Fiction Addict

Genre: Children’s

Publisher: Scholastic

Publication Date: March 2010

Reviewed by Shaun Stevenson

Dan and Amy Cahill are up to their faces in mysteries. And now they’re on a flight to China as book number eight, The Emperor’s Code, in the New York Times bestselling series The 39 Clues, begins. The only lead they have to go on is a vague symbol painted in the background of an old movie, The Last Emperor, and that might even be just a false lead. And with the many branches of the Cahill family out to steal their clues and murder them both, every step forward could be their last. But when Dan and Amy are separated from each other – they both have to face the reality: either find each other, or find the next clue and risk losing the only family they have left.

Gordon Korman is not new to The 39 Clues. He also authored book number two, One False Note, which had felt somewhat off track after Rick Riordan’s first entry, The Maze of Bones. I was a bit worried if Korman could pull off another book in the series, but he definitely did, and this one ranks as one of the best so far. The writing is crisp and moves along; just like any other book in the series, but what really shines here are the deeper characterizations that sometimes felt lacking in previous books. Dan and Amy are really explored as they separate from each other on the hunt, and it was a very unique opportunity for Korman to be able to reach inside their heads and give us more of their fears and thoughts about the things that have happened to them both. But he doesn’t skimp out on the humor, action, or puzzles. And in some ways, the danger was all the more real as they travel into some of their most dangerous situations yet.

While the casual reader will enjoy this next book in the series, those who want to dive a little deeper will find some very intriguing puzzles fitted into the book itself. One code hidden throughout the volume will likely be one of the most shocking clues yet to the overarching storyline of the series, while a couple of other small clues hidden on the front cover will provide some hints that have yet to be understood. Also, the ending note that is usually just a general letter to some branch of the Cahill family mentioning they “Stop Dan and Amy” is something very different this time – and it makes me wonder if there is a huge twist that, in typical Riordan style, is almost impossible to see coming.

All said, The 39 Clues series is one of those once-in-a-publishing-lifetime events that comes along and really creates something out of itself, with ingenious references to historical figures, unique puzzles and clues, and all building up to something that promises to be truly astounding. With only two more books to go, things are definitely on a swift-moving track and all we can know for certain is the end is very, very near.

Review copy provided by Scholastic.