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The Maze of Bones
(The 39 Clues #1)
by
Minutes before she died Grace Cahill changed her will, leaving her decendants an impossible decision: You have a choice - one million dollars or a clue.
Grace is the last matriarch of the Cahills, the world's most powerful family. Everyone from Napoleon to Houdini is related to the Cahills, yet the source of the family power is lost. 39 clues hidden around the world will re ...more
Grace is the last matriarch of the Cahills, the world's most powerful family. Everyone from Napoleon to Houdini is related to the Cahills, yet the source of the family power is lost. 39 clues hidden around the world will re ...more
Hardcover, 220 pages
Published
September 1st 2008
by Scholastic, Inc.
(first published January 1st 2008)
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Evelyn
I love this book!!! And there's 10 in the series so you can keep reading.
Community Reviews
Showing 1-30
Book one of The 39 Clues: The Maze of Bones, by author Rick Riordan, is an exciting young readers adventure book that will leave you sitting on the edge of your seat; your toilet seat. That's because the only place worth reading this book is while you've got a few minutes of privacy on the porcelain throne.
Amy and Dan Cahill are typical squabbling siblings who believe one another are the most annoying brother and sister in the world. However, that all changes when they get summoned to their mega ...more
Amy and Dan Cahill are typical squabbling siblings who believe one another are the most annoying brother and sister in the world. However, that all changes when they get summoned to their mega ...more
The Maze of Bones (The 39 Clues, #1), Rick Riordan
The Maze of Bones is the first novel of The 39 Clues series, written by Rick Riordan and published September 9, 2008 by Scholastic. It stars Amy and Dan Cahill, two orphans who discover, upon their grandmother Grace's death, that they are part of the powerful Cahill family, whose members constantly fight each other for Clues, which are ingredients to a mysterious serum. The novel has received generally positive reviews.
تاریخ نخستین خوانش: روز بیس ...more
The Maze of Bones is the first novel of The 39 Clues series, written by Rick Riordan and published September 9, 2008 by Scholastic. It stars Amy and Dan Cahill, two orphans who discover, upon their grandmother Grace's death, that they are part of the powerful Cahill family, whose members constantly fight each other for Clues, which are ingredients to a mysterious serum. The novel has received generally positive reviews.
تاریخ نخستین خوانش: روز بیس ...more
I've signed up for an online account, and am told I am a Lucien. Let the hunt begin. One of my 7th grade teachers read aloud the first chapter to her 130 students on Friday. Guess how many requests I have for the book now?
I finished the book last night, have entered one set of cards and unlocked my first clue, and have mastered the first five tasks the online game has presented to me. I wanted to be able to answer student questions about how to play or what was required. I plan to raffle off (fo ...more
I finished the book last night, have entered one set of cards and unlocked my first clue, and have mastered the first five tasks the online game has presented to me. I wanted to be able to answer student questions about how to play or what was required. I plan to raffle off (fo ...more
Adventurous and exciting treasure hunt with great humor. The information about Benjamin Franklin and the scenes in Paris were interesting. A really intriguing start of the series.
A few minutes later they stood in a muddy graveyard, looking up at the dark silhouette of St-Pierre de Montmartre. The church was made of gray stone slabs. A single square bell tower rose from the left-hand side, topped with a lightning rod and cross. Dan thought the building looked angry and resentful. If churches co...more
an easy read, very nice, refreshing and relaxing! certainly not a difficult book but nonetheless enjoyable. I am already starting the second one.
Grace Cahill changed her will moments before she died. For Amy and Dan, the loss of Grace, their grandmother, is a terribly sad event. They will miss their weekends spending time at the family mansion hearing stories of Grace’s past adventures and exploring the many rooms.
After the funeral, certain family members are invited to the reading of the will. Amy and Dan are included. Everyone is anxious to find out what their inheritance will be. No one expects what happens. Everyone is given a choice ...more
After the funeral, certain family members are invited to the reading of the will. Amy and Dan are included. Everyone is anxious to find out what their inheritance will be. No one expects what happens. Everyone is given a choice ...more
The Maze of Bones "Is this book for me?" Checklist
☐ I love clue hunts and solving puzzles!
☐ I want to feel like a child again
☐ I was once a ninja
☐ My grandmother is crazy but pretty cool
☐ My family constantly fights over money
☐ I have social anxiety
☐ I wish my cat had silver fur
☐ I love clue hunts and solving puzzles!
