The 39 Clues
There’s a new kids’ series out there, called The 39 Clues. Scholastic Publishing set out, quite deliberately, to re-captivate the Harry Potter readership, by creating a series that combines an incredibly elaborate and detailed Web site with the rolling publication of ten books, each written by a different author. For more information on their thinking and the whole project, read the New York Times article about it.
I had a slight problem with what felt to me like a certain jaded cynicism about the whole project. As an author, I like to think that projects begin with the idea and that the writer is the one who has that idea. But in this case, the publishing house came up with the kind of series they wanted and plugged the authors into the slots. I’m not sure I want books to trend this way. I love that JK Rowling came up with the idea of Harry Potter while on a train one day (I think that’s the story). But maybe I’m a sucker for the mythology of inspiration. And, also as a writer, I have been known to bend certain parts of books in ways that feel more commercial because if you don’t sell books then you don’t get to write them–so maybe I’m living in a glass house here.
At any rate, Kim suggested I have Will read the book. At eight, he’s the youngest of our combined six kids and definitely the one this series feels aimed at. Since reading it, he’s been on the Web site for as much time as we’ll allow him (he has limited computer game time) and I have to say it’s a pretty impressive site. The games are challenging and everything feels very well thought out.
What matter, though, are the books. If the books aren’t good, then the Web site becomes irrelevant. Scholastic tapped Rick Riordan to write the first book in the series. If you don’t know Rick Riordan’s books and you have a son between the ages of 7 and 13, then run out and buy The Lightning Thief and the other Percy Jackson books. They’re that good.
Which maybe explains Will’s review of the first book in The 39 Clues series, The Maze of Bones, as follows:
I LOVE THE 39 CLUES! It’s about 2 kids who figure out they are in the most powerful family in history. They have a choice to take one clue that leads to the source of their power or take 2,000,000 dollars! They take the clue and begin a exciting adventure and story to read.
I think Will would have written a much longer review and description but he was eager to get back to the 39 Clues Web site . . .
Tags: kids
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I understand that as an author you wish that all projects would start in the imagination of the writer. However, it’s been done this way for years and years. The most famous instance is the syndicate that created Nancy Drew and The Hardy Boys. There really was no Carolyn Keene or Franklin W. Dixon. At least the author’s name will be on each of the books in the 39 Clues series.
For more information on the Stratemeyer Syndicate, responsible for Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys, see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stratemeyer_Syndicate
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Thank you for the comment. I didn’t know how these books were developed and enjoyed learning about it. Interesting that the “secret” about the authorship of the books came out during a lawsuit over paperback publication rights. Stratemeyer was brilliant in manipulating the series concept.
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A really good point. And you’re right that at least they’re giving credit where credit is due, to the actual author of each separate book. And, in all honesty, if someone came to me and asked me to contribute to a series that was probably going to be wildly successful, I’d get off my high horse and say hell yes.
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