Scholastic wants to maintain its position as King of the Kids and with the Harry Potter book franchise in the past, it has decided to announce the Harry Potter successor. The winner is a 10 book seres called “The 39 Clues”. The first book goes on sale September 2008 and will be accompanied by promotional tools such as web-based games, collector’s cards, cash prizes. The books are authored by several individuals and Scholastic hopes to cash in on the “series” rather than any particular author. Smart by Scholastic, of course, because it can use unknown authors if the brand becomes successful.
Rick Riordan, author of the Percy Jackson series, pens the first book followed by Gordon Korman, Peter Lerangis and Jude Watson. The series is to feature two young Cahill siblings as they race to find the 39 clues that will lead to ultimate power. The series are mystery/fantasy books aimed at 8 to 12 years.
The unique popularity of Harry Potter was its ageless appeal. I can’t say that The 39 Clues sounds like something a bunch of adults are going to buy.
Via NYTimes.
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I agree. Aside from the fact that it just doesn’t sound like something that’s likely to have all that much appeal out of its target age group, something like Harry Potter is an unpredictable phenomenon born of serendipity. I think it’s incredibly arrogant, to say nothing of foolish for Scholastic to announce that they’ve got “the Harry Potter successor” coming up. [sigh] My guess is that they’ve pretty much guaranteed that it’s not going to be anywhere near that popular, and that it’ll attract at least some snarking when it’s not. I mean, seriously, who could live up to that sort of bragging?
Angie
Plus the fact that the Potter series was made successful by the children, not the hype.
How very Harlequin of them.