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Wednesday, February 24, 2010

Review and 4-Book Giveaway! The 39 Clues Book Four: Beyond the Grave by Jude Watson

The 39 Clues Book Four: Beyond the Grave by Jude Watson (Rated:C)
Scholastic Inc
ISBN: 978-0-545-06044-8
Published June 2, 2009
Hardcover, 192 pages

The chase continues as 14 year-old Amy Cahill and her 11 year-old brother Dan rush off to Cairo, Egypt in search of the next clue. You can feel the heat and smell the exotic spices as we catch up with the duo at the Khan market. Two new characters are introduced in this book, Theo, an Indiana Jones-type Egyptologist and Hilary, who is the childhood best friend of Grace, Amy and Dan’s dead grandmother. Instantly likable, they play an important part in the story.

Amy and Dan learn a little about Grace’s past through Hilary who gives them a card with a message from their grandmother. But the message seems so detached they begin to question why their grandmother (whom they miss terribly) would send them on such a dangerous hunt. This doubting causes pain and friction between the brother and sister, adding internal conflict as the team escape a scary crocodile encounter, a submarine disaster, being buried alive in an Egyptian tomb, and the clutches of the Ekaterina branch members. Alistair Oh makes a brief appearance, but it is Irina Spasky who is close on their tail this time.

In addition, it is Irina’s vulnerable side that is revealed in this book. She has a painful history attached to that of Grace, making the reader wonder what exactly happened. I’m getting really curious about Nellie Gomez, too, the children’s au pair who has the uncanny ability to get them out of scraps time and time again. She has very convenient talents. I am certain this isn’t coincidence, and I look forward to seeing how it all plays out in the next books. Finally, I was somewhat disappointed with the way things ended up with Hilary. I would have liked for this relationship to end differently.

I must add that the titles of the books have double significance. For example, Beyond the Grave is a good indication the next clue is somewhere in a grave, but also hints at Grace’s message coming from “beyond the grave” since she is already dead when they receive it. It's a cool play on words, which, by the way, is how the clues are discovered in all the books.

This book was another exciting adventure that has me waiting to read the next book in this fun series suitable for all ages. Haven’t read any of the books? Check out my reviews on the previous books and enter the giveaway below to win the first 4 books in this series!

Book One: The Maze of Bones
Book Two: One False Note
Book Three: The Sword Thief

And now for the Giveaway!

Book Seven: The Viper's Nest is currently available and by August of this year, Book Ten, which is the last book in this series will be published. In celebration of this, Nikole from Scholastic Canada has kindly offered once again to do another mega giveaway—this time the winner will get the first four books in The 39 Clues series! These are hardcover books. Also, stay tuned for more mega giveaways (one each month!). Here are the giveaway rules:
GIVEAWAY NOW CLOSED
1. Open to Canadian residents only.
2. No P.O. box addresses.
3. Must be a follower of this blog, new or current. Click on Follow on the right sidebar and follow publicly.
4. Leave a comment with your email address. For example: laura (at) aol (dot) com
5. Giveaway ends March 17, 2010.

Below is a fun take on how the author Jude Watson is in on the secrecy and danger associated with The 39 Clues. Take a look!




Disclosure: Thank you to Nikole from Scholastic Canada for sending me this book for review. I was not compensated in any other way, nor told how to rate or review this product.

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16 comments :

  1. Was kinda hoping not to be unlucky comment number 1 lol. So I hope these are moderated. :)

    I am a new follower and would love to be entered.

    ssummmer(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  2. I like the way this series mixes the exotic and mysterious with the characters ongoing/developing relationships.

    ReplyDelete
  3. I just became a follower and would love to be entered in your draw. Thanks.
    wandanamgreb(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  4. Please count me in for this exciting giveaway. These books
    sound great.
    I follow by google reader.

    cenya2 at hotmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  5. Please count me in. I've been wanting to read this series but it's hard to get started when the series is so far along. Nothing like actually *having* the first four books on hand, though, to get you motivated! I want to win! I am a follower.

    ReplyDelete
  6. I am a new follower and would love to enter this great contest.

    billiondollarprincesss (at) hotmail (dot) com

    ReplyDelete
  7. I am a new follower and would love to be entered in this great contest.
    vivaglampink(at)yahoo(dot)ca

    ReplyDelete
  8. My 10 year old was just drooling over this series at the book store. I'm planning to buy him a few of them for Easter but it would be so much nicer to win them!

    I'm a follower

    dftrew(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  9. I've wanted to read these for awhile now.

    I would love to be entered.

    dawnpnr(at)yahoo(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  10. It's great to find a Canadian friendly site. I'm now a follower.
    red_handed99@yahoo.ca

    ReplyDelete
  11. Lovely to find a Canadian-only giveaway for once!

    I am a new follower, and would love a chance at these books =]

    alannakurt at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  12. Great thinking that kids would love the strange and unique along with a good mystery. I would love to have my students start reading these books.

    I am a follower.

    bstilwell12 at comcast dot net

    ReplyDelete
  13. My daughters have been dying to read these! Thanks for the chance :)

    I'm a new follower :)

    martinack_75 AT hotmail DOT com

    ReplyDelete
  14. Does this giveaway end March 16th or July 16th?

    If it is July--I would love to be the the winner!

    I am a follower.

    nancyecdavis AT bell

    ReplyDelete
  15. I haven't read any books, but sure sounds very interesting. Like one long treasure hunt.

    ReplyDelete

Thank you for commenting! I appreciate your feedback.

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