The Maze of Bones by Rick Riordan | Book Review #11

Good morning, bookpups🐾 It’s Middle-Grade Monday! The Maze of Bones by Rick Riordan was an exciting start to the 39 Clues quest. It sends Amy and Dan Cahill, two kids who have recently lost their grandmother, on a trip around the world, chasing clues and searching for the Cahill legacy, something that will make them (or whoever finds it) the most powerful Cahill (and person) in the world!

QOTD: Do you read books that come with games or quests included?

One of the most unique things about The 39 Clues series is the clue cards that come with each book. You can put each of your little clues into the website and play along. I haven’t done it, though it’s a fun little bonus that I have a feeling my little ones will enjoy once they’re old enough to read the books😉 #RaiseAReader

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Second reading of this book and still love it.

I love Middle Grade. Let’s just get that out in the open, okay? I am also a huge fan of Rick Riordan’s writing (after falling in love with Percy Jackson, as well). So The Maze of Bones was a logical reading choice for me. What I didn’t expect was to get so sucked into the plotline of the race to find all 39 Clues and claim the monumental legacy Grace Cahill left behind!

So. Many. Characters.

“You can’t call a ninja lord dweeb.”
-Dan Cahill, The Maze of Bones

I am amazed by how many characters coexist in this book. After the reading of Grace’s will, each family member is gifted $1 Million. They can either take their money and leave, or forfeit it and chase after the 39 Clues, possibly becoming the most powerful person in Cahill history and in the world! So, those who are left (after the chickens take their money and run … who am I kidding? I’d take the million and run!), split into teams and start hunting.

As many characters as there are, however, it doesn’t get confusing.

“Dan Cahill thought he had the most annoying big sister on the planet.
And that was before she set fire to two million dollars.”
–The Maze of Bones

Each significant character has his/her own personality so it’s actually really easy to tell them apart. And of course, you’re warned right from the beginning not to trust anybody. And, seeing the story from Amy and Dan’s point of view, I naturally want them to win. Nellie’s a nice addition to the story, as well (she’s their au pair … like a live-in nanny??). Oh, and Aunt Beatrice … grrr.

The first time I read this book, I breezed through it. This time, I went a little bit slower (still finished it in a few hours), looking for more clues and trying to see if I missed anything the first time around. Lucky for me, when I read The Maze of Bones back in 2013, I loved it enough to buy the remaining 10 books in the main series 😉 So as far as reading material goes … I’m set!

I loved the mystery, the clues, the race against the clock. All of it swirled together to create a very enjoyable book!

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