Reviews (3)

The Best Of The Higher Volumes
Nancy, Bess and George go to Emerson University for their annual June Week celebration and are invited to stay at an old mansion on Pine Hill. The owner of the mansion tells Nancy about a phantom which apparently inhabits the library of the home and also he relates a strange story about a French wedding dress and valuable gifts which were lost during the sinking of the Lucy Belle in a nearby cove over 100 years before. This book is easily the best of the Nancy Drew books from the mid thirties and higher. So many of the books from #36 onward are little more than tour guides with a mystery built around them. This book; however, is not like that. The mystery is rather enjoyable and; generally, the book kept me interested until the end. One thing that I particularly liked about this book was that Nancy and her friends actually were involved in capturing the crook, unlike in most of the books where; usually, Nancy does all of the work, but ultimately, it is the police who come in, save the day and capture the criminal. My only complaint with the book was that it could have used a little more action. I think that any fan of the series would enjoy reading this book.

You never outgrow a classic!
I am 35 yrs old and I still read Nancy Drew. My favorite is Phantom of Pine Hill, it's a classic! The setting, characters and plot are still memorable from when I originally read it, when I was 12. Nancy has and always will be my heroine, she taught me to be sensible and unafraid. She is a great role model for young girls, and this book is the best one to start a collection with! I have been unable to put this story to bed in over 23 yrs.

My Favorite Nancy Drew!
I'm 34 years old now and I have a 3 year old daughter. I can't wait until she's 9 and can read my old Nancy Drew mysteries. Readers - do you remember how exciting it was to get your newest Nancy Drew for your birthday or Christmas? I sure do! I'd rush back to my room and absolutely "inhale" Nancy's adventures. What a wonderful time I had with Nancy - and now I will soon get to experience it on a different level with my girl. The Phantom of Pine Hill was classic Nancy Drew. I opened it the other day and found where I had personally drawn pictures at the end of each thrilling, chilling chapter. This was the early 70's so Nancy, Bess and George all sported bell-bottoms and tube tops! Would love to hear from young or old fans of Nancy. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Not Bad, But It Could Be More Exciting
This review concerns the original 1954 edition as well as the revised 1974 edition. Nancy meets Henri and Helene Fontaine, who have fled from their home country of Centrovia and now run a dance school in River Heights. Now the Fontaines are being threatened and fear for their lives. Nancy is determined to find to find out who is threatening the Fontaines and why. This book is alright. The mystery is okay and there is a bit of action. One thing that I did enjoy about the book was that at the end, Nancy participated in capturing the criminals. She may not have physically done it, but at least she was present, unlike in so many of the books were you get an ending like "As Nancy arrived the police were putting handcuffs on so-and-so" or "Two hours later the police called and said that the suspects had been arrested". How exciting is that? It's not!!! The book could have been a little more exciting, however, and it never really held my attention throughout. The book is worth reading, but it isn't one of my favourites.

The Scarlet Slipper Mystery
If you like Nancy Drew and dancing,this book is definitely for you! Even if you don't like dancing or ballet, it is awesome!It is a can't-put-it-down book, like most of the Nancy Drew Mysteries.There are some clues and suspects that don't mix and it's hard to try to figure it out on your own. This book is really good and I really reccomend it!

Outstading Page Turner
I really enjoyed this book because it was a very exciting mystery. I had a hard time putting it down. It had an amazing outline to it. I still have a hard time believing that one person could think of a story like this one.
One of the main characters was named Nancy Drew. I liked her a lot. She was the one, with some help from her friends, who solved the mystery. She never gave up, even if she ran out of ideas to solve the mystery. Nancy always kept going. That is the main reason I liked her.
I think the best part of this book is when Nancy Drew and her friends figure out who is doing the crime and why. You will never guess who it is.
The ending of this book was very exciting to me. It was amazing how it all tied together at the end. The ending was also a little disappointing. The story stoped at a bad place. Even though the mystery was over I wish it would have kept going for a little more longer.
I personally think that anyone who is interested in a great mystery story should try this book. I am glad I did.

Super spy!!
Follow Nancy and her friends as they solve a mystery at a dance school. Who's lieing, and who's truthful? This book will keep you in suspense! Figure it out when you read The Scarlet Slipper Mystery!

