• The Maze of Bones (The 39 Clues, Book 1)

  • By: Rick Riordan
  • Narrated by: David Pittu
  • Length: 5 hrs and 11 mins
  • 4.3 out of 5 stars (2,267 ratings)

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The Maze of Bones (The 39 Clues, Book 1)  By  cover art

The Maze of Bones (The 39 Clues, Book 1)

By: Rick Riordan
Narrated by: David Pittu
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Publisher's summary

What would happen if you discovered that your family was one of the most powerful in human history? What if you were told that the source of the family's power was hidden around the world, in the form of 39 Clues? What if you were given a choice - take a million dollars and walk away...or get the first Clue? If you're Amy and Dan Cahill, you take the Clue - and begin a very dangerous race.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying reference material will be available in your Library section along with the audio.

©2008 Rick Riordan (P)2008 Scholastic Inc.

What listeners say about The Maze of Bones (The 39 Clues, Book 1)

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    1,322
  • 4 Stars
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  • 3 Stars
    273
  • 2 Stars
    97
  • 1 Stars
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Performance
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    1,067
  • 4 Stars
    334
  • 3 Stars
    140
  • 2 Stars
    31
  • 1 Stars
    25
Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    1,024
  • 4 Stars
    321
  • 3 Stars
    161
  • 2 Stars
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  • 1 Stars
    39

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars

Not what I'd hoped for

This is one listen I have mixed feelings about. We really didn't like Riordan's others but tried this one thinking it would be better for our tastes. However, it wasn't what we'd hoped it would be. My sons and I have listened to many audiobooks and we have many favorites that I'd recommend instead. At the top of our list are 'The Kingdoms and the Elves of the Reaches' series and 'In the Service of Dragons' series both by Robert Stanek. Now those are series we've listened to multiple times and loved. This simply wasn't and not one we'd listen to again.

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28 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Riordan Rulz

I cannot say more about Riordan than I will read anything he writes and my kids will also. If he wrote a post-it note list, I might just read that too.

This is a very cute story and has some great ideas and twists. I just wish he had written the next few books in the series.

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23 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars

Mysterious and thrilling

My nephews have been living with me since the start of the school year and we`ve listened to so many books together. We`ve really enjoyed similar books like Stanek`s amazing Kingdoms and the Elves of the Reaches. This is the first one we`ve read by Riordan and we all liked it. It has a similar mysterious and thrilling feel to it as Stanek`s books but more of a mystery than a fantasy.

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20 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars

Didn't realize this was a childrens book

I am now on book 4 and loving it. I didn't know it was a childrens book but have enjoyed so much anyway. There is lots of history hidden in the story and I will share this with my granddaughters. I wish it wasn't quite so much for each book as they are short and require many purchases.

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19 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

THIS is going to be H U G E

This is the first of a group of books for young adults that is using ALL available media sources to play a game. Socialistic wisely chose Rick Riodan to start this project. Rick Riodan is known for the Percy Jackson books (young adults) and for his Tres Navarre mystery (adult) books.

The plain is for Kids to read the books, go on line assume a family, and search for clues to solve the 39 clues.

I must say I am having a ball..

I am trying hard to keep up with my son, and must say he is winning. For now

Get this and have some fun too.

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18 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Enthralling

My daughter and I have been listening to this for the last couple of weeks with keen excitement. It has been wonderful to see her drawn into the historical elements, the rich language and vivid characterisations. Thoroughly enthralling!

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12 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars

Too silly and not interesting enough

What could Rick Riordan have done to make this a more enjoyable book for you?

So I decided to listen to Book 1 of The 39 Clues, The 39 Clues: The Maze of Bones, despite all the criticism heaped on this series for being a "poorly concealed scheme to sell cards" or some such. And it IS the most contrived series I ever even tried to read. Still, since I like fantasy when it isn’t too depressing and violent, I like to give fantasies aimed at kids a try. Somewhere I read a description of the characters (other than our two main characters, Amy and Dan Cahill) as being “intentionally exaggerated caricatures”, which is clearly what they are, but that just makes me say, "Why?" Wouldn't normal characters have been more interesting? Like the family that all wears purple running suits and is "buff" and is always marching in formation with a snapping family pitbull at their heels. Was that really necessary? Amy and Dan are (of course) orphans and have an (of course) uncaring guardian. They did have their powerful and mysterious grandmother who loved them but it is her death that starts the whole series. Her will gives the heirs a choice between a million dollars and a clue which could lead to power/riches/something . There isn’t much to say about the book itself. It’s short and moves along quick as we follow the two kids in their quest for clues.
I thought about reading the next one. I might have except that there are at least 11 of these and I don't think I could stand 11 books of Amy and Dan discovering a clue only to have it stolen from them by some nasty relative or other. Not to mention - and I suppose this isn't an uncommon problem with books aimed at kids - but I found myself wishing the author would just decide if there is or isn't mortal peril here. Are these relatives really willing to kill Amy and Dan? They can't be - or they would just do it already. Yet, one must acknowledge, that rigging up a pit to open at their feet and sending guys to poor cement in it seems like a real threat. And their 11 year old cousin who is always slinking around with a gun full of poison darts seems a real threat too and the former KGB agent cousin. And yet, Amy and Dan live on, and aren't offended enough by their near death experiences to suit me. But the real problem is just knowing each clue gets stolen. Sooo frustrating. I was interested to see how things flowed when we got to book 2 and there was a different author, but not interested enough to actually waste an audible credit on it.

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11 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars

IT LOOKS LIKE IT MIGHT BE A GOOD SERIES

I WAS PLEASANTLY SURPRISED WITH THIS BOOK AND THOROUGHLY ENJOYED THE STORY LINE AND LOOK FORWARD TO THE REST OF THE SERIES. I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE IS 10 BOOKS AND IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE HOW THE OTHER AUTHORS GO. THE TITLE PUT ME OFF LISTENING TO IT BUT IT WAS PRETTY GOOD

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11 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Too short to be a full book, no transition in end

What did you like best about The 39 Clues, Book 1? What did you like least?

It was a fun listen but when we saw it was 5 hours, we were shocked. The book just ended what I would say was about 1/3 of how long one of these books should be. Seems like you'd be into the series over $100 and no end in sight.

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7 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Fun Alternative

I think this is a fun alternative to many of things kids are doing today. The story includes a lot of history. It is a combination of National Treasure and the Davinci Code for kids. The combination of the website gives the kids a more intelligent alternative to webkinz. After listening to this book, I purchased two copies for my children ages 10 & 13. I think this will be fun to follow as additional books come out and the clues continue.

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7 people found this helpful