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Sword Thief, The (The 39 Clues, Book 3)
Sword Thief, The (The 39 Clues, Book 3)
Sword Thief, The (The 39 Clues, Book 3)
Audiobook3 hours

Sword Thief, The (The 39 Clues, Book 3)

Written by Peter Lerangis

Narrated by David Pittu

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

4.5/5

()

About this audiobook

Book 3 in the #1 bestselling The 39 Clues series may just be the most thrill-packed yet!

ATTENTION! Amy and Dan Cahill have been located once again, this time in the company of the notoriously unreliable Alistair Oh. Could they have been foolish enough to make an alliance?Spies report that Amy and Dan seem to be tracking the life of one of the most powerful fighters the world has ever known. If this fearsome warrior was a Cahill, his secrets are sure to be well-guarded . . . and the price to uncover them just might be lethal.
LanguageEnglish
Release dateApr 1, 2009
ISBN9780545164573
Sword Thief, The (The 39 Clues, Book 3)
Author

Peter Lerangis

Peter Lerangis is the author of more than one hundred and sixty books, which have sold more than five and half million copies and been translated into thirty-three different languages. These include the five books in the New York Times bestselling Seven Wonders series, The Colossus Rises, Lost in Babylon, The Tomb of Shadows, The Curse of the King, and The Legend of the Rift, and two books in the 39 Clues series. He lives in New York City with his family.

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Reviews for Sword Thief, The (The 39 Clues, Book 3)

