One False Note by Gordon Korman

Reviewed by Jennifer

Ratings

Content Ratings based on a 0-5 scale where
0 = no objectionable content and
5 = an excessive or disturbing level of content

Guide to Rating System

LANGUAGE

VIOLENCE

SEXUAL CONTENT

ADULT THEMES

Series: The 39 Clues (Book 2)

Ratings Explanation

Language: 3 profanities (references to deity)

Violence: Amy and Dan are physically attacked by cousins also searching for the clues. There is an explosion while Amy and Dan are in a tunnel, they are trapped, but escape. While driving a boat they crash into a larger ship, are knocked unconscious, taken on boardĀ  the larger ship, and later thrown overboard. Amy and Dan are held at dart gun point by their cousins Ian and Natalie. There is another explosion. Ian is knocked unconscious and Natalie is hit with the tranquilizer dart.

Adult Themes: Amy and Dan break into a hotel room and steal a clue, jumping out a window to escape. They also steal a recipe from a monastery, which they mistakenly think is a clue, but later return it. There is a short conversation at the beginning of the book about whether they will stoop to the dastardly deeds of their rivals to get the clues. They decide that if they really want to win, they will have to play hard ball.

Synopsis

Amy and Dan are on the hunt to collect the 39 clues that will lead them to the Cahill family secret and fortune. This time they are in Austria and Italy searching for clues from Mozart’s life. Their ruthless cousins are still trying to win the contest as well and will stop at almost nothing to get ahead.

IĀ  liked the first book better than this one. It felt like this second book was cutting corners and details in order to keep the book short. But, all in all, a fun series for kids with very minimal content to worry about. The violence is brief and non-graphic. Both my 6th grader and 4th grader like the series and my 1st grader has just started the first book. This would be a fun series to read aloud since the books are short and fast paced.