☐ I want to feel like a child again
☐ I was once a ninja
☐ My grandmother is crazy but pretty cool
☐ My family constantly fights over money
☐ I have social anxiety
☐ I wish my cat had silver fur
In Which Rick Riordan Attempts Another Harry Potteresque Cash Cow.
Good God, is this man the most shameless author currently working in children's literature? First the highly derivative (but at least marginally entertaining) Percy Jackson, and now this - a hokey National Treasure meets Amazing Race mash-up? 10 books, each written by a different author, that follow a sibling duo as they globetrot, attempting to piece together the titular clues in order to reveal a single earth-shattering prize ...more
Good God, is this man the most shameless author currently working in children's literature? First the highly derivative (but at least marginally entertaining) Percy Jackson, and now this - a hokey National Treasure meets Amazing Race mash-up? 10 books, each written by a different author, that follow a sibling duo as they globetrot, attempting to piece together the titular clues in order to reveal a single earth-shattering prize ...more
I really don't plan on ever reading this series again I'm just not a big fan anymore
Reads like Luke W. was the ghostwriter. (Which means it's really good!) Starts with a bang!
I read this one pretty quickly, as it is definitely a page-turner. My expectations may have been excessively high, due to the fact that I like Rick Riordan and I've heard so much buzz about Scholastic's hope to keep themselves big in the post-Harry Potter market with this new "multi-platform" series (books, trading cards, internet game, and cash prizes). I'm giving this four stars and not five for the fact ...more
I read this one pretty quickly, as it is definitely a page-turner. My expectations may have been excessively high, due to the fact that I like Rick Riordan and I've heard so much buzz about Scholastic's hope to keep themselves big in the post-Harry Potter market with this new "multi-platform" series (books, trading cards, internet game, and cash prizes). I'm giving this four stars and not five for the fact ...more
Grace Cahill has left behind her will and she has given those on the list a choice to take one million dollars or to be given a clue. That clue is one of 39 keys to unlocking the Cahills' greatest secret. Her grandson and granddaughter Dan and Amy are surprised their grandma gave them no warning given how close they were to her. Pitted against distant relatives, the siblings embark on the clue hunt which proves to be dangerous as they are seen as the prime contenders to solving the whole mystery
...more
Well, I've read MOST of it. The ARC is missing the ending. Scholastic did that on purpose because it is all part of the game, the cards, etc.
What I read was fun, but not amazing. It appears to be an Amazing Race sort of book --- a bunch of different groups all chasing around the world for clues that will solve a big mystery. This first one sets things up. Two kids (younger boy is a gaming/computer guy while the older sister is a shy bookworm) and their au pair (just happens to know the right la ...more
What I read was fun, but not amazing. It appears to be an Amazing Race sort of book --- a bunch of different groups all chasing around the world for clues that will solve a big mystery. This first one sets things up. Two kids (younger boy is a gaming/computer guy while the older sister is a shy bookworm) and their au pair (just happens to know the right la ...more
Wow, I have been wanting to read this book since fifth grade, but I just never got to it. I always was reading 'I survived' back then.
The book starts of boring then gets better and better. It is about two kids and when they go to there grandma's funeral. They get invited to a 'scavenger hunt' to be the most powerful cahill ever. Benjamin Franklin was a cahill, and the two kids have to go around finding his clues to the thirty-nine clues. It is actually a very good story, authors take turns writi ...more
The book starts of boring then gets better and better. It is about two kids and when they go to there grandma's funeral. They get invited to a 'scavenger hunt' to be the most powerful cahill ever. Benjamin Franklin was a cahill, and the two kids have to go around finding his clues to the thirty-nine clues. It is actually a very good story, authors take turns writi ...more
After starting this one way back in on Christmas, my 8-year-old and I finally finished this one up! This was a really great book to read out loud. The story was entertaining for both of us, and we're ready to move a little faster in the series now.
If you liked The Westing Game, Chasing Vermeer and enjoyed the movie National Treasure, this book will at the very least not put you to sleep. But if you're looking for a piece of kids' fiction that will knock your socks off the way Harry Potter knocked most of our socks off, this ain't it.
This is the first in a series that publishing house Scholastic hopes will buoy its financial success along after the conclusion of the Harry Potter series. If only this book were nearly as complex, well-writt ...more
This is the first in a series that publishing house Scholastic hopes will buoy its financial success along after the conclusion of the Harry Potter series. If only this book were nearly as complex, well-writt ...more
My third grader's reading tests came back: he's reading at a fifth grade level. Yay! This means we need to find some good middle grade books! The Maze of Bones is a great start. Amy and Dan are orphans, and their grandmother has also recently passed away. When the whole extended family gathers for the reading of the will, however, they're given an ultimatum: take a million dollar payout, or embark on a dangerous adventure that may change the world.
