman does a really good job of presenting the history as well as the geographical views of those countries. Young readers will get a smattering of history and the landscape as they barrel along through the furious action and blistering dialogue.

Korman also does a fantastic job of capturing all the personalities of the kids, their au pair, and even Saladin the cat. Korman mixes up the story viewpoints a lot, cycling through his characters so the reader more or less knows what everyone is doing all at the same time. This builds a lot of suspense as traps seem to be everywhere.

I particularly enjoyed the bits about the secret passageways. I expect a lot to be made of them, and it might get to be fairly repetitive as the series goes on, but that's one aspect I never seem to tire of.

One beef I had about this book was that I didn't feel like I had a fair chance to figure out the clue. It was too hard and too distant even for me as a fairly well-read adult. I figured out how to decipher the clue, but not all the information was given. I was able to stay ahead of our heroes in the first book. I really hope that kind of mystery returns because I enjoy being able to figure things out on my own, and I'm sure there are a lot of young readers out there that feel the same way.

Jonas Wizard, the rap star of the Cahill family, comes to the forefront in this novel as well, but it's really his dad I don't care for. Some of the characters are really creepy and villainous, and some are just dumb, but there are others that I have to wonder about. But that's part of the magic of this on-going mysterious soap opera. Thankfully the third book, 39 CLUES: THE SWORD THIEF comes out in two more short months.

If you are a veteran of The Maze of Bones, you now know about the Cahill family and the race to find and solve the 39 clues, have visited the catacombs in Paris, and know the answer to the first clue (Shh! Don't tell!). In One False Note, you'll gain new perspectives on what it has meant in the past to be a Cahill, learn a lot about Mozart, gain a little knowledge about Venice, and find and solve a second clue (which you'll probably figure out on your own by drawing on what you learned from the first clue).

Once again, Amy and Dan are still off trying to find the 39 clues with a Mozart musical composition in the hand writing by the master himself. To save money, they are on a clunky train headed for Vienna. Dan's amazing memory turns out to be essential, Amy's willingness to put up with her brother keeps the peace, and au pair, Nellie Gomez, patiently does the heavy lifting where an adult is essential. All of them are worried about Saladin not being willing to eat cat food (being used to fresh red snapper) as the cat gets thinner and thinner. There's lots of action as the Cahills seek to thwart each other.

A major part of the story's charm is that the opposing Cahills are such dunces while having exaggerated opinions of themselves. It's not hard for Dan and Amy to outwit them at virtually every turn. But the youngsters still have a lot to learn about keeping what they know to themselves.

To me, the only thing better than a mystery . . . is an extended mystery. The idea of putting together all of these books, trading cards, and the Web site permits the mystery lover to enjoy the unknown (which is always so much more exotic than the known) for a long time. It's terrific.

As a stand-alone book, this one is pretty good. But don't bother to pick it up unless you want to follow the story through all of the books. Naturally, if you really want to compete for the prizes you'll need to acquire the cards. But I think you can enjoy the whole thing quite a bit just by reading the books and visiting the Web site. It's a more entertaining version of The Amazing Race pitched for the juvenile set.

The book's main drawback is that the characters are too predictable . . . and are often more than just a little annoying. To sustain such a series with the highest level of entertainment, it would have been a good idea to make the leading characters more desirable and attractive. I also wonder if it was necessary to turn them into thieves to make the story work. I don't think so. There's a negative moral tone here that will bother any parent who pre-screens what his or her children read.

But if you want to enjoy it as pure fantasy and imagine yourself as either Amy or Dan (and how you could avoid being a crook and still win), I think you will have a good time.

Parents will like that there is so much culture and history crammed into the story line. It's likely that those who read the series will develop some lifelong interests that might otherwise have taken longer to sprout.

Enjoy your mysterious cake and eat it,too!

Any kid that can read well will enjoy the book, with chases and codes the whole book through. There are also codes hidden in the pages of the book, where you have to search the book cover to cover for the key. You can't figure out who's going to help the main characters, try to kill main characters, or help then try to kill the main characters.This book is about a song that might lead them to the next clue. Gordan Korman couldn't have possibly continued Riordan's series a better way. It continues what the first book started : two kids trying to find clues before their relatives- their dangerous relatives- and breaking codes left by some of the greatest people to grace the planet: their relatives too.

