Help

Registration and Login

How do I register?

Click on the Create an Account button on the home page and follow the instructions.

I have selected a username, but the system won't accept it. Why?

If you get an error message that your username is not valid, it is because someone else has already taken that username. Please try another, or add another word or number to yours to make it unique.

Why do I need to enter my birth date?

We only need that information to determine if we need to contact your parent to get them to consent to your participation on http://www.the39clues.com

Do I need my parent's consent to register for The 39 Clues?

Yes, if you are under 13 years of age. If you are 13 and over, we do not need your parent to consent for you to register and start playing.

Why do I need my parent's consent to register for The 39 Clues?

In order to comply with laws that protect the privacy of kids under 13, we must have your parent's consent before we allow you to register and play.

How does my parent authorize me to participate?

If you are under 13, you will need to provide the e-mail address of your parent/guardian during the registration process. We will send an e-mail to your parent/guardian's address. Your parent/guardian just needs to click on the link in the registration e-mail and you will be registered. If we do not hear from your parent/legal guardian, you will not be able to log in.

Can I change Cahill Family branches?

No, you cannot. One doesn't choose one's family.

Why do I get a screen asking to enter an Identification Code?I don't have any cards.

FOR COUNTRIES OTHER THAN THE UNITED STATES, AUSTRALIA, CANADA (EXCLUDING QUEBEC), IRELAND, NEW ZEALAND, or the UNITED KINGDOM:

If you are not a resident of the United States, Australia, Canada (Excluding Quebec), Ireland, New Zealand, or the United Kingdom, you need to have your own copy of The 39 Clues Book 1: The Maze of Bones or the Card Pack for The 39 Clues Books 1, 2, and 3 to be able to access the site. You will need to enter a card code from either a book or a card pack to use the site.

Where can I find the books and the cards?

The 39 Clues Book 1: The Maze of Bones or the Card Pack for The 39 Clues Books 1, 2, and 3 are available wherever books are sold.

I have a card but when I enter the code, it doesn't get accepted.

Please click here.

Do I need my parent's consent to participate in sweepstakes or contests?

FOR THE UNITED STATES, AUSTRALIA, CANADA (EXCLUDING QUEBEC), IRELAND, NEW ZEALAND, OR THE UNITED KINGDOM RESIDENTS ONLY

If you are under 13, you will need to be authorized by a parent/guardian.

If you are 13 or over, when you register, you will be automatically entered into some contests and will be able to activate others.

How does my parent authorize me to participate in sweepstakes or contests?

FOR THE UNITED STATES, AUSTRALIA, CANADA (EXCLUDING QUEBEC), IRELAND, NEW ZEALAND, OR THE UNITED KINGDOM RESIDENTS ONLY

If you are under 13, you will need to provide the e-mail address of your parent/guardian during the registration process. We will send an e-mail to your parent/guardian's address. Your parent/legal guardian just needs click on the link within the e-mail within 5 days, and you will be automatically entered into some contests and will be able to activate others. If your parent/legal guardian does not click the link in their e-mail within 5 days, we'll unfortunately have to part ways and de-enroll you and you will not be eligible for The 39 Clues prizes.

If your parent chooses to de-enroll you from prizes when they click on the link in the e-mail we sent them, you will be registered on The 39 Clues, but will not be eligible to win any prizes.

How long does my parent have to approve my participation?

FOR THE UNITED STATES, AUSTRALIA, CANADA (EXCLUDING QUEBEC), IRELAND, NEW ZEALAND, OR THE UNITED KINGDOM RESIDENTS ONLY

The current time limit is 5 days after which the authorization link expires. If they do not do so within 5 days, your prizing record will be erased and you will need to re-register to be enrolled in sweepstakes or contests on The 39 Clues.

Once my parent has confirmed registration, will I need to be reauthorized for the remaining 39 Clues prizes?

FOR THE UNITED STATES, AUSTRALIA, CANADA (EXCLUDING QUEBEC), IRELAND, NEW ZEALAND, OR THE UNITED KINGDOM RESIDENTS ONLY

No. Once you've been authorized by your parent, you are eligible for all 39 Clues contests and sweepstakes, as applicable depending on your country. No further parental consent will be required.

Please see the prizing section for a full view of what you can win, how you can win it, and when it will be awarded.

How can I retrieve a forgotten username or password?

If you have forgotten your username, click here to have us e-mail you a reminder. If you are under 13, the e-mail will go to your parent's e-mail address.

If you've forgotten your password, click here to get a new one.

Why am I getting an error message when I enter the correct password?

