[Jacqueline Leonard]

One of my students was so inspired by the 39 clues series that she started a spin-off series. It is only a few pages long so far, but she wanted to share the work with some of the original 39 clues book authors. If you have any time, she would appreciate any feedback or encouragement you have for her as a young author. Thank you!

 

39 Clues Mystery

By Macy  

Karmin was in the book shop and saw her favorite book, ‘39 Clues’. She was super excited and grabbed it right away. It looked dusty, but Karmin didn’t mind. She walked up to the register and saw a mysterious looking lady. She had the most dull gray shirt with boring black pants. She had white, curly hair. 

“Be careful with that book, and don’t read chapter 2.” She said it in the most serious voice, even more serious than Karmin’s mom when get got a B- on a math test. 

“What do you mean?” Karmin asked curiously. She looked at Karmin with a scary death stare, and Karmin shut her mouth. She unlocked her gaze with Karmin. “Store closing!” She yelled on the intercom. Karmin left and went home. It was 8:30 and Karmin went to bed. 

The next day she decided to read Chapter 2. Karmin didn’t know why, but she was getting goosebumps as she opened the book, even though her window was open and it was summer. She slowly flipped to Chapter 2. Karmin started reading, and she started to sweat. As soon as she read the word ‘Dan’, the book jumped out of her hands and onto the floor. The pages lit up. 

What’s going on? She stared at the book.

Eventually, she saw a body slowly rise out of the book, then another, then one more! The light was too bright for her to see, but when it got darker, she knew exactly who she was looking at. 

“Dan, Amy, Grace?” Karmin said in shock. 

“Wh-who are you?” Amy said. She was shy and anxious around people. 

“I’m Karmin, but how-“ 

“How what?” Grace asked. 

“Your- fi- fictional!” Karmin announced. “I know everything about you and your adventures because your from a FICTIONAL BOOK!!!” Karmin took a deep breath as she sat down on her bed. 

“What adventures?” Amy asked. Karmin and Grace stood frozen. Karmin turned to Grace

“Grace,” Karmin said in a soft voice. “Can I tell them about it?” Grace stared at her with a shocked yet amazed looking face. 

“Go ahead.” 

“Tell us what?” Dan demanded. 

“I’m about to tell you.”    “You guys will compete in a challenge, life or death matter. You can’t trust Alistair, or anybody for that matter. Grace’s mansion will burn into flames, and when it does-“ 

“Wha- what do you mean?” Amy yelled in confusion. 

“Amy, please let her talk. This is very important to me.” Grace said calmly. 

“As I was saying he will take the book that you find before the mansion catches on fire and leaves you in the mansion, but luckily you get out-“ 

“When does this happen?” Amy asked. 

“After…… After Grace dies…” Karmin mumbled, but it was loud enough for Amy and Dan to hear her. 

“What!? Grace can’t die!” Dan and Amy argued. Amy’s eyes started to tear up. 

“I’m sorry to say, but it’s true,” Grace teared up a bit as well. “I believe in you both, work together please.” She said as she stroked Amy’s long, brown hair. ‘RRRRRRR’ oh no, it’s mom! 

“Get in my closet, now!” 

“Why?” Amy asked frantically. 

“My mom is home. If she sees you she’s gonna freak!” They all ran into the closet except for Karmin and she shut the closet door. 

“Hi dear!” Karmin’s mom walked in seconds after Karmin closed the closet door. “Hi, mom.” Karmin starts to take heavy breaths. 

“Are you ok hunny?” She puts her hand on Karmin’s forehead. 

“I’m fine mom.” Amy and Dan were panicking, but Grace was calm. 

“I’m going to the dentist, I’ll be back by 2:00!” She kissed Karmin’s forehead and then left. 

“Phew!” Amy said as she walked out of the closet, followed by Dan and Grace.

“Why us!?” Dan exclaimed. “I don’t want you to die!” 

“Oh Dan, you will only remember her tips. Keep them in your head.” Said Grace. Suddenly, Karmin started to feel a tingly feeling in her head. 

“Wh-what’s going on?” 

“ Your going with them back in to help them in their journey, since you know so much about it.” Grace said dramatically. 

“WHAT?!” Karmin shouted. Then she blacked out……

“Karmin get up! I know your tired but come on!” Amy shook awake Karmin. 

“Why am I here?” Karmin questioned. “Why am I in 39 Clues?” Karmin thought in her head. “Anyways- you guys go find the clue. Make a animal noise and I’ll make one back for you to find your way.” Karmin explained to them

“Why  aren’t you coming with us?” Dan exclaimed. 

“I- I can uh… seeee the future! And Natalie and Ian will be coming. I must protect you guys.” ‘Phew. I hope they believe that. Their grandma said I can’t tell them what happened in my world, because it would cause them trauma.’ 

“Oh, okay! Please be safe Karmin!” Amy yelled as they ran off. 

Not surprisingly, the Kabras came. “Who are you? And why are you in our way!” Natalie screamed. “I’m Amy and Dan’s bodyguard/friend. Now don’t make me use it” Karmin pulled out a button. Natalie then pulled out her dart gun. 

“What does that do?” Ian questioned. 

“Oh nothing. Just detects weapons.” Karmin pressed the button. 1 second she was laughing, the next second she was laughing with the dart gun in her hand. “Now how about you scram,” she pointed the gun at them. “unless you want to go nighty-night.” They ran away so fast not 1 person in the WORLD could say:

Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious. 

“CACA CACA!” Karmin heard a animal noise. 

‘It must be Amy and Dan!’ “CACA CACA! CACA CACA!” Karmin saw Amy and Dan rushing towards her with their phones in their hand. 