One has to read past the first 100 pages of the book for it to get interesting, and finally the Janus Hall adventure is worth the wait. However, even it is plagued with self-pity and negativity. Dan whines "What happened to all the loser Cahills? You know, the average Joes like us who never got rich and famous?" (p. 156). It takes until the end of the book for goodness to shine through. Dan shows concern for leaving the Kabras injured (p. 168); Amy reflects positively upon Dan, their shared victory as a team (p. 168); they realise the importance of their strength, their wit; and their parents smiled down upon them. But these are the only positive moments in the entire book, and we must wait until the end to experience it.

Book 1 smoothly wove into its discussion numerous details about places, things and people. Book 2's discussion has less smooth detail and more negative self-talk or open criticism. These kids were extremely likable in Book 1 but not as much now. As Dan gains confidence that leads to cockiness (fortunately, a few books down the road in this series we see this mature a bit into wisdom and strong character). As for now, this book is very typical of the children's lit market, as well as all children's media (television, movies, computer games, Internet sites) in that it sensationalizes kids with questionable behaviour and poor decision making while minimizing or eliminating authority figures. Overall, it is OK if you don't overdose on too much negative stuff like this, but not necessarily something to make an effort for. Since the collector cards are available separately from the book, it is possible to skip this book altogether in the series, and read #3 instead, without missing any details important to the storyline. Final word: this is a book families should discuss before choosing it for their reading list.

See full review with character education criteria plus parents/teachers activities at [...] and our commentary for discussion at [...]

I enjoyed listening to this even though I'm much older than the targeted audience. Enjoyed the parts about Mozart and the journey these siblings are taking. I think it's a great way for students to learn about places and people and things but in a fun way.

In this book Amy and Dan race their family members to find clues. Amy and Dan found a peice of sheet music by Mozart. Thsi was their only lead. Then the Hults come and to make sure that they didn't get the clue they ripped it up. So they lost their only lead. Our did they? Luckily, Dan remember every detail and replicated it. Then they are on their way to Venice. When they arrive they immediately follow their relative Jonah Wizard. They follow him all the way to the secret Janus hideout. The they start finding more and more. While they are ther they find Nannerl's diary. They find the next clue and now they are headed for Japan.

I really liked this book because it has a lot of action in it.I also like it because it's a mystery and I like mystery books.
I especially enjoyed the part when Dan and Amy got chased by the Holts on the train to Vienna and when Eisenhower Holt tackles Dan and Amy hits him over the head with a hockey stick.I also liked when Dan and Amy got chased by the Janus in the canels in Venice and when they crash into the Kabra's (Cobras as Dan likes to call them)ship!

I would recommend this book to anyone who likes action,adventure or mystery books. I rate this book about 4 to 4 and a half stars. I really enjoyed this book!!

My two oldest children, ages 8 and 9, have been enjoying this series.
They enjoy mysteries, computer games, collecting cards for games, and reading. This series hits all of their favorites.

When you get this book you will recieve some cards to go with it. You can go online and enter your cards, solve the mysteries on the cards, and try to collect clues.

Because each book is written by a different author, the styles vary a little bit. Where in the first book a character might be fond of one saying, he'll have a different saying in the second book. IF you can overlook that, and it isn't difficult, then these are fun books.

I particularly like that they are learning a little bit about history as we read these books together. The first book was about Ben. Franklin, This one is about Mozart. I would not call them educational but informative.

This book is a fun read that moves fast. Enjoy.

Amy and Dan barely escaped with their lives in the French catacombs. Now, they're on their way to learn more about Mozart.

They're not alone in tracking down the 39 clues, but is someone tracking their movements?

From the train ride out of France to the escape from Venice, Amy and Dan face danger again and again. They're not above stealing clues from other Cahills, breaking into hotel rooms, distracting store clerks in order to search their store, and entering the Janus branch's secret underground hideout.

The trail for Mozart leads them through Germany, Austria, and Italy - and all countries lead them into danger. They're determined to play; after all, their life depends on finding the clues first.

A great second riveting adventure in THE 39 CLUES series will leave readers anxious for Amy and Dan while rooting for them all the way.

Reviewed by: Jennifer Rummel

It can't be unsaid that THE 39 CLUES has a pretty excellent marketing strategy going for it. What with having kids who read the series eager to collect the 6 cards that come with each installment and having their parental units buying up card packs to expand their collection as well. Then there's the idea of having different popular children's authors writing each book -- starting out with the very popular Rick Riordan (PERCY JACKSON & THE OLYMPIANS) on book one, and now with book two, having Gordon Korman (ISLAND / DIVE series plus others) authoring. But with all that said, ONE FALSE NOTE continues the story and keeps things moving nicely, but still -- the series feels somewhat stunted.

