Stars: 3
Author: Rick Riordan
Format: 220 pages, no drawings.
Reading level: grades 4 (or 5) and up

Summary: This book is a part of the series "39 clues". Amy, a girl aged 13 and Dan, a 12 year-old find out that they belong to a very powerful global family of which many famous historical figures belong (like Benjamin Frankin). They travel the world in search of clues which would give them great powers and need to fight off other family members. The book contains lots of action , and a certain amount of somewhat extensive scene descriptions which would likely be suitable for slightly older kids (probably grade 5 or 6). In this book they discovered the first clue. Apparently there will be 10 or 11 books in total. If you are buying the books, it will become an expensive exercise. However, if money is no concern or you borrow them from a library, then it's a good read. The whole idea and big marketing behind the book however give it a 'too commercial' feeling. It appears also that books will be written by different authors (i.e, they are hired to write the books, I am not impressed).