Check to make sure that Caps Lock is off.

Check to make sure you have spelled both your username and password correctly.

If the problem persists, go to How can I retrieve a forgotten username or password?

Technical Issues

What kind of computer and Internet connection do I need?

For Windows PC:

Web Browser: Microsoft Internet Explorer 7 or newer, Mozilla Firefox 2 or newer, Safari 3 or newer.

Software: http://www.adobe.com/shockwave/download/download.cgi?P1_Prod_Version=ShockwaveFlash Adobe Flash Player 9 or higher

CPU: Pentium III or better

Speed: 500MHz or higher

Memory: 256MB RAM or more

Internet Connection: 56K modem or better

Operating System: Windows 98, Windows NT, Windows 2000, Windows ME, Windows XP, or Windows Vista

To get this information from Windows XP, right click on My Computer on the desktop, and click Properties. The information will be under Computer in the screen that shows.

For Macintosh:

Web Browser: Firefox 2 or higher or better, Safari 3 or higher

Software: http://www.adobe.com/shockwave/download/download.cgi?P1_Prod_Version=ShockwaveFlash Adobe Flash Player 9 or higher

CPU: PowerPC G3, G4, G5, or Intel core

Memory: 256MB RAM

Internet Connection: 56K modem or better

Operating System: Macintosh OS X

To view this information on your computer, click on the blue apple located near the top of your screen. Next click About This Mac.

What is Flash Player? How do I get Flash Player?

Flash Player is a program that you will need to use many parts of the The39Clues. com. You will need it to play the Game.

You can get the latest version at http://www.adobe.com/shockwave/download/download.cgi?P1_Prod_Version=ShockwaveFlash.

How can I speed up downloading? Why is the website going slowly?

The following problems can make loading slower:

The loading is temporarily stalled. Press "Refresh" or "Reload" at the top of your screen to start over and try again.

Your connection to the Internet could be slow. If you visit other websites and they are also slow, this is probably the case. Contact your Internet provider for help.

You may need to activate caching so that your computer doesn't have to reload the same files over and over. Click here for instructions on how to turn caching on.

You may be downloading other files, like video or music. If you share your Internet connection with other computers in your house, they could also be slowing things down. For faster downloads, be sure to close other browser windows and downloads.

If you're playing with a modem, your connection may just be slow.

Our servers or your internet provider may simply be operating slowly. Wait a few minutes and try again.

How do I turn on caching?

Internet Explorer 5. 5 or better:

Select Internet Options from the Tools menu. In the Internet Options window, select the General tab. Select the Settings button under Temporary Internet Files (this is called Browsing History in Internet Explorer 7). Choose the Automatically option in the Check for newer versions of stored pages section. Then locate the Temporary Internet files folder section. For Amount of disk space to use, choose at least 50 MB. Now locate and click the Advanced tab. Scroll through the menu to Security. If Empty Temporary Internet Files folder when browser is closed is checked, you need to uncheck it.

Firefox 1. 5 & 2:

Go to the Tools menu. Select Options. Click on the Privacy icon, and then choose the Cache tab. Enter 50 in the Disk space for the cache textbox. Then click Settings—check the Private Data section. If Cache is selected, make sure Clear private data when closing Firefox is not.

Firefox 3:

Go to the Tools menu. Select Options. Click on the Privacy icon. Locate the Private Data section. Make sure Always clear my private data when I close Firefox is unchecked.

Why do some parts of the site not load or look wrong?

Try reloading the site. Click the button labeled Reload or Refresh near the top of your screen. You may not have the latest version of Flash Player. You can get the latest Flash Player here.

The Cards

How do I add the cards that come with the Books or Card Packs to my gallery?

Click on the My Cards icon at the top of the page, on the navigation bar. This will bring you to the Card Gallery page. Click on the big button titled Add Your Cards. Locate the unique code on the bottom of your card, then enter the code into the Enter your card number text box. Hit Submit.

The unique code is the sequence of 10 random numbers and letters at the bottom of your card. Remember that you must add cards from card packs individually, while you only need to enter one of the cards that comes with each book to get all six.

Can a friend use my cards?

Cards can only be entered into one person's card gallery. Make sure to enter your cards into your gallery before you let anyone else borrow them!

There is one exception, which is the Surveillance Camera card (card #1) that comes with The 39 Clues Book 1: The Maze of Bones. After you have added the book cards to your gallery, you can let friends enter the code on the Surveillance Camera card into their galleries and they will also get a copy of that card. WARNING: Add your book cards to your own gallery first, or your friend will get all 6 of them and you will only be able to get the Surveillance Camera card!