I won't go into the plot much at all since so much of it rides on keeping the secret twists and things just that: a secret. The puzzles and clues that Dan and Amy encounter this time around are just about as baffling as in the first outing. One or two can be guessed pretty quickly, but there are others that really are a surprise. And more secrets of the Cahill family are uncovered, but nothing to really put everything together yet -- and that's probably how it should be since there are still eight books in the series to go.

ONE FALSE NOTE does have a few differences in style, which are to be expected from having a different author. Some of the word choicings seemed startling as they differed so much from THE MAZE OF BONES. But after about a chapter, it was easy to slide back into the Cahill world.

The whole time I was reading through, I keep thinking that this series could be so much more. It seems like there's a good idea being built upon, but sometimes things are a little too easy for the characters. Last book, I kept worrying that Amy and Dan wouldn't be able to get through something, but this time around things were a little easier for them it seemed.

All in all, ONE FALSE NOTE is good, and definitely keeps things rolling until the next installment. I just hope that the future authors really seize upon the ideas here and run with them.

I LIKE THIS BOOK STILL I DON'T MAKE SENSE ALL FAMOUS People IS CAHILL. BUT ALL IN ALL I LIKE IT. MY FAVORITE PERSON IS IRINA SPASKY. IT KS VERY NICE PERSON WELL CAHILL KID'S NEVER AGREE. BUT I LIKE HER SHE IS SMART AND STRONG. IT IS GOOD BOOK FOR KID. I WANT TO BE SIGN IT OF THE39CLUES BUT THAT IS STORY. IT WILL FUN AMOST DI BUT HAVE SKILL. TRY IT WIL BE FUN.

This book by Gordon Korman has events that take place in many cities all over the world, such as Paris, Vienna, Salzburg, and Venice. Dan and Amy, the main characters, have been attacked and followed by other contestants who are out to find the 39 clues before they do. The first team to find the 39 clues would become the most powerful people on earth.

In one part of the story, they followed one opponent into a music store which led to a secret building with a special group of people all together trying to find the 39 clues. Dan and Amy sneak in and steal the next clue (a sheet of music written by Mozart) and run through a door that leads to the sewers. They eventually escape the sewers through a manhole.

In another part of the story, Dan and Amy had just walked into a Mozart museum when Amy saw the instrument Mozart played as a kid. Amy looked at her list of clues and said "D above High C" and thought to herself, it's a warning, don't play that key on the instrument. Then out of nowhere came Ian, one of their opponents, and snatched the music sheet out of her hands and played the instrument. As soon as Ian touched D above High C the instrument exploded, the floor split open and swords made of tungsten appeared. The swords were forged in Tokyo, Japan and they knew where they must go next.

The conflict in this story is that there are several teams and only one can find all 39 clues. The resolution is...well there is no resolution at the end of this book. You have to read the series to find out.

Although I'm an adult, I have to say I am enjoying listening to these books as audio books. Some books can be difficult to follow if you just listen to them, but these books are simple enough to follow but still interesting enough to follow! They are great!

I highly recommend these books. There may be a few objectionable things in them, but over all they are very decent. This is a 10-book mystery series featuring a 14-year-old girl and her 11-year-old brother. Their adventures take them on a clue-hunt/race around the world to many countries as they compete with other branches of their family for an ultimate prize. The historical fiction that is woven into the dialog is educational and interesting. The story line is filled with suspense, intrigue, betrayals and sabotage. At the same time, it reveals the most important bonds that should tie families together such as loyalty, shared experiences, trust, and love.

This book was good because it had a lot of action, adventure and suspense. My favorite part was when Amy and Dan got to Venice, Italy. While searching for ther next clue, they stole Mozart's sister Nannerl's diary from their cousin, Jonah Wizard. They also lied to an ex-KGB agent named Irina Spasky from Russia. They where attacked by their enemies, the Kabras. They were thrown off a boat and then swam away. They later went to a mansion and found two swords made of tungsten, which leads them to Tokyo.

What an adventure these two kids are going on all over the world. They are going places they thought they would never go to. They are in Vienna chasing a clue and the family is close behind them. For some reason the family does not want them to get closer to another clue. They have family going after them and someone else that they do not know.