Boring
Most Nancy Drews are VERY good. but this one was so boring that I couldn't pick it up. (oppaset of couldn't put it down.) It took me the longest time to finnish it, a week or more, and that's saying somthing because I nomally finish them in 1 or 2 days. The most exsiting thing was when Hannah was tyed to a chair. don't get this one, a diff. one. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

What A Dull Book
Nancy receives a moonstone as a gift from an anonymous person. Mr. Drew enlists Nancy to help him with his latest case. The Bowens, a missionary couple, have recently returned from Africa and have been looking for their granddaughter without success. The girl went to live with her other grandmother in the town of Deep River after the deaths of her parents when she was a baby. However, the grandmother died shortly after that and all trace of the girl has been lost. When the girls arrive in Deep River they see Moonstone Castle in the distance and decide to explore it. This was a very boring book with a dull mystery and almost zero action. The summary in the book suggests that the castle is haunted, but that is never really mentioned in the book itself. Nancy doesn't do any brilliant detective work to find the missing girl, instead she basically stumbles upon her. I'd only recommend getting this book to complete your set.

This book was ok
I have read 15 Nancy Drew books so far and my favorite was: The Clue In The Broken Locket. I'd just thought I'd say that! I was really excited to read this one because of a castle and stuff and in the summary it said it was a little bit spooky. Well it was really boring and there was too much happening at the same time. The castle parts were really boring and so0o0 not exciting. And all they did was eat at that stinkin brass kettle.
But some parts were good?

My favorite Nancy Drew book!
I love all Nancy Drew books but this was my favorite! It was so interesting I couldn't put it down! I read it when I was little and I could read it over and over!

This book was somthing that I couldn't put down!
This book was somthing that I was always in the mood to read. I was solving the mystery right along with Nancy. Just when you think you have figured it out it completely changes. Along with the mystery it add romance, crime, and excitement! This is the best book I have ever read. Once you start you can not put it down! I would recomend this to anyone who loves Romance novles and a Great mystery too. I was amazed at how real this was, it seemed as if it happen yesterday or an hour ago and it was not just a story. The author makes you seem like you are Nancy's best friend. This was an Amazing Book! You have got to read it!!!

I like this book because of the story behind the castle.
I like the book alot. It's very interesting, especially the use of the castle's history. Nancy always keeps me on the edge of my seat. I never tire of reading Nancy Drew Mysteries. My mom and I read them together. We have read 12 so far. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

The Spider Sapphire Mystery
Title: The Spider Sapphire Mystery
By: Carolyn Keene
Reviewed by: B.Beard
Period 1
In this book Nancy goes on another wild journey. This book was really fun and it keeps you on the end of your chair. In the book Nancy tries to find out a mystery about a spider sapphire , and at the same time she is taking a trip to Africa and trying to find a firend's brother. The reason that I liked this book was because it has many descriptive words, and it gave lots of detail about how each person felt about a topic. Some reasons that I dislike this book was because in the story there were some misspelled words and the student on the trip that caused a lot of interruptions. While Nancy, her friends and students from her school were on the plane a girl name Gwen was told to sit down. She said "If I'm going to get killed I want to be standing up, not sitting down." Then the captain of the plane asked her to take her seat and she said "I'm going to have my father sue this airline!" Again and again she was told to take her seat, but she never did, until the airplane almost crashed!
My two favorite parts of the book was when Nancy found out wher Ned was and saved him, and when Nancy got to me a girl named Lilia Bulawaya. She was a great singer and friend. Lilia had asked Nancy to find her brother in Africa. Nancy agreed that she would try. Nancy gave another great mystery away. Well who knows maybe one day I might just turn out to be another Nancy Drew!

BOOOOOOOOOOORING!!!!!!
Nancy, Bess and George go on an African safari with a group of Emerson University students. Before leaving, Nancy is asked by a singer to locate her missing brother who was a safari guide. Also, a synthetic spider sapphire is on display in River Heights (apparently it must rival New York or Los Angeles for these types of shows), but the exhibition is troubled by reports the that owner of the synthetic sapphire has stolen the real spider sapphire on which the synthetic one was modelled. In typical fashion, both mysteries which originate on another continent are tied to the exact place in Africa where Nancy is going. If someone can find even the smallest shred of something to enjoy in this book, I wish they would let me know because I couldn't find anything in it that I thought was good. The plot was boring, the writing was bad, the action was...there was no action, even the artwork was terrible. I didn't enjoy this book at all and I can't recommend it to anyone.

