Review Detail

In this second book in the graphic novel adaptation of the 2008 Scholastic series written by a variety of middle grade authors (the first being Riordan's The Maze of Bones), Amy and Dan Cahill find themselves in Vienna, trying to solve the mystery that their aunt left. They are accompanied by Nellie, their au pair. They think a clue is leading them to Mozart, but because other family members are also trying to get the inheritance, they are attacked by the athletic and vicious Holts. When researching and visiting Mozart's house, they realize that the sheet music they have includes an extra line, and also that Mozart's sister Nannerl's journal is missing two pages. Jonah Wizard is on tour and conveniently in the same town, and they think that he has stolen the journal pages. They realize that the extra line plays the tune for an old folk song "The place where I was born", so head to Salzburg. When visiting Nannerl's tomb, they see the Man in Black, and end up in an abbey chased by monks! When they have a moment to rest with Nellie, they find that Saladin, their aunt's cat, had a chip in his collar. They manage to relocate that chip to their Uncle Alistair's cane when they steal a paper from him. They follow Jonah to Venice and locate the missing journal pages, racing away in a stolen boat once they get them. They hide the pages in a seat cushion to keep them dry, but get separated from them. They end up on the Kabra's yacht, but a boobytrapped piano key causes a huge explosion. After that, they find samurai swords, so the next book should take them to Japan.
Strengths: Amy and Dan are very sympathetic characters, and I definitely want them to be the ones to get the inheritance, since most of the other relatives are rather evil and buffoonish. Nellie is understandably irasicible, but ultimately helpful. The graphic novel adaptation makes it much easier to understand what the European cities look like. The historical ties are interesting, and might encourage readers to find out more about the people and places mentioned. I'm curious as to how many books in the series will be adapted into graphic novels.