How does the Surveillance Camera card from Book 1(Card #1) work?

All of the cards that come with a book have the same number on them. If you enter that number into your gallery, you will get all six cards at once. After that, if you share that code with a friend's, he or she will be able to enter that code into his or her Gallery and get a virtual copy of the Surveillance Camera card. You can do this on as many card friends' accounts as you like, but only once per account.

Can I remove a card from my gallery?

There is no way to remove a card from your gallery.

I entered my card code and I got a message saying the number has already been used. Why?

This means that the card you are holding has already been added to someone else's card gallery. If you were given this card by someone, it means they have added it to their gallery and it is no longer available to be added to your gallery.

I just opened my card pack and typed in the unique ID of a new card I bought, but I was told the number has already been redeemed. What do I do?

Please send an e-mail to help@the39clues.com with details. Be sure to include your username and the e-mail address you used during registration (your e-mail if you are 13 or older, your parent's e-mail if you are 12 or under) and be as specific as you can about the problem.

I opened my card pack and there were fewer than 16 cards included. What do I do?

Please send an e-mail to help@the39clues.com with details. Be sure to include your username and the e-mail address you used during registration (your e-mail if you are 13 or older, your parent's e-mail if you are 12 or under) and be as specific as you can about the problem.

I opened my book and there were fewer than 6 cards included. What do I do?

Please send an e-mail to help@the39clues.com with details. Be sure to include your username and the e-mail address you used during registration (your e-mail if you are 13 or older, your parent's e-mail if you are 12 or under) and be as specific as you can about the problem.

What are the different types of cards?

There are 5 types of cards:

Most cards are associated with a branch of the Cahill family, although some are not. There are four branches:

Do some cards have puzzles?

Yes. You will need to solve the puzzle to get access to the content associated with the card.

Do I have to solve the puzzle to use the card?

Yes. Until the puzzle is solved, the card is locked.

Once I have solved a puzzle card, does the card act like all other cards?

Yes.

Is there only one right answer for each puzzle?

There is generally one right answer for each puzzle, but slight variations may be acceptable. For instance, if the answer is "Jonah Wizard, " "Jonah" might also be acceptable.

Does it matter if I capitalize the first letter of a puzzle answer?

Capitalization does not matter. "CAHILL, " "Cahill, " and "cahill" are all treated the same.

Do I lose points or credit for guessing?

No, you do not. There is no limit to the number of guesses that you can make.

Do I lose points for taking hints?

You do not lose points for looking at the hints.

How many hints are there?

There are three hints for each puzzle. You will see a random one each time you ask for a hint.

What do I do with "bonus" cards like Money, Prestige, and the Replicator?

Put them in your gallery. They will be useful for the Clue Hunt—you'll know when you need them.

Are book cards different from the cards in card packs?

All 6 book cards in each book have the same code. When you enter one of them, all 6 are added to your account. Otherwise, the book cards are used the same way in the game as cards from card packs.

Can I add more than one set of book cards per book to my gallery?

If you get a second copy of a book, you can digitize the cards from that book as well, which will give you an additional copy of each of the book cards. Purchasing multiple books is not necessary or recommended.

What do I do with special cards I got from the retailer who sold me The 39 Clues Book 1: The Maze of Bones or the Card Pack for The 39 Clues Books 1, 2, and 3?

Load them into your gallery. When you enter their identification code, it will open up a surprise.

The Game

How do I play the Game?

You need to prove yourself as an Agent before you can begin your search for the 39 Clues. Once you are an authorized Agent of your Cahill branch, the Game will be revealed to you.

What's an Agent?

An Agent is a member of the Cahill family searching for Clues on behalf of his or her branch.

How do I get started?

Click on the button labeled The Game on the navigation bar and follow the instructions. You will be asked to complete a number of challenges.

What are the messages in The Game section?

These messages contain messages from important Cahills. Clicking on the Go button at the bottom of each e-mail will open the task you need to complete to prove you are worthy of being included in the hunt for the 39 Clues.

How do I solve the puzzles?

Drag your mouse over the entire puzzle screen and uncover hidden clues. Once you've collected all the hidden clues, rearrange them to form a word. This is your code. Enter the code in the appropriate text box in My Profile.

I've solved a puzzle, what do I do now?

Once you've solved a puzzle, go to My Profile and enter the code in the text box with the number corresponding to the puzzle. Then hit Submit.

What's a Clue? What are the 39 Clues?

The 39 Clues, when pieced together, will reveal the source of the Cahill family's mysterious power and influence. To find the 39 Clues, read the books, collect the cards, and play the game.