To explain what happened with the clues in this book...this is clearly stated as a School Library Edition. Which means it is published for use in schools and libraries. As a buyer for a library, I don't want the cards or whatever else may come with a book. That is why they make an edition that doesn't include it so it can be circulated without missing pieces. You may have wanted to order the market edition that would have the clue cards. I can't explain the poor customer services though. Just return it and get the other edition.

Great continuation of The Maze Of Bones!
Amy and Dan head to Austria to find the second clue, which is about Mozart. After finding the first clue from Ben Franklin, iron solute they go through more betrayals, escapes, and more. But they finally find the clue (and the Kabras don't).

I say it's bad because the book gets you nowhere in the hunt for the clues. I read it because I wanted to see if it gave you information about the 39 clues and it did not so since the book was bad I quite the series but I think it's the author because the first book was awesome. I like the author of that book because he wrote the Percy Jackson series. I would give this book 2stars. I think the series has no point in the hunt so if you like kids grandma's dying and kids going on a hunt than this book is for you

First let me tell you that my son for the most part hates reading. Getting him to read was comparable to getting him to brush his teeth (11 yr old boy, need I say more). He is dyslexic therefore his reading avoidance is somewhat understandable. He loved this book. In fact, once he started reading, he was reluctant to stop. He really didn't get into the website, although he likes games; however, he did enjoy the plot and enjoys writings by Rick Riordan.

I ABSOLUTELY LOVE THIS WHOLE BOOK SERIES, AND I READ THE WHOLE SET OVER AND OVER AGAIN! I TALK ABOUT THE BOOKS SO MUCH THAT NOW MY MOM IS READING THEM AS WELL. I LIKE THAT HISTORICAL FACTS ARE THROWN INTO THESE ACTION-PACKED BOOKS.

This is the second book of the 39 clues series, and it is a great mystery book. I like how the author uses fake author names to disguise himself. These series are very well written and thrilling to read.

After finishing the Harry Potter series my son and I didn't know what to read next. We got the first 39 clues and my son just loved it. It's not the writing and plot quality of HP but just enough suspense and mystery for a 10 year old boy!

Book 2 was a disappointing follow-up to Book 1, which was terrific. The author of the 2nd book in the series did not stay true to the characters in terms of dialogue and personality. It also felt like Book 2 was aimed at a slightly more mature audience with more sophisticated, harsh language and even some moderate violence. All and all a disappointing follow-up.

dont get me wrong i love the books but don't read them twice. i read one false note the first time and loved it. the second time it felt like homework. i loved the books the first time but the second.
tip:do not reread.

This is a wonderful series especially to motivate reluctant readers. It really involves readers and includes collectible cards as well as internet links and games. They also learn some history while they read!! Originally I had purchased this book to read with my nine year old son who has difficulties reading, but my 13 year old daughter took to it and can't wait until the next book comes out!!

My 9-year-old is enjoying this series and learning history (without even realizing it) at the same time. The online game is a bit confusing and not really that fun, but the books alone are worth getting.

A compelling and intriguing book with many suspenseful moments. I liked the writing technique Gordon Korman used, mixing historical figures with memorable characters, and many puzzles to spice things up. A good read for any teen.

Our 9 year old grandson LOVES this series. This is book 2 and he couldn't wait to get started. It was not possible to find book 2 in bookstores (we tried 3) and it was so easy to order it from the store. Plus it came in the time they promised. Our grandson couldn't have been happier!

I was hoping for an adventurous book but I found a boring book instead. Then I found that the book was also scary later in the story. I liked the first book better because it was adventurous! It was also fun. The second wasn't.

I bought this book for my Grandson for Christmas, it's supposed to have 6 "Clue cards" enclosed with it. It didn't.
Calling the store's "help" department didn't help -- I got an Indian or Pakistani woman who didn't understand english very good and I couldn't understand her either!
I kept asking about the 6 cards and she kept saying the "gift card" was enclosed; when we got past that, she then got confused again and started talking about "Discount cards." Arrrggggggghhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!

This series is really a cheap marketing ploy to sell trading cards in the name of books. The series started with a good author to get the sales started. But after that "cheaper" authors have taken over, card sets have started coming out and already 144 cards have been named.

I don't mind a company selling trading cards, at least they are honest about it. However, in this case Scholastic is dishonest and is using little children's curiosity to milk money. What is worse, they are polluting the kids book industry. I hope other companies don't start following their footsteps.

If you believe that kid's shouldn't be targetted with false marketing ploys then do not buy any books or cards from this series.