MISSION ATOMIC - Sarwat Chadda

* * * WARNING -- POTENTIAL SPOILERS AHEAD!! * * *

 Things are heating up for the Cahills, thirteen year old Dan and his older sister Amy. One of their own ancestors, a Cahill now known as The Outcast, has recreated three of the world's worst disasters and appears to save the worst for last and if Dan and Amy can't stop him, he'll recreate a nuclear disaster that could destroy the entire world.

But what the Cahills don't realize until too late is that The Outcast has used these disasters as a distraction. His real plan has been in the creating of a 'natural' enemy genetically coded to destroy only those with Cahill DNA. It looks as though there is no way out for Dan, Amy, and the rest of the Cahill clan.

These 39 Clues books are a lot of fun - they are like Jason Bourne stories for middle-grade readers (Danger! Action! Excitement!) - and they offer just the appropriate amount of danger (and solutions) for young readers.

When the series first began I eagerly read the first few books.  Since then there've been a number of branches of the series' (The Clue Hunt; Cahills vs Vespers; Unstoppable; Doublecross) and I didn't bother to keep up.  Mission Atomic, by Sarwat Chadda, may be the last book in the last series.

I'm years late reading this book but because some of the primary action centers around the Chernobyl disaster, it seemed very topical once again (as I read this book the Chernobyl nuclear power plant was in the news again as the Russians took over the plant in their invasion of Ukraine).

I think it's an interesting notion, to add a bit of history in a middle grade reader action title.  I can imagine any number of young readers suddenly knowing more about events such as the sinking of Titanic, the destruction of the Hindenburg, hurricane Katrina, and the Chernobyl disaster than the average student because of books like this.

The was exciting and fun, even if it stretched my willing suspension of disbelief, but then this book isn't meant for a 60 year old reader, it's meant for those middle school students, and I think many would really enjoy this book and this series.

Looking for a good book? Mission Atomic, the fourth book in the 39 Clues series, Doublecross, by Sarwat Chadda, is an action thriller that will grab the attention of young readers and manages to sneak in some history along the way.

I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher, through Edelweiss, in exchange for an honest review.

4 stars

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Mission Atomic

author: Sarwat Chadda

series: The 39 Clues: Doublecross #4

publisher: Scholastic Inc.

ISBN: 9780545767514

hardcover, 256 pages