The 39 Clues Book 2: One False Note

Amy and Dan are on the race to find clue number 2, with the only hint being "MOZART". Amy, Dan, and Nellie are all on a train to Austria in hopes of beating the rest of the Cahill relatives to clue number 2.

The troubles that they face never seems to be at a distance. Saladin, Grace's Egyptian Mau, is refusing to eat regular cat food and so has begun to look rather sick. Saladin was used to eating fresh red snapper - a delicacy they can no longer afford. They continue to try and feed him in hopes that he will eat, they can't bare the thought that they'd lose the only remaining connection to Grace.

The gang hops on a train that takes them from France to Austria. They hope that the rest of the Cahill family hasn't caught up with them yet, but when they see the Holts on the next train car they being to panic. They shove their clue and Saladin in an over head compartment and start running to the next car - with the Holts hot on their heels. When the Holts catch them and drag them back to their au pair, they demand that the clue be handed over. Luckily for them Saladin ripped the whole clue to shreds, and when the free-loading Holts are discovered by the train personal they jump off.

When the train finally lands in Austria Amy, Dan and Nellie find a hotel and then begin searching for their clue. They clue they have is one of Mozart's last master pieces " KV 617". When you listen to it - it has an eerie beauty to it (well at least for me.) The kids look throughout his house hopping for any clues. When they spot their cousin Jonah they know they are on the right track but upset that the lead is now up for grabs. Amy and Dan go to the little library under Mozart's house requesting the diary of Mozart's sister. When the attendant finds that the diary is missing, the kids know that their cousin is involved!

They follow Mozart's clues all the way to Venice. While in Venice Amy and Dan doge all the Cahills to find clue number 3. They have to race to Japan in hopes of being the ones to solve the mystery Grace left behind.

I am so in love with the 39 Clues series! It's like The Da Vinci Code - but for kids. Scholastic is even hosting a real game in which you read the books and you get the cards (each book comes with 6 - but you can also buy packs) and try to solve the mystery too! On the back of the book it says "you can win over $100,000 in prizes" - I'd love to play along, but sadly I've never been good with solving word problems!

With each book Amy and Dan over come hard obstacles - both personal and 'professional'. The family members that the kids are going up against are rich beyond means, smart, and ruthless - while the Cahill kids are poor, parent-less, smart, and not ruthless. Amy is slowly becoming a stronger person, while Dan is slowly finding his place. These kids are the underdogs and you can't help but root for them as they continue the wild and dangerous quest to solve the mystery.

Books in the series:

1) The 39 Clues: Book 1 The Maze of Bones

2) The 39 Clues: Book 2 One False Note

3) The 39 Clues: Book 3 The Sword Thief

4) The 39 Clues: Book 4 Beyond the Grave

5) The 39 Clues: Book 5 The Black Circle (Aug 11, 2009)

6) The 39 Clues: Book 6 In Too Deep (Nov 3, 2009)

7) The 39 Clues: Book 7 Untitled ( Feb 2, 2010)

8) The 39 Clues: Book 8 Untitled (Apr 6, 2010)

9) The 39 Clues: Book 9 TBA (Jun 2010)

10) The 39 Clues: Book 10 TBA (Sept 2010)

The 39 Clues Book 2: One False Note by Gordon Korman. New York (c) 2008