Scholastic to Publish Seven "The 39 Clues" Short Stories

Scholastic has announced that it will publish seven short stories inspired by its popular "The 39 Clues" series of adventure thrillers for young adults. The 30-40 pages stories, collectively subtitled "Rapid Fire" and to be available as ebooks only, will be released on seven consecutive days beginning December 25th, 2011. The stories are written by Clifford Riley.

All of the stories appear to be prequels, with the first, Legacy, featuring Grace Cahill planning the original hunt for The 39 Clues.

Here's a list of the titles in the series, their release dates, and a synopsis for each from the publisher; all may be pre-ordered now for the Kindle:

Legacy, 12/25/2011: Time is running out for Grace Cahill as she struggles to make the most important choice of her life: a decision that will shape the future of the Cahill family … and the world at large. After spending centuries lurking the shadows, the Cahills' enemy — the Vespers — are planning an attack, and sending Amy and Dan on a dangerous hunt for The 39 Clues might be the only way to stop them.

Ignition, 12/26/2011: Think you know what happened at Grace Cahill's funeral? Think again. This top secret report reveals what really occurred on that fateful day. Follow Ian and Natalie Kabra as they travel to Attleboro and discuss their strategy. Discover what the Holts were doing before they started the fire. And learn shocking information about a special guest none of the Cahills knew anything about …

Hunted, 12/27/2011: The Vespers are looking for new recruits and have targeted a few candidates: the Cahill children on the hunt for The 39 Clues. Uncover the Vespers' chilling plan to monitor the Kabras, the Holts, Jonah, and the Starlings, and learn who they picked as the most promising Vesper … and future Cahill traitor.

Crushed, 12/28/2011: Ian Kabra has an embarrassing secret. It’s not that he once accidentally ate at Burger King. It’s not that he still has his childhood teddy bear, Mr. Buttons. It’s that he can’t stop thinking about a certain grubby American orphan. But just when he’s about to take action, a dangerous person from his past stages a dramatic midnight break-in, forcing Ian to accept that there’s something worse than an embarrassing crush — a secret that won’t stay buried.

Turbulence, 12/29/2011: Amy Cahill knows her family needs to be prepared for the next Vesper attack, so she organizes a training weekend at the brand new Cahill command center. However, Dan and the others would rather goof off than hone their secret agent skills. Can Amy channel her inner leader and bring everyone in line? Or will a surprise appearance by a Vesper assassin prove that she's in over her head?

Invasion, 12/30/2011: Dan Cahill loves hanging out with his new friend, Atticus Rosenbloom, a child prodigy whose genius IQ doesn't stop him from playing video games or practicing ninja moves. It's a relief to get to pretend to be a normal kid for once, and not worry about finding Clues or looking out for Vespers. But when Atticus's house is attacked by strange intruders, Dan has to rely on his Cahill training to keep them out. Are they normal burglars? Or does Atticus's family have a secret of its own?

Fireworks, 12/31/2011: The holidays can be hard for any family, but they're particularly tough for the Cahills. Amy Cahill is exhausted from her training. Dan can't forget the tragedies he witnessed on the Clue hunt. Ian and Natalie Kabra are trying to enjoy the London festivities, but it's hard without their parents. Even superstar Jonah Wizard is having trouble getting into the holiday spirit. Amy knows there's danger on the horizon, but there's no reason they shouldn't enjoy themselves while they can. Taking advantage of their new fortune, Amy and Dan book a private plane and jet off to fetch the other Cahills for a New Years none of them will ever forget.