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Maze of Bones

Maze of Bones

AdventureChildren's Books
Pages
220
Published
2008
Language
English

Synopsis

The Maze of Bones launches The 39 Clues, the multimedia adventure series created and plotted by Rick Riordan, who wrote this opening book. When wealthy matriarch Grace Cahill dies, her will offers each relative a choice: take a million dollars and walk away, or forfeit the money to join a worldwide treasure hunt for 39 hidden clues that will reveal the source of the Cahill family's vast power. Orphaned siblings Amy and Dan Cahill, raised by their dismissive Aunt Beatrice and devoted to their late grandmother Grace, accept the challenge. With their au pair Nellie Gomez and Grace's Egyptian Mau cat, Saladin, they fly to Paris to chase a first clue tied to their ancestor Benjamin Franklin, decoding his Poor Richard's Almanack and tracking a sinister "maze of bones." Standing in their way are scheming relatives from rival Cahill branches: the wealthy Kabra siblings Ian and Natalie, the athletic Holt family, the celebrity Jonah Wizard, the cunning Alistair Oh, and Russian ex-spy Irina Spasky. The book establishes that historical greats from Napoleon to Houdini all descend from the Cahills, and that the family's lost secret could change the world. A fast, puzzle-driven mystery aimed at middle-grade readers, it interlaced its plot with six collectible game cards and an online game where readers competed alongside the story, debuting at number one on the New York Times bestseller list.

Prose complexity
1/10

Vibe

AdventurousMysterious
QuestFound Family

Genres

Adventure Children's Books Middle Grade Mystery Thriller History

About the author

R
Rick Riordan

An American author born June 5, 1964, in San Antonio, Texas, Rick Riordan writes mythology-based fiction for young readers. Before his publishing career, he taught English and history at public and private middle schools in San Antonio and the San Francisco Bay Area for fifteen years. While teaching, he wrote the adult Tres Navarre mystery series, which won the top three national mystery awards: the Edgar, the Anthony, and the Shamus. Percy Jackson originated as a bedtime story Riordan invented...

Characters

Amy CahillProtagonist

A young girl who, along with her brother Dan, discovers they are members of the powerful and secretive Cahill family after their grandmother's death.

Dan CahillProtagonist

Amy's younger brother; together they race against other branches of the Cahill family to find clues leading to a legendary serum.

Ian KabraAntagonist

Wealthy, charming British rival from the Lucian branch who manipulates Amy.

Natalie KabraAntagonist

Ian's spoiled, ruthless younger sister and fellow Lucian competitor.

Irina SpaskyAntagonist

Former KGB spy competing in the hunt with poison-tipped fingers.

All characters in Maze of Bones

Frequently asked questions

  • Who wrote The Maze of Bones and how does it fit into The 39 Clues?

    Rick Riordan wrote The Maze of Bones, the first book in The 39 Clues. He also created and plotted the overall series arc, after which later books were written by other authors.

  • What is the premise that starts the clue hunt?

    At the reading of Grace Cahill's will, each heir must choose between taking one million dollars or giving up the money to join a worldwide hunt for 39 clues that reveal the family's secret power.

  • Which historical figure is central to the first book?

    Benjamin Franklin is the focus of book one. Amy and Dan follow clues tied to Franklin's life and his Poor Richard's Almanack, leading them to Paris in search of a 'maze of bones.'

  • Did The Maze of Bones come with anything besides the story?

    Yes. The book shipped with six collectible game cards and tied into an online game, part of Scholastic's transmedia design where readers solved puzzles and competed alongside the narrative.

  • Who are Amy and Dan competing against?

    Rival Cahill relatives, including the wealthy Kabra siblings Ian and Natalie, the athletic Holt family, celebrity Jonah Wizard, inventor Alistair Oh, and ex-KGB spy Irina Spasky.

  • Is this book appropriate for middle-grade readers?

    Yes, it is written for middle-grade audiences as a fast-paced puzzle adventure, debuting at number one on the New York Times bestseller list as the launch of the series.

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