Rating: 4.514285714285714 out of 5 stars
4.5/5

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  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    Really enjoyed this one as Amy & Dan travel to Japan seeking the next clue. The sub plots are getting more intricate and the book ends with a cliff hanger. Have to read on!
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    Lerangis, P. (2009). The 39 Clues: The sword thief. New York: Scholastic Inc.0545060435156 pagesAppetizer: Just when Dan and Amy think they're on their way to Japan in search of the third clue, several of their relatives team up to separate them from their au pair, Nellie, and prevent them from leaving Italy. The two must form an unhappy alliance with some of their other relatives to hunt for the next clue. As tentative alliances are formed and betrayals become known, the children continue on the search that will take them to both Japan and Korea and will lead Dan to realize his dream of fighting some actual ninjas (which may not be the dream-come-true he'd been hoping for). And Amy may fall in like...with a distant relative...awkward...and ick!This book spends more time sharing the perspectives of some of some of Dan and Amy's extended relatives, giving them more depth. While I liked that aspect, there were a few draw-backs to Peter Lerangis's addition to the series. I didn't always like the way he gave voice to the characters. For example, at a few points, Dan starts throwing around slang like "peeps" and "mad gansta," which didn't seem to be a part of his voice in the previous books. I could see the stereotyped Jonah Wizard saying things like that, not Dan. The same thing happened to Nellie. She goes into a long monologue of what happened to her in the siblings' absence and she says things like: "Anyway, they try to threaten me, yada yada, and of course I argue and I'm figuring in my head, 'Ha-ha, the next thing is they put poison in the drink'-but I'm, like, 'Nahh, of course they're not that skeezy.' Then I see her actually doing it, like two inches away from me--uh, hello? So I get kinda mad, you know..."Now, of course there are kids and teens whose voices sound just the way Lerangis has written these, but these voices don't match the way Dan and Nellie spoke in the previous novels. So, it seemed a bit out of place and awkward.I did feel like there was more humor in this installment (although, some of it was decidedly disgusting--booger flicking with a dog jumping to get it. Let's not think about that any further. LALALA! Distraction!Distraction!DISTRACTION!). The Sword Thief also went into more depth of various characters' motives and explores some of Japan's history. The book serves as a big stepping stone, as some of the Cahill clan learn what the ultimate goal for their hunt is.Dinner Conversation:"They were toast.Amy Cahill eyed the battered black duffel bag rumbling up the airport conveyor belt. It bulged at the corners. The sign above the belt said THANK YOU FOR VISITING VENICE: RANDOM PIECES OF CHECKED LUGGAGE WILL BE SEARCHED in five languages."Oh, great," Amy said. "How random is 'random'?" (p. 1)."Amy fought the urge to just collapse and cry. Right there in the middle of the terminal. Everything was going wrong. It had been a seven-year string of bad luck, ever since ther parents died in that house fire. How were Amy and Dan supposed to do this alone? The Kabras had money. Their parents supported them. Plus, they were working with Irina. The Holts were a whole family. Jonah Wizard had his dad planning every moment of his life. It was Amy and Dan against...families. Teams. Generations. They didn't stand a chance" (p. 14)."Amy's brother was never comfortable in a new place until he committed an act of cluelessness. In Tokyo, it happened the morning after their arrival at the Thank You Very Much Hotel" (p. 32)."I have devoted myself to earning your confidence again. Trust is a fragile thing--difficult to build, easy to break. It cannot be bargained for. Only if it is freely given can it be expected in return." He looked from Amy to Dan. "To break the chain of mistrust, someone has to go first. I am happy to make the move. You deserve no less" (p. Chapter Five, upside down triangle page of the code).To Go with the Meal:While a teacher can easily recommend this adventure series for enjoyment (particularly with some reluctant middle grade male readers), there are also a number of teaching moment topics they can latch onto, including: Prime numbers, factors, how subways work, palindromes, the history of between the Koreas and Japan, haiku poetry, Eastern Asian geography, geology, as well as the biography of Toyotomi Hideyoshi (which to be perfectly honest, my western dominated history education never included). A teacher could also describe and encourage students to watch the movie It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World, since Dan repeatedly references it throughout the book (which seemed very random).Students can also venture on over to the39clues.com to have some more fun. I'm off to complete mission 6 myself. Tasty Rating: !!!
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    I have mixed feelings about this 3rd book in the 39 Clues series. I enjoyed the usual action and suspense while Amy and Dan pursue another clue, this time in Japan and then, Korea. The mystery surrounding the clue and the steps to figuring it out were particularly well done. There were the usual alliances and betrayals with other members of the far-flung Cahill clan that are also seeking the clues...this time they work with Alistair Oh and the Kabra twins. And you also get some interesting information about Alistair, and something flares up between Amy and Ian Kabra which annoys their respective younger siblings to no end. What I missed in this volume was the historical content of the first two in the series. Also, I did not feel like the East Asian setting was particularly well done for either Japan or Korea. The story really could have taken place in Illinois and it would not have mattered. So this probably explains why the book was so much shorter than the other two...strip away descriptive setting and historical background, and you have the bare bones of an exciting tale, but lacking some substance.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    This the third book in the 39 clues series and would probably be the best so far. The plot gets better with every book you read and although many more questions are answered more mysteries are still formed. The storyline is in full flow now and with every turn of the page a whole new door is opened.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    Would you take the million dollars or take the clue that can make you the most powerful human being on Earth? In the third book of the 39 Clues series, Peter Lerangis continues the adventures of Amy and Dan Cahill in Japan.Sister and brother, Amy and Dan Cahill had chosen the clue- one clue after another, it has taken them from Boston, to Italy and they are now in Japan. It is an adventurous race to something powerful; it can change the world. They are now traveling with their au pair, Nellie throughout the cities of Japan. There is a clue on every sword they carry. Amy and Dan must avoid being kidnapped by their aggressive family competing in this dangerous race. Should they become allies with their Uncle Allister Oh? Should Amy let romance get in the way of the race? After Dan and Amy derive their next clue, they must be extra cautious.Peter Lerangis includes great character development. The imagery of Japan is just fantastic- I can totally visualize every chapter. At almost every end of each chapter, there's a cliffhanger, which forced me to continue to read.There was a lot of page-filler material with characters saying dumb things that were supposed to be funny, and I wish he had spent the time on increasing the already-short book with a fuller plot. I was also disappointed that there wasn't enough history put into this book unlike the first two books- they were really interesting.All in all, this book was acceptable. I can't wait to move on to the next books. (:This book is great if you like adventure novels with cliffhangers and mysteries. I also recommend you read the first two, also - they're action-packed too. (:
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    This book is book three in the series of the 39 clues. Amy and dan have met another rival in their competition, Johnas. He is rich and famous and was trying to be nice to them. But they didn't like him becasue he was mean to their au pair Nellie. He is famous so he almost always has a camera around him which is an adventage for Amy and Dan because then he can't do sneaky things easily. Amy's rival in the competition Ian tried to make her like him and she fell right into his trap then he stabbed her in the back, not literally.I like this book because it is like the other books in the 39 clues series. It is very nerve racking and they always do different thins. I also like how it is a series of books. I enjoy reading this type of book because it is interesting.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    Yet another installation in the hyped 39 Clues series. I still enjoy these books, even if I do squirm a little at the origins. The card game and online tie-ins, the rumor that they will all culminate in a movie that was planned before the books were written, the use of different writers for every book that all follow a common plot line that was devised by who exactly? (I think it may have been the author of the first book in the series. I'm sure the information is out there but I don't care enough to figure it out.) It's either the way of the future, a total multimedia approach, or it's a wonderful marketing campaign that sells books not based on their merits, but the many gimmicks surrounding them.What can I say? In spite of all this, the books are fun fluff reads. The makers know what elements appeal to audiences: underdog children heroes, lots of action, despicable enemies, a National Treasures-esque treasure hunt, and archeological secrets and conspiracies. They're good action books. Amy and Dan Cahill are likable heroes and you can't help rooting for them.In this one, they've made an uneasy alliance with the serpentine Kabra siblings and Alistair Oh in search of the next clue. As in previous stories, there's a lot of country hopping and clues hidden in famous historical documents. The Cahills find themselves in too much trouble, like always, but thanks to their intelligence and ingenuity, they live to continue their desperate search for the answer to the great family mystery. The ending of this book was the most shocking by far, geared to make you eager to read the next one. Like I said, I enjoy these stories. Archeological mystery adventures sure are a lot of fun. I plan on succumbing to the mass media campaign and reading another book in this slightly addictive series.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    This book was pretty good. It had more action than all the other books so far, but almost equally as interesting. The plot wasn't predictable, which is good, because more than half of the books I've read are soo predictable. It's a nice change. Also, it's a page turner, I didn't want to stop reading it for the whole time I was. Also, it's a pretty short read. It doesn't take that long to finish, which for me is good because I have so many books I need to read!
  • Rating: 1 out of 5 stars
    1/5
    I really liked the first two book and I re listened to book 3 and I forgot how much I disliked it. This book lacks the charm of the first two books. The author doesn't seem to understand the concept of the series. The first two books had a lot of history in it and made it interesting, the third book doesn't. It's a very slow read and I had to force myself to listen to it. The characters seemed flat and didn't develop any, not at all. Dan was very annoying and acted like a brat. It also bothered me that the author had Amy fall for her cousin. That was really disturbing. The writing style seemed a bit off. One of the most troubling things was non human noises we had to read. Cars that went SCREEEEEEECH and horns that went HOOOONKKK!!! Heck as a reader we also had points of view from a dog and a cat. UG! Over all I'd say pass on this one and go to the next one in the series. I read that his author will be writing another book in the series, I may have to skim that one. Overall, read it if you want to, but don't expect to much.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    This is the third book in a ten book series. It revolves around a family called the Cahills, who are wealthy and are on the hunt to find the 39 Clues that will lead them to ultimate power.There are four branchs of the Family, and each has their own strengths and weakness. Lucians (spys, intelligence), Janus (celebrity, fame), Ekats (doctors, science, inventors) and Tomas (sports, athletic ability). Then there is the generic Cahills which do not know exactly what branch they come from. And this series follows a orphaned brother and sister who are in the generic family branch.The series follows Amy and Dan Cahill, who have been orphaned and have been requested by their late grandmother Grace to go on a quest of a lifetime and find the 39 Clues, before any of the other branchs do. They are joined by their au pair Nellie and thier cat Saladin. Amy and Dan start off on a journey that will not only take them all over the word but through history and their own past.The third book takes you to Tokyo. Amy and Dan's quest for the Clues are almost thwarted as they are seperated from their au pair Nellie and Saladin. Could it be that Amy and Dan have to stop the quest? Or are they able to form a tense alliance with one of their relitives to continue. They are on the hunt for one of Japan's famous warriors. This book shows more of Amy's insecurities and Dan's taste for bad jokes and his love for his sister.This is a great series for kids as many historical figures are talked about, as well as geography and science. It has action, adventure, personal triumphs and some tradgedies. What also makes this a great series is each book comes with a set of cards that can be used by visiting the 39 Clues website, where you the reader can become a Cahill and join in the hunt. There are interactive games, clues, and puzzles that can be found that truely makes this a once in a lifetime event for kids of all ages.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Amy and Dan are on their next adventure which takes them to Japan. Their Uncle Alistair is up to something they don't know if they shoud trust him or not.Getting closer to the clues is trouble for the children. It book is getting better and better.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    Well... let's just say it wasn't my favorite installment of the series so far. It kept up the fast-paced momentum, and the writing style was surprisingly consistent (they must have incredible editors working on these books, considering each one is by a different author), with the inevitable minor character glitch. All was going well until Lerangis seemed to decide the series would be better with a little love interest thrown into the mix... and I do mean thrown. It was out of place, awkward (in the "doesn't belong here" way), and distracting. I wondered if it might actually cause young boys to put the book down and walk away... I certainly hope not, because it had a good thing going with being appealing to the younger male crowd.The issue was semi-resolved at the end of this book, but not really... so I'm hoping the next author writes it off in a few sentences and gets back on track, or at least handles it in a more subtle way that won't bring the momentum to a screeching halt. I'm still on board with the series at this point, and am looking forward to book #4.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    The continuation of the 39 Clues series with Amy and Dan Cahill.I found that the story in this third installment seem to resolve itself too quickly. It almost appeared to me that the 3rd writer was just hitting the points given to him to continue the story, but didn't flesh out the ideas quite to my liking.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    The 39 Clues series continues with third installment written by Peter Lerangis. The writing is distinctly different than the first two in the series, which initially seemed to introduce a discontinuity. As the story developed through the Cahills adventures in Asia, the peculiarities disappeared and I was absorbed in the plot.The language and plot are such that I am confident my 2nd grader will be able to enjoy it, but deep enough that my 6th grader will as well. This is a nice continuation to a fun series.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Action filled, great book for ages 9-12. It made me feel like I was right there!
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Can’t wait to start Book 4. Who is the man in black?
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    I like the action in this audio. It is very very very good
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    I looooooved is what a twist poor Amy Ian is such a meanie
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    It was very exciting and non-boring. I want to hear it again!
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Thief!!!! OMG this book rocks!!
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    My boys are really getting into this series. Great audiobook.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    I just love the 39 cloose. It’s just the best.
  • Rating: 2 out of 5 stars
    2/5
    I grabbed this because it's little and would fit in my bag. One of my students keeps lending them to me, and I don't have the heart to tell him that I'm not interested in reading the rest. They're fine, but they're just plot plot plot. And I think they're going downhill. Bound to happen, really, when you start with Rick Riordan.