There's enough adventure here to keep my stepso ...more
There's enough adventure here to keep my stepso ...more
Read this one a few times now, and still enjoy it every time :) I've just never gotten around to finishing the series, and I hope to this time. Sometimes I find it quite childish, like with the Holts, but I love the whole mystery aspect, and the suspense with the other teams and the danger and it's all so exciting!
My review copy of The Maze of Bones by Rick Riordan (Scholastic, 2008) came with 6 game cards embedded in the cover. After musing about how this would work in the public library, it occurred to me to read John Mason’s accompanying letter – library editions, of course, will feature reinforced binding and NO game cards.
Game cards? Yes, this is one of those “it’s a book! And a trading-card game! And an online game!” multi-platform series thingies. There will be ten books (outlined by Rick Riordan a ...more
Game cards? Yes, this is one of those “it’s a book! And a trading-card game! And an online game!” multi-platform series thingies. There will be ten books (outlined by Rick Riordan a ...more
Feb 09, 2010
Eliza fuller
is currently reading it
i am on chapter twelve and i am at the part where they are following iriana in paris and they have found the headquarters of one of the branches in there family.
I was impressed with the first book in the "39 Clues" series.
I thought that it was going to just be a non-stop action adventure book for boys but it turns out to be something more.
The first book in the series "The Maze of Bones" is written by Rick Riordan, the author of the very popular Lightening Thief series. And each book following will be written by an acclaimed junior fiction author; Gordon Korman has penned the second in the series.
What I enjoyed is the amount of history, archaeology and ...more
I thought that it was going to just be a non-stop action adventure book for boys but it turns out to be something more.
The first book in the series "The Maze of Bones" is written by Rick Riordan, the author of the very popular Lightening Thief series. And each book following will be written by an acclaimed junior fiction author; Gordon Korman has penned the second in the series.
What I enjoyed is the amount of history, archaeology and ...more
I always figured I'd enjoy these books - I love solving puzzles, and I love reading, so what a delightful combination!
I was not disappointed. This books follows Amy and Dan Cahill, sister and brother (14 and 11 respectively) who accept the challenge to hunt down the 39 Clues of the Cahill family. They don't know what the clues will lead them into, or even what awaits them at the end, only that the whatever is there will make them quite powerful (and possibly save the world).
But, Amy and Dan are ...more
I was not disappointed. This books follows Amy and Dan Cahill, sister and brother (14 and 11 respectively) who accept the challenge to hunt down the 39 Clues of the Cahill family. They don't know what the clues will lead them into, or even what awaits them at the end, only that the whatever is there will make them quite powerful (and possibly save the world).
But, Amy and Dan are ...more
I put this book off for so long and finally picked it up today to see what it was about. It was a very quick read and what I imagine is the start of a really fun series, but I'm honestly not interested in reading the next nine, or the follow-up series. I get the concept, enjoyed Dan and Amy Cahill enough to KINDA tempt me into Book 2 "A False Note", but yeah, I expected way more out of it. Also, considering Riordan was behind the first book, I really thought it'd knock me out the park. I prefer
...more
At A Glance
Genre: Young Adult; Mystery
Love Triangle/Insta Love?: nope.
Cliff Hanger: Kinda.
Rating: 3 Stars
Score Sheet
All out of ten
Cover: 6
Plot: 5
Characters: 6
World Building: 5
Flow: 6
Series Congruity: n/a
Writing: 4
Ending: 6
Total: 6
In Depth
Best Part: Mysteryyyyy!
Worst Part: Copy cats everywhere.
Overall Feels Felt: Poor old lady!; I'd take the money!
Conclusion
Continuing the Series: maybe
Recommending: For younger children yes
Misc.:
Short Review: Well this is pretty much National Treasure meets Ama ...more
Genre: Young Adult; Mystery
Love Triangle/Insta Love?: nope.
Cliff Hanger: Kinda.
Rating: 3 Stars
Score Sheet
All out of ten
Cover: 6
Plot: 5
Characters: 6
World Building: 5
Flow: 6
Series Congruity: n/a
Writing: 4
Ending: 6
Total: 6
In Depth
Best Part: Mysteryyyyy!
Worst Part: Copy cats everywhere.
Overall Feels Felt: Poor old lady!; I'd take the money!
