THE 39 CLUES Book 4: BEYOND THE GRAVE
by Jude Watson
Scholastic Inc.
ISBN: 9780545060448
Ages 9-12
192 pages
• About the Book
• Read an Excerpt
• Author Talk –– May 2009
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, like Ben Franklin. The race is on, and there aren't any rules.
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, no connections and no special training, not to mention the fact that they're just kids. Plus, Amy is shy and stutters when she's nervous, and Dan tends to be impulsive. This team has the odds of winning seriously stacked against them. But they do have a few pieces of jewelry from their grandmother to sell for expenses, a very cool au pair traveling with them, and, above all, a great deal of spunk, smarts and determination. And they've kept up with their opponents so far, somehow.
In the fourth installment of this bestselling series, Amy and Dan fly to Cairo with only a pyramid shape and the word “Sakhet” to guide them. They are becoming quite the world travelers, having been to Korea, Tokyo, Venice, Austria and Paris, all in just a few short weeks. Amy, a whiz at research, has figured out that Sakhet is the Egyptian goddess with a lion’s head. A little bit of luck lands them in the hidden fortress of the Ekat branch of the Cahill family, where they learn some fascinating --- and disturbing --- history.
Amy and Dan still don’t know from which of the four branches they hail, but the more they learn about their family, the more they would rather not claim Cahill status. They do find something else in the Ekat stronghold, another piece of the puzzle that leads them deep into the dark recesses of an Egyptian tomb to look for more clues.
Of course, the race for the clues would not be complete without some competition from the relatives. Amy and Dan run into famous teen star Jonah and his father, who end up dumping them into a deadly confrontation on the Nile with an angry crocodile. And the siblings hesitate to continue an alliance with another team, because once again the advice given them to trust no one has proven all too true. As they struggle through the challenges they discover in Egypt, both from the past and the present, Amy and Dan are beginning to wonder if those instructions actually pertained to their beloved grandmother. Why hadn’t she helped them more? Are they really all alone in the world? It’s more important than ever for their team to bond, not break apart into fragmented pieces. But the pressure in the race for the 39 clues is mounting, and some of the players are willing to do anything to win, including murder.
Author Jude Watson takes over the writing for this leg of the race, and she gets a big blue ribbon for an awesome job on BEYOND THE GRAVE. She adds her own special style into an already exciting story, filling it with energy and imagination. Book four’s spirit buzzes through each page with heart-pounding action, white-knuckled adventure and a hilarious wit. Watson cleverly creates many ingenious clues and pieces of the puzzle, weaving them into the culture of Egypt and pulling readers further into the plot. She also delves deeper into some of the characters’ personalities, examining their emotional sides a bit more, especially Amy and Dan’s relationship and history with their grandmother. She carries her part with strength and enthusiasm, and is a big asset to this amazing series.
As for the next installment, fans won’t have to wait long for book five, THE BLACK CIRCLE, which is due out in August. In the meantime, log on to www.The39Clues.com to hunt for the clues and have a chance to win some fabulous prizes.
--- Reviewed by Chris Shanley-Dillman, author of FINDING MY LIGHT, THE BLACK POND and GHOSTS OF THE U.P.
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