Where do I find Clues?

There is one Clue in each of the 10 books. The remaining Clues come from cards and the online game.

What do I do with Clues?

Until you have all 39, you will not be able to divine the secrets the Clues hold. And you need all 39 Clues to be able to unveil their final secret.

What is the Cahill Web?

The Cahill Web is where you can find information on the Cahill family. Check back often, as new information is constantly being added.

Why can't I access some Articles and Branch Home Pages?

If you're not in a branch, you can't see that branch's archives.

Prizes

Click here for official prize rules.

Which countries can participate in prizes?

Prizes will only be offered for residents of the United States, Australia, Canada (Excluding Quebec), Ireland, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore or the United Kingdom

I am not in the United States, Australia, Canada , Ireland, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore or the United Kingdom. Can I win prizes?

You cannot. At the moment, the countries listed above are the only countries offering prizes to their residents. More countries will likely offer prizes in the future, so come back here periodically to see if your country is offering prizes.

What is the eligibility requirement to win?

Entry in any contest or sweepstakes is only open to participants who, as of December 31, 2008, will be no younger than 6 and no older than 14 years old and are legal residents of the United States, Australia, Canada (Excluding Quebec), Ireland, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore, or the United Kingdom.

When is the first prize being awarded?

Entry for the first prizes will close on December 31, 2008. Shortly thereafter, we will contact and then announce the winners.

How many winners will there be on December 31, 2008 and what will they win?

For the United States, Canada (Excluding Quebec), Ireland, New Zealand andthe United Kingdom,

There will be 34 winners for the Book Sweepstakes:

  1. One (1) First Prize: $500 US ($500 CAD / $500 NZD / €330 for Ireland residents)
  2. Five (5) Second Prizes: $250 US ($250 CAD / $250 NZD / €160 for Ireland residents)
  3. Eight (8) Third Prizes: $100 US ($100 CAD / $100 NZD / €70 for Ireland residents)
  4. Twenty (20) Fourth Prizes: $50 US ($50 CAD / $50 NZD / €35 for Ireland residents)

Total value of all prizes for each book $3, 550 US ($3, 550 CAD / $3, 550 NZD/€2, 390 for Ireland residents)

There will be 26 winners of the Mission Sweepstakes:

  1. One (1) First Prize: $250 US ($250 CAD / $250 NZD/ €160 for Ireland residents)
  2. Five (5) Second Prizes: $100 US ($100 CAD / $100 NZD/ €70 for Ireland residents)
  3. Twenty (20) Third Prizes: $50 US ($50 CAD / $50 NZD/€35 for Ireland residents)

Total value of all prizes $1, 750 US ($1750 CAD / $1750 NZD/ €1, 210 for Ireland residents).

For the United States and Canada (Excluding Quebec)

There will be 3 winners of the Episode Contest

  1. One (1) First Prize: $1, 000 US ($1, 000 CAD)
  2. One (1) Second Prize: $750 US ($750 CAD)
  3. One (1) Third Prize: $500 US ($500 CAD).

Total value of all prizes for each Episode:$2, 250 US ($2, 250 CAD).

For Australia

There will 39 winners of the Episode Contest:

One First Prize Winner: A gaming console, a backpack and a lie detector watch valued at $319. 94 total.

Thirty Eight (38) Runner-ups: A backpack and a lie detector watch valued at AUD $39. 99 total.

For Singapore and Malaysia

There will be 3 winners of the Episode Contest:

  1. One (1) First Prize: $300 US
  2. One (1) Second Prize: $200 US
  3. One (1) Third Prize: $100 US

What do I need to do to enter the Book Sweepstakes?

Only residents of the United States, Canada (Excluding Quebec), Ireland, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom are eligible for the Book Sweepstakes. All you need to do is enter the identification code at the bottom of one of the cards in The 39 Clues Book 1: The Maze of Bones, and you will be automatically entered.

What do I need to do to enter the Mission Sweepstakes?

Only residents from the US, Canada (Excluding Quebec), Ireland, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom are eligible for the Book Sweepstakes. To be entered in the Mission Sweepstakes, you need to start Mission 1 and complete the first activity of the Mission. You do not need to complete the Mission to be entered to win the Mission Sweepstakes.

What do I need to do to win the Episode Prize?

For residents of the United States and Canada (Excluding Quebec), to win the Episode Prize, you must be one of the top 3 point earners during the Episode.