Conclusion
Continuing the Series: maybe
Recommending: For younger children yes
Misc.:
Short Review: Well this is pretty much National Treasure meets Ama ...more
Well this is practically the 2nd time i've read this book. The 1st time i read it, it wasn't actually pleasent. I mean the charecters, the plot, the puzzle solving everything was okay but the writing style!!! It was awful!!! But wait! i've read it in Bengali then, the translated one! It made all the differences. No one write like uncle rick actually. The humor he writes with, the wits, the detailing everything is just awesome when HE writes it. No one can translate that i guess :).
Now the book ...more
Now the book ...more
I can't decide fully how much I liked this book. It really depends on the rest of the series. It was fun to read. It was very much like National Treasure though, which I do love.
These relatives of a deceased woman are put up to a challenge that could make them the most powerful of their family...or of the world...
It was a bit annoying...and this could be a little bit of a spoiler (so sorry if this bugs you...but I don't think it gives much away)....at how often when Amy and Dan found clues anot ...more
These relatives of a deceased woman are put up to a challenge that could make them the most powerful of their family...or of the world...
It was a bit annoying...and this could be a little bit of a spoiler (so sorry if this bugs you...but I don't think it gives much away)....at how often when Amy and Dan found clues anot ...more
Supposedly the next "Harry Potter" according to the publishers, I got the book at the book fair and began reading it to my 4th graders. It definately reads like it is written as a screen play, not a novel. I hear a movie, action figures, etc. are in the works. The characters are flat and unlikeable, the plot was difficult to follow, and the clues weren't even remotely close to anything a grade school kid could figure out. Add to the fact that the first few clues were in France with tons of Frenc
...more
Sep 13, 2008
melanie (lit*chick)
rated it
really liked it
Recommended to melanie (lit*chick) by:
school librarian
Shelves:
childrens-lit
The school librarian mentioned this to me, and I decided to see what the fuss was about. My tendancy is to run away from books with slick marketing ploys, but I'll probably get caught up in the madness anyhow. Just like that darn Twilight series.
after finishing:
I think this will be a neat series for older elementary readers. It's got a lot going on, but isn't hard to read. And it is fun for the parents to get involved too.
reminds me of the movie National Treasure mixed with the show Amazing Race ...more
after finishing:
I think this will be a neat series for older elementary readers. It's got a lot going on, but isn't hard to read. And it is fun for the parents to get involved too.
reminds me of the movie National Treasure mixed with the show Amazing Race ...more
Since this one comes with games and such and I anticipate a lot of students reading it, I feel obligated to read it. Not that there isn't some interesting stuff in the book -- some of the history can lead to further interest from the readers, but there are also so many issues: full of cliches, flat/cardboard characters, easy-ways-out without intricate patterns, and remarkably draggy for this type of supposedly fast-paced, action-packed thriller. So far, some kids really enjoyed it and yet I also
...more
Probably a 3.5. This book really brought me back to my childhood!
Not Rick best work that for sure but it was still enjoyable.
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Other books in the series
The 39 Clues
(1 - 10 of 11 books)
10 trivia questions
4 quizzes
More quizzes & trivia...
4 quizzes
“She led the way. Eyeless sockets of the dead seemed to stare at them as they passed.
"These are cool," Dan decided. "Maybe I could-"
"No, Dan," Amy said. "You can't collect human bones."
"Awww.”
—
161 likes
"These are cool," Dan decided. "Maybe I could-"
"No, Dan," Amy said. "You can't collect human bones."
"Awww.”
“I've got a few ideas," (Amy) admitted. "But I don't know where we're going in the long term. I mean - have you ever thought about what this ultimate treasure could be?"
"Something cool." (Dan)
"Oh, that's real helpful. I mean, what could make somebody the most powerful Cahill in history? And why thirty-nine clues?"
Dan shrugged. "Thirty-nine is a sweet number. It's thirteen times three. It's also the sum of five prime numbers in a row - 3,5,7,11,13. And if you add the first three powers of three, 3 to the first, 3 to the second, and s to the third, you get thirty-nine."
Amy stared at him. "How did you know that?"
"What do you mean? It's obvious.”
—
133 likes
More quotes…
"Something cool." (Dan)
"Oh, that's real helpful. I mean, what could make somebody the most powerful Cahill in history? And why thirty-nine clues?"
Dan shrugged. "Thirty-nine is a sweet number. It's thirteen times three. It's also the sum of five prime numbers in a row - 3,5,7,11,13. And if you add the first three powers of three, 3 to the first, 3 to the second, and s to the third, you get thirty-nine."
Amy stared at him. "How did you know that?"
"What do you mean? It's obvious.”
