By Gordon Korman
Scholastic, $12.99, 222 pages
Poor Dan is already hitting that angsty part of his life. The 39 Clues: Cahills Vs. Vespers: Book One: The Medusa Plot is the first book of the new series, and it starts off with the Vespers kidnapping Cahills, all as part of a plot to get the various families to get some clues for them. As the worst of enemies are forced to work together, Dan debates combining the 39 clues in order to get an edge on the new enemies.
This is not a bad beginning for the new series. The forced teamwork of the various families works; the new villains are not afraid to do whatever it takes. Dan’s dilemma is also fun to watch, as it is unique to him; the only remaining copy of the potion is in his head, making him the only one who can re-create the potion. This is a book of uneasy decisions, and it is interesting to see why those decisions were made, and what effects they have on Amy and Dan. The new series promises to be more thinking than doing, while keeping up the action from the previous series. It should be interesting to read.
Reviewed by Jamais Jochim
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