Greatness is relative
"I can tell you very little about them. I confess I know only the name and a few unsettling stories. But you must beware of them. This was your grandmother's last warning, which she made me promise to tell you if you accepted the challenge: Beware the Madrigals."
- William McIntyre ("The Maze of Bones", Rick Riordan)
In 2008, Steven Spielberg bought the rights to "The 39 Clues", with Dreamworks adapting the series to the big screen. But something happened, where Paramount would be its new distributor in case it would be released on 2016. So what is special about these books?
Rick Riordan, who created Percy Jackson, thought of an adventure novel that young readers would love. Not one, but many. Riordan collaborated with the best authors in Fantasy literature and Young-adult fiction, which included Jude Watson, Patrick Carman, and Roland Smith. It would be an excursion like no other; think of Benjamin Franklin, Marie Antoinette, and Harry Houdini. All achieved greatness (or notoriety). All of them came from the same bloodline. It would have been silly if not for Riordan and company.
Amy and Dan, both siblings, were under the guidance of their Aunt Beatrice, who never really cared about them. But their existence wasn't totally dreary, as they looked forward to weekends, which they spent with Grace, their grandmother. Grace lived in a palatial house, which the siblings adored. Amy loved books, preferring the company of dead authors over real people, while Dan enjoyed collecting old stuff, which Grace's home don't have a shortage of. They loved her dearly, as she was the only kin who treated them with affection. But Amy and Dan were baffled whenever their grandma refused to talk about their parents, who died under mysterious circumstances. They also knew little of Grace's former life, when she traveled and saw everything the world offered. Then came Grace's death.
The funeral brought distant relatives, whom Amy and Dan loathed. The Holt Family were athletic, using their strength to bully the siblings whenever the chance came. Ian and Natalie Kabra were of Amy's age, devious teenagers who used their wealth to manipulate people. Alistair Oh was a middle-aged gentlemen of Korean descent, a sneaky fellow who fancied novel devices. Jonah Wizard was the sibling's other teenage cousin, famous and spoiled rotten. They, along with other relations, came to the funeral to get a share of Grace's fortune. But the old lady revised her will before she passed away.
Only one (family) could get the lion's share of her riches, if they figured out the 39 clues. Most passed it up, but with a small consolation. (A check worth one millions dollars.) Those who remained would travel to much of Europe, also Asia and Africa, in search of these clues that would make them rich and powerful. Along the way, they would learn that most members of the Cahill Family, whom they were all descended from, were achievers, leaders, and visionaries who shaped the course of history. For Amy and Dan, this would make them realize their worth, such that they were better than the Holts, Kabras, Ohs, and Wizards combined.
Perhaps the authors of "The 39 Clues" were aware that studying World history could be tedious, so the (perfect) alternative. In "Maze of Bones", written by Riordan, Amy and Dan would learn that Franklin's ingenuity would endear him to the French people. (The native of Boston was also a famous author, best known for "Poor Richard's Almanack", which was the key to the first clue.) In "One False Note", by Gordon Korman, the siblings, along with their relatives who were in their tail, went to Salzburg, the birthplace of Amadeus Mozart. They would discover the diary of Maria Anna "Nanneri" Mozart, the former prodigy's older sister, who was equally talented. Her personal journal would lead them to triumph - or near death.
The series was engaging. Not that there wasn't enough tidbit to keep young readers from getting disinterested, but the novels might have turned out different if not for the humor.
"Amy gripped his arms. 'You found it?'
'No, but look! This whole essay - 'To the Royal Academy'. He wrote a whole essay on farts!' Dan grinned with delight. 'He's proposing a scientific study of different fart smells. You're right, Amy. This guy was a genius!'"
"The 39 Clues" was successful, such that it was followed with another series, “Cahills vs. Vespers”. This time, the Cahills must band together, as they faced a dangerous foe, once a dear friend of the family. A third one, “Unstoppable”, began last year. "Countdown", the third book, was available a few weeks ago. "Flashpoint", the fourth, is scheduled for release a few months from now. There seems to be no end to the adventure, as fans can't get enough.
