Shane S recommends The Medusa Plot

Shane S
The Medusa Plot
by: Gordan Korman
Hello fellow bloggers! I just read The Medusa Plot by Gordan Korman. Gordan Korman is a beloved childrens author, and a  New York Times #1 best seller. Gordan Korman writes about dangerous and life threatening tasks that clearly need to be done by highly trained and skilled adults. But instead has the done by children. If you would like to learn more about him, here is a link: .https://www.google.com/#q=gordon+korman+wiki
I selected this book because, for my whole life I have been seeing this book in libraries for my whole life. I finally decided to read one of the books, and I thought it was ok. 



The story takes place in Florence, Italy in the ancient year of 2011. This is where the group known as "The Vespers" command the protaginists of the story to go. This is a third person point of view kind of story. For   The main characters are Jonah, Dan , Amy, and Hamilton. Dan is a thirteen year old boy, and  a clue hunter like his sister Amy. But after all they have been through with the 39 clues, Dan has been more reserved and quiet. In Amy's perspective, Dan is a loner. Dan also enjoys annoying Amy.You would assume that since they have been through all this togther, they would develop a close relationship. For God's sake their parents died when they were four for these 39 clues! But no, they still basically hate each other. Amy is also a clue hunter and thirteen years old like Dan. Amy is very skilled with combat, and has a boyfriend named Evan. But because of their mission, Amy has not been able to keep in touch with him. Then there is Hamilton. Not too much is described about Hamilton, but he's along side Amy and Dan during their mission. Hamilton is young like Dan and Amy, and is strong and athletic. For some reason, Hamiltons traits do not come into play during the mission. Last is Jonah. I HATED Jonah. He is so stereotypical it's not even funny. Jonah is a so called famous "rapper". He has a so called quote which is: "wassup yo". I find this really stereotypical. But because of the one line, I really hate Jonah. If that wasn't enough for you, he is cast as the lead role in a movie called Gangsta Kronikles which was was a blockbuster. No. Star Wars, Avatar, Titanic, those are blockbusters. Not Gansta Kronikles.


So you're probably wondering what the mission is now. Well keep waiting. The story is about Dan and Amy and others having to save their "family" from a shadowy group known as The Vespers. It does't explain why they are kidnapped though. All the story says is that Dan and Amy had a past experience with The Vespers. From all around the globe, members of the Cahill family are mysteriously being kidnapped. But before hearing about these strange kidnappings, The Vespers make an attempt to kidnap Dan and Amy themselves. Three men in ski masks attack Dan and Amy on the bus when on their way to school. Luckily, Dan and Amy are skilled in Martial-arts and beat the useless Vesper enforcerers. Martial-arts is good, but compared to being able to cast magic spells by waving around a stick and babbling random nonsense, Martial-arts is nothing. Anyways, when they escape the Vespers, and save their fellow students and bus driver, they later receive a strange message from a strange man strangely known as "Vesper One". The message congratulates them for escaping the grip of the three thugs that he had sent after Dan and Amy. It also demands them to arrive in Florence, Italy if they wish to see their family alive again. This is obviously when they learn about the kidnappings. So they do as Vesper One tells them to do. Once they arrive in Florence, they contact the Vespers to inform them that they are there. In Florence, Dan and Amy meet, and team up with Jonah and Hamilton. The four of them are just hanging out in Florence when Vesper one sends Dan and Amy his next request. By the way THIS is the mission, and forms the plot of the story. The message is very threatening, and demands them to steal a painting known as The Medusa, painted by an artist named Caravaggio. If they do not receive The Medusa within a short period of time, one of the Cahill hostages will be executed. Yep. Just for a useless painting. The rest of the story is the four of them looking for the painting, and trying to locate the real Medusa since their are fake ones.


 The theme of this story is that family comes first. Even if they are not your real family, but still share the same last name as you. So it's the people that you love come first. Amy and Dan turn their world upside down to save the people that they love most. I can relate to this because, I love my family and like Dan and Amy, I would do anything for them. You love your family too. If you don't love your family, then I suggest counseling. I can also relate to the character Hamilton. Hamilton shows an interest in football. I also like to play, and watch football on tv like him. Overall, this story was pretty good. I liked the plot and basic structure of the story. I also liked the theme of the story, since I can relate to it. Although I didn't like the characters too much. Especially Jonah. Also I didn't understand, would't the four of the have to go to school? Why weren't the cops involved at all? They had the evidence to prove that there loved ones have been kidnapped. From the threatening messages, to the photo of the Cahills trapped in the prison cell. I would have to give this story a 7.5/10.