“We got the photo! We got the photo!” Amy yelled with excitement. 

“Come on let’s go upstairs!” Dan rushed toward the ladder and jumped on. Karmin followed right behind, and same with Amy. Nobody was looking as they opened the sewer lid and crept out. 

“Come on- let’s get out of here.” Karmin whispered. They quietly ran away and back to their apartment. They had stolen 100k from a local bank, so people were looking for them. Luckily, they were wearing wigs and outfits they’d never wear. 

“Come on! lets get to Japan!” Karmin said.

“Why Japan?” Amy and Dan looked confused.

“I already know the clue. this gets us out of so much danger! also if we go now, the Kabras wont take your transportation pass and prevent you from coming with!” Amy and Dan’s jaws dropped open. They shook it off and nodded. 

“Quick lets go!” Amy darted towards the street. They managed to pay someone $80 to drive them to the airport. they finally arrived and thanked the women.

“Lets go in!” Amy said excitedly, “I’ve always adored Japan.”

“ lets go to the plane,” Karmin said. “Its going to take off soon!” they rushed to the plane and got in. They nervously looked around.

‘thankfully they’re not here!’ Amy said with her look to Karmin and Dan.

‘thankfully!’ Karmin said. They fell asleep and woke up as the plane landed.

“We’re here!” Amy said, shaking awake Karmin and Dan. They woke up in an instant.

“Quick, let’s get a move on before they get here, they will be leaving tomorrow!”said Karmin. They ran off, secretly pick-pocketing everyone they went by.

"i got $357, you?" Dan said.

"$762." Amy said. 

"What?! No fair! What did you get Karmin?" Dan said in frustration.

"2,153" Karmin said.

"What?!" Amy and Dan said. 

"Never mind- hand me the money and ill get a hotel." Karmin said. Amy handed over her money, while Dan held on to his. "Dan!" Karmin said, yanking the money. She pulled out her phone.

"What are you doing?" Dan questioned.

"Its called a calculator, dummy." Dan made a face at her. She ignored him and opened the calculator app. Then, she looked up, then attached on Amy and Dan and ran.

"What was that for-" Karmin shut his mouth in a heartbeat.

"Kabras," she whispered. The Kabras, Ian and Natalie, got out of the car.

"What do we do?" Amy whispered. 

"Ok, we're gonna get in their car and drive off." Karmin explained.

"What!?" 

"Sounds good to me," Dan said.

"Guys this is dangerous." Amy tried to stop them, but by the time she finished her sentence, Dan was already off. He tip-toed quieter than a mouse. He grabbed the keys as un feel-able as air. He crawled to the car and gave the signal. Amy sighed.

"3," Karmin counted. "2," the suspense grew bigger. "1....." "GO!!" Dan threw the keys to Karmin. The Kabras turned around, as Ian gestured Natalie to run towards them. Amy and Dan got in the back, putting Saladin in the passenger seat. 

"Mrrreeeeooowwwpp." Saladin looked like he said, I am hungry. 

"Now's not the time Saladin." Karmin put in the keys and Ian hurdled towards the car. 

"Hit it!" Karmin stepped on the pedal ad they zoomed away. Ian was yelling something, but from their distance it sounded like a mumble.

"Woohoo! We did it!" Karmin gives Saladin red snapper while handing Amy and Dan cheesecake she found in the passenger seat. 

"This thing better have auto-pilot." Karmin said. She clicked a button, which she didn't know activated LED lights. She eventually found the auto-pilot button. She typed coordinates and laid back. 

"Ok, so it says here we have..." Karmin gasped. 

"What?!" Dan said, practically yanking her arm back. "$3272?!"

"That's a lot." Amy said. "While were in here, we should look to see if they had any clues." They scavenged  through the car. 

"Ew. Is this Ian's sock?" Dan pulled out a black, adidas sock. "It smells like rotten tomatoes." 

"Dan, focus!" Amy cried. 

"Ok, ok." All of a sudden, "FORMATION!" Karmin swerved her head.

 

"Guys, get in your seats," Amy and Dan looked up. "Holts!" Karmin swerved into traffic. The Holts leaped into a car, pushing the driver out. 

"Dumb move Cahills." Said Hamilton Holt out of the car window. 

"Faster!" Dan yelled. 

"Guys," Amy picked something up. She was holding water and eggs. 

"Where'd you get that?!" Dan cried. 

"They have a mini fridge." She popped off the cap of the water and squirted it on the ground. She then set down the eggs and grabbed oil. She opened that and poured it behind them.  The Holts slid around. 

"Your turn Dan." He threw eggs at their windshield. They swerved and crashed. 

"Woohoo!" Amy and Dan high-fived. All of a sudden Karmin blacked out. 

Karmin woke up at Mother Land Statue. 

"I think I'm getting used to this." 

"Used to what?" Karmin nearly jumped out of her skin. It was Amy, leaning over her with a questioned look on her face

"Oh nothing." Her hand tapped her bag *CLANG* 

"What was that?" Amy looked at Karmin's bag. 

"I don't know" Karmin opened her bag to see a clue. Dan lunged toward the bag just for Karmin to dodge him, his face landing on the ground. Karmin and Amy chuckled.

"Its a photo of Rasputin." Karmin said pulling out the clue. 

"Can I see?" Karmin handed Amy the bag. Amy looked at it in disbelief. 

"It cant be…"

 

[Gordon Korman]

Congratulations, Macy. I can see that you really got into THE 39 CLUES! I'm glad to hear it. Being part of the writing team was a great experience for me. And now you've left me wondering about a picture of Rasputin!

Any writing ambitions? Will I be sending you a fan letter one of these days?         -----Gordon Korman-----