The 39 Clues Book 7: The Viper's Nest Review
When Grace Cahill passed away, relatives oozed out of the woodwork in hopes of getting their hands on her fortunes. But Grace wasn't your typical old lady, and she didn't leave this world in typical fashion either. Instead of a will and an inheritance, she left behind a quest involving 39 clues that lead to a vast wealth and the highest authority imaginable. Now, six teams of Cahill relatives are racing around the world, chasing after intricately placed clues left behind by other famous Cahills, including Ben Franklin and Mozart.
Fourteen-year-old Amy and her 11-year-old brother, Dan, make up one of the teams. Orphaned and unwanted by everyone except their beloved (and now deceased) grandmother, the siblings don't have anything to lose and have decided to go for it. But unlike their opponents, they have no money, connections, or special training, not to mention the fact that they're just kids. This team has the odds seriously stacked against them. But they do have a very cool au pair (a sort of domestic servant) traveling with them, and, above all, a great deal of spunk, smarts and determination. The race is on, and there aren't any rules.
Book seven jumps right into action with Nellie salvaging the dazed Amy and Dan from the Indonesian island where they had narrowly escaped a horrid, fiery death. Shock still clutches at them; they can't grasp the fact that their opponent, Irina Spasky, had sacrificed her own life to save them. But they can grasp the fact that Isabel Kabra was responsible for starting the fire; she did the same thing years before, killing Amy and Dan's parents. They still didn't know what to think of Alistair Oh, the Cahill opponent who seemed to be both friend and foe at the same time. It would be best to stick to their motto Trust no one. But surely that doesn't include their beloved au pair, Nellie, does it?
Even more than another chance at life, Irina has given our heroes the next destination in which to look for the clues. Searching through Irina's purse turns up some valuable information, and Nellie, Amy and Dan fly to South Africa to continue the hunt. There they find a drawing of the famous tribal king, Shaka Zulu, who is holding a shield with a Tomas crest. For once, Dan is thrilled to dive into research, learning all about Shaka Zulu in order to figure out the next clue.
Of course, Amy and Dan can't go very far without running into a couple of their arch-rivals, and thankfully their late grandmother has left behind more hints to help them on their way. Throw in a few extra scary attempts on the lives of the siblings, some clever puzzles, and stumbling into the secret Tomas training center, and the hunt for the 39 clues continues with nonstop action and adventure. Nothing, however, could prepare Amy and Dan for the shocking news they finally uncover about their parents and their own branch of the Cahill family.
Fans may remember that Peter Lerangis wrote THE SWORD THIEF, the third book in the 39 Clues series, and now he repeats his brilliant performance in THE VIPER'S NEST. Lerangis has introduced some growth to the two young protagonists, with Dan actually enjoying and leading the research for once, and Amy discovering just a bit of well-earned self-confidence. He dives into the South African culture, exposing Dan and Amy to its history of apartheid and racism, and even relating that to bigotry experienced in the United States. On the lighter side, he concocts some clever puzzles for the siblings to decipher and doesn't hold back on the action and adventure for which this outstanding series is famous. Fans won't have to wait too long for the hunt to continue; book eight, written by Gordon Korman, will release on April 6th.
The 39 Clues Book 7: The Viper's Nest Feature
- ISBN13: 9780545060479
- Condition: New
- Notes: BUY WITH CONFIDENCE, Over one million books sold! 98% Positive feedback. Compare our books, prices and service to the competition. 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed
The 39 Clues Book 7: The Viper's Nest Overview
It's no longer a game. The body count is rising. Shaken by recent events, Amy and Dan flee to a distant land and trace the footsteps of their most formidable ancestor yet: a military leader of mythic proportions. Yet just as the siblings begin to master the art of ancient warfare, they confront a dangerous enemy that can't be felled with a sword: the truth. With the stakes higher than ever, Amy and Dan uncover something so devastating it changes everything – the secret of their family branch.
Available at Amazon Check Price Now!
Related Products
- The 39 Clues Book 8: The Emperor's Code
- The 39 Clues Book 6: In Too Deep
- The 39 Clues, Book 9: Storm Warning
- The 39 Clues Book 5: The Black Circle
- The 39 Clues Book 4: Beyond the Grave
Customer Reviews
Perfect for a young reader - Lady Wynter - Chicago, Illinois
I know other reviewers have given this series a very low rating. They could be written better but you have to remember the age group that these are written for. I think the series is a great buy since it does get my daughter to read.
Wonderful progress - Steven R. McEvoy - Canada
This book is the seventh in a unique series that was to run 10 books. Originally it was to be 10 books by 7 authors in a single continuous story arch, with online games, and clue hunts and more, at the 39 Clues website. Each book now seems to be getting better than the one before, and also leaves you hungry for the next instalment. Scholastic has also now announced an 11th volume, The Black Book of Buried Secrets, which will be out shortly after book 10.
Peter Lerangis has written a wonderful piece pivotal to the story arc. Amy and Dan Cahill are still up to their neck in the hunt for the 39 clues. They are learning to trust again. This time they are in South Africa, and the historical figures explored included Winston Churchill and Shaka and they also find out more about their grandmother Grace, and their parents. Lerangis gives us a lot of real history in under 200 pages. Once you start reading this book you will not want to put it down, even more so than some of the others in the series.
The last few books had become very dark and though the race for the 39 clues is still on, and some factions are becoming more and more dangerous, Dan and Amy seem to be finding a better balance. This is another amazing book in an incredible series.
The 39 Clues Book 7 - Darryl Bennett - Columbus, Indiana USA
My grand kids love this series and can't hardly wait for the next book. They also enjoy the card packs that are a part of this series too.
*** Product Information and Prices Stored: Sep 03, 2010 07:00:06
No comments:
Post a Comment