For residents of Australia, Singapore, and Malaysia, to win the Episode Prize, you need to have twenty (20) cards in your account and you need to be the winner of rounds of timed, skill-based questions about Book 1: The Maze of Bones and other aspects of the Cahill world.

When will the Grand Prize be awarded?

The Grand Prize will be awarded on March 9, 2011. There will be hundreds of prizes to be won before then.

What is the Value of the Grand Prize?

US = $10, 000 US

Canada (Excluding Quebec) = CAD$10, 000

UK = £5, 000

Ireland = € 6, 600

New Zealand = NZD$5, 000

Australia = Home Entertainment Centre valued at AUD $5, 000

Singapore and Malaysia = $5, 000 US

What do I need to do to win the Grand Prize?

For the US and Canada (Excluding Quebec) , you need to have found the 39 Clues and assembled them to reveal their final secret, and you need to have been one of the top 39 point earners in your country.

For Ireland, New Zealand or, the United Kingdom, you need to have entered the identification code for each of the 10 books in The 39 Clues series. A random drawing will determine one winner in the UK and one winner for NZ.

For Australia, Singapore, and Malaysia, you need to find the 39 Clues and assemble them to reveal their final secret, and you need to win the skill-based tournamentthat will take place between December 31, 2010 and February 15, 2011.

Where can I find the 39 Clues?

Each of the 10 Books in The 39 Clues series will reveal a Clue.

Completing certain online Missions will yield Clues.

Skillfully using Cards in the Game will reveal Clues.

When will the last Clue be revealed?

The last Clue will be revealed in September 2010.

Parents

Why should my child play The 39 Clues Game?

The 39 Clues is a groundbreaking, multi-dimensional new series launched by Scholastic and aimed at 8 to 12 year-olds. The program and story span 10 adrenaline-charged books, hundreds of trading cards, and an online game where readers play a part in the story and compete for prizes.

The story is told across all dimensions of The 39 Clues program. Sharp-eyed readers will uncover secrets and leads embedded in the books, cards, and the website.

What makes The 39 Clues different from anything else on the market?

The 39 Clues is a fully interactive experience that calls on kids to use their reading, gaming, and puzzle-solving skills to uncover an exciting mystery. Like the book characters, your child will explore history and read secret documents to discover a world rich with intrigue. On The39Clues. com, your child will have a chance to use his/her special skills to play games, have fun, and maybe even win prizes.

Can my child have fun by only reading the books?

Yes. Rick Riordan, #1 New York Times best selling author of the Percy Jackson series, kicks off the action with the first book. From there, a dream team of authors will unveil a great story in subsequent books. Each book will be a fantastic read on its own.

Can my child have fun by only playing online without buying books or cards?

Yes. Though all the aspects of The 39 Clues combine to tell the full story of the Cahill family, each piece is engaging and challenging on its own.

I deleted the e-mail The 39 Clues sent to me to activate my child's registration. Can you send it again?

We cannot. Please have your child register again by choosing a different username but using your same e-mail address. You will receive a new e-mail. Please click on the link in the e-mail to allow your child to participate in The 39 Clues.

My child registered but I never got an e-mail confirming the registration.

Please check your junk mail folder to make sure the e-mail from The 39 Clues didn't end up there by mistake. If the e-mail is neither in your in-box or your junk folder, please ask your child to re-register.

Why have prizes?

The prizes are meant to mirror the excitement of the story. We'll give prizes out with each Book (US, Canada [Excluding Quebec], Ireland, NZ and UK), with each online Mission (US, Canada [Excluding Quebec], Ireland, NZ and UK), with each Episode (in the US and Canada [Excluding Quebec], Australia, Malaysia and Singapore), and, of course, there's the Grand Prize (US, Australia, Canada [Excluding Quebec], Ireland, Malaysia, NZ, Singapore and UK, along with lots of other prizes along the way.

Some prizes are awarded for skill (United States, Australia, Canada (Excluding Quebec), Malaysia or Singapore) and some are sweepstakes (United States, Canada [Excluding Quebec], Ireland, New Zealand and the United Kingdom so every kid can be a winner.

I don't want my child to be entered to win prizes. How do I de-enroll them?

Please send an e-mail to help@the39clues.com with the subject "De-enroll My Child From Prizing" and your child will not be entered in any future The 39 Clues sweepstakes or contests.

Contact Us

If you have tried the FAQs and are still having problems, you can e-mail us at help@the39clues.com . Be sure to include your username and be as specific as you can about the problem.

Quick links

How can I retrieve a forgotten username or password?

What is Flash Player? How do I get Flash Player?

How do I add the cards that come with the Books or Card Packs to my gallery?