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The 39 Clues:  Cahills Vs. Vespers #4:  Shatterproof by Roland Smith

Adolescent Thriller

Roland Smith is one of my favorite YA authors.  I always know to expect a great adventure when I see his name on a book.  Smith did not disappoint!

This one has the same basic plot as all the others.  The characters are starting to become more interesting than the plot, though.  Dan and Amy are still at the control of Vesper One and, this time, Vesper One wants the duo to steal the world's largest diamond.  Vesper One show that he (or she) is willing to waste their lives to get what he (or she) wants.

This is a series that keeps getting better and better as the characters grow and mature.  The series continues to get darker.  Amy and Dan are depressed and seriously in need of counseling.  They are in danger of becoming evil geniuses instead of the good guys.  I also loved that this one had a bit of romance in it.  It makes the characters less flat and one-dimensional and more like real, actual people.  I do love that these are hard cover; it's a really attractive little read.  There are so many surprises n this one.  Things that no fan will predict or see coming.  My students at school love these books---if they read the first series.  It's a great series for reluctant middle grade readers.  It's beginning to appeal to a narrow fan base since, technically, this is about the 14th book in the series.  If you haven't been reading all along, don't start here.  It feels like these books will never end and that Amy and Dan will never be out of trouble.  But, if we're a reader of the series, what choice do we have except to keep going?  I can't leave Dan and Amy hanging!