Common Sense Media Review
By Sage Moreaux
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Popular adventure series continues in graphic novel reboot.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 10+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
As ONE FALSE NOTE: THE 39 CLUES: A GRAPHIC NOVEL begins, siblings Amy and Dan have left Paris and are traveling by train to Vienna, where they hope to find the answer to their second clue in the hunt for the Cahill family secret. Accompanied by their au pair, Nelly, and a picky cat, the last reminder of their deceased grandmother, the Cahill kids must use every bit of their intelligence and perseverance to uncover the next clue. As they search for answers in Mozart's music, they encounter the other members of their extended family, also known as their competition. But as the quest takes them across Europe, Amy and Dan must decide what they're willing to risk and who, if anyone, they can trust in order to gain the next clue.
Is It Any Good?
The graphic novel edition captures the essence of the original novel, while telling much of the story through colorful illustrations. With just enough of the educational detail left intact, One False Note: The 39 Clues: A Graphic Novel is fun and somewhat informative, detailing some elements of Mozart's life. The illustrations are bold and clear, letting much of the imagery speak for itself. Moments of action are shown, more than described, making the story a quick, engaging read.
While fans of the original book will enjoy seeing the Cahill's come to life, they may feel that the truncated nature of the adaptation leaves some of the engaging details out. Readers should know that the story isn't over at the end of this book, with many, many editions to go before the full story is told in full.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the choices the Cahill kids make in One False Note: The 39 Clues. Is lying and theft ever justified?
What do you think about the families deciding to use violence to achieve their goals?
Can you think of times that Amy or Dan showed unusual bravery? How do normal kids find extraordinary courage in times of need? Do you think you could if you needed to?
Book Details
- Author :
- Illustrator : Hannah Templer
- Genre : Graphic Novel
- Topics : Adventures , Family Stories ( Siblings ) , History
- Character Strengths : Courage
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Graphix
- Publication date : September 3, 2024
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 8 - 12
- Number of pages : 192
- Available on : Paperback, Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Last updated : September 18, 2025
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