The highly successful 39 Clues series will have a second wave of books and the final title in that installment will be written by novelist David Baldacci. Vice-President and Editorial Director at Scholastic Press David Levithan cited the decision to publish the second wave: “The kids wanted it.” Baldacci feels excited to take part in this project.

The first wave of the 39 Clues series includes ten books. Book 1: The Maze of Bones which came out in September 2008. Percy Jackson series author Rick Riordan penned that volume which debuted at #1 on the New York Times bestseller list. Book 10: Into the Gauntlet by Margaret Peterson Haddix just came out in August 2010 and has since appeared on several bestseller lists.

The press release reports: “Starting with Vespers Rising, The 39 Clues: Cahills vs. Vespers series will be published over a 24-month period and will continue with six more installments written by a team of bestselling and award-winning authors, including Gordon Korman (August 2011), Jude Watson (December 2011), Peter Lerangis (March 2012), Roland Smith (August 2012), and Linda Sue Park (December 2012). The final book in the series, written by David Baldacci, will be published in March 2013. The 39 Clues Cahills vs. Vespers is a fully-integrated multi-media reading experience spanning books, cards, and an immersive online game on [The 39 Clues official site].” (Via Publishers Weekly)