    All characterization is lost, and I'm really tired of the is-Alastair-their-friend-or-enemy ping pong game. I think this series had potential, but it's scholastic, and it seems like everything they do has a nougat of crap in the middle.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Awesome book,
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    This is a fascinating series written for kids. There will be ten books in the series and each one is written by a best-selling author of juvenile fiction. It's fun to navigate through the clues and travel the globe with the main characters, Amy & Dan Cahill. The books are easy reads, and although I can usually figure out the plots of a mystery, this one still has me guessing. Who are the Madrigals? Who is the man in black? Who's side is Mr. McIntyre on?

    1 person found this helpful

  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    The story picks right up from where ONE FALSE NOTE (book 2) ended off. This time, Dan and Amy are off to Japan, but they've been separated by their scheming relatives from their au pair, Nellie Gomez. And they'll have to work along with Alistair Oh in order to solve the next clue in the whole big puzzle. There is definitely plenty of adventure and Lerangis handles the action scenes fairly well. We find out more clues to the overall Cahill secret, and some interesting details about Amy and Dan's past.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    Peter Lerangis gets writing duty for the 3rd installment of the series and we see Dan, Amy and Nellie ready to board their Japan-bound flight after sending the cat and the swords as cargo. Until the siblings' tickets got stolen that is anyway. And the chase is on. This is the weakest installment so far - the story is enjoyable as a whole but the writing is too childish in places (and yes, it is a children series but still). And the plot does not hold together as well as the previous ones - taking risks to make sure the swords make it to Japan with them and then just ignoring the fact that they are there made me scratch my head. And then there is the clue for the next stop - earlier in the book three cities are mentioned as important, 2 of them where the siblings had been already, the third one being a new one. I was sure that we will end up there sooner or later - but to happen in the same book was a bit of sloppy writing - and the clue was not even connected to the reasons why the city was mentioned in this conversation. Not to mention that major dependency of the plot on the ability of someone boarding an international flight with tickets in someone else's name - all passports are always checked during boarding and the book had been written at a time when everyone was even stricter than now about that. On the other hand, we learned more of the family history and how the hunt for the clues started, we learn more about what the other members of the family know (and the fact that they know some of the clues, including the one that was found here) and we get a bit of a history lesson about Japan (using the real Toyotomi Hideyoshi and his actions and putting them through the prism of the Cahills of course) and Korea. Add to that the usual appearances of the cartoonish Holts (I am not really sure why they are kept on that level...), the Kabra siblings (which make Amy and Dan look even better than usual), Irina Spasky (who continues to be a blank image with checkmarks on it (KGB? Check. Female? Check. Russian? Check) and Alastair Oh who seems to have changed his mind about things - at least for now. New alliances and new betrayals add more the complicated mess that is the Cahill family tree. And we finally find out who the Main in Black works for. And the obligatory explosion of course - we cannot have a book with no explosion, right?One of the strengths of the story remain the real history element - even an adult can learn new things from the books - I spent half the evening after finishing the book reading about Toyotomi Hideyoshi. But I do hope that the writing picks up. Off to Egypt in the next adventure.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    I enjoyed the history, but felt the story was a little flat.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    Dan and Amy Cahill are still searching for the clues to world power, but are forced to combine forces with the Kabra branch and Alisitar Oh to move forward. This episode seemed a bit rushed as if the kids wouldn't stick with it if it went more in depth. Not really a great deal of info but good action.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    It was an okay book, I think the shortest of the 3. What I liked about this book is we see a bit more of the other competitors like Alistair Oh, the Kabras and the Holts. We see their point of view. It is surprising to find out that their not as bad as you think especially Ian Kabra. I also liked the romance thing going on between Amy and Ian, something to look forward to.However, I like the first two better. This was one was more "fast" and at times confusing. I think that Lerangis was in a hurry.