First published 2009
Amy and Dan Cahill arrive in Tokyo with their au pair Nellie, chasing the third clue in the deadly global competition that could make them the most powerful people on Earth. The Kabra siblings, Natalie and Ian, have already proven they will kill to win, and now the hunt moves through Japan's most sacred spaces. Amy struggles with her growing feelings for Ian even as she knows he represents mortal danger. Dan throws himself into researching samurai history and ninja techniques, convinced the answers lie in Japan's warrior past. The siblings must navigate crowded Tokyo streets, climb to remote mountain temples, and infiltrate heavily guarded locations while staying ahead of their murderous cousins. As they decode ancient symbols and follow cryptic historical trails, Amy and Dan discover that their family's secret runs deeper than they imagined. The competition forces them to choose between trusting dangerous allies and facing impossible odds alone. Every clue brings them closer to unimaginable power, but survival means confronting the truth about who they really are.
Genres: adventure, mystery, contemporary, action
Vibes: fast-paced, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, found-family
Setting: Japan, Tokyo
Period: 21st-century
156 pages · Hardcover · Scholastic Inc.