A Mystrey THAT WELL SURE KEEP YOU ON YOUR TOES
I have read alot of Nancy Drew books in my life.But the Spider Sapphire Mystery was my favorite of all the NANCY Drew books.I highly recommond this book.If you want a good mystery and you really like Nancy Drew books or any other mystery books like Hardy Boys READ Nancy Drew and the Spider Sapphire Mystery.JESSICA AGE 10

very good
"The Spider Sapphire Mystery" is one of the best Nancy Drews I've ever read. It was a little more exciting than the other books. It's about Nancy trying to find a genuine spider sapphire and she's also trying to find the brother of a famous singer. This brother, named Tizam, then turns out to be part of the spider sapphire theft---but without his knowledge. Confused? Hurry and read the book! ... Read more

Reviews (2)

The book of Childhood
Whenever I think back to my childhood, and the books of that time, the two main authors I find appearing time and time again are Shel Silverstein and Steven Kellogg. This book was one of my favorites. When reading through, espically with children, one is transported along with characters through their dreams and imaginations. Kellogg's illustrations only add more pleasure to this already wonderfully written story. Even from a young age children become attracted to the storyline with it's honest characters and real emotions. (Plus the fact that everybody lives happily ever after doesn't hurt too much either.)

A wonderful Children's Book, and one of my favorites.

Best Friends
I felt this was an example of a child's friendship. This shows how a small girl feels when her best friend leaves. Many of my childhood friendships were the same way. Any child would love this book to be read to them over and over again. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Nancy Drew not a bad series !!
This is a great Nancy Drew, but not the best. As reviews show Nancy Drew books may be old but are still being printed and are selling strong. The kids at my school lirbary race to see who gets to the Nancy Drew section first. I like Carolyn Keene because she doesn't write freaky mysteries, she writes ones that are real sounding and don't keep you up at night.

Cool!
"This book is all th@ and a bag of chips because it portrays N.D. @ her best! Yeah Nancy! U go gurl! Check it!

It should have been longer...
When a pearl is stolen from a local jeweler named Mr.Moto, Nacy Drew is asked to locate the item and bring it back. Her case leads her to Japan where she stays with relatives of Mr.Moto.

Nancy goes through perilous situations just to find the pearl. She disguises herself as a Tokyo girla and starts picking up clues. Will Nancy be able to solve the mystery or is it too complex?

The book was okay in it's own sense. But I think there should have been more to the story. Such as near the end where they find the thieves. The whole thing going on there should have been expalined more. It left me out in the dark a little. For some reason I just felt somthing was missing. Although the setting in Japan was quite interesting.

I reccomend this book to Nancy Drew fans because it is the last one of the original(this is not the original book though) series.

A Wonderful Read for all Ages
The Thirteenth Pearl is one of the best Nancy Drew books I have read. The suspense keeps you eager to keep turning the pages to come to the final solution in the mystery. From the myterious stolen pearl necklace to the strange pearl worshipping cult, this book is a great read for all ages.

A compelling mystery,definately worth reading!
This riveting mytery is the best yet! Carolyn Keene's imagionation gone wild in the 56th adventure. Two thumbs up! ... Read more

Book Description

Continuing a two-year program to bring back twenty-two Maurice Sendak treasures long out of print, our second season of publication highlights one of the most successful author-illustrator pairings of all time. A pioneer of great children's literature, Ruth Krausspublished more than thirty books for children during a career that spanned forty years. Krauss and Sendak collaborated on eight books, and we are delighted to reintroduce four of these gems in brand-new editions, together with a favorite Maurice Sendak picture book. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

I had this book when I was a little girl
I had this book when I was about 9 and I also had an accompanying audio version (a record) that was a fun way for me to memorize the verbal gymnastics that Ms. Knauss illustrates in her writing. It's a true 70's book, ready for a young imaginative mind to tackle. It's fun, I highly recommend it to anyone, child or adult.

I'm getting one for every child I know
This book came to our family as a hand-me-down from a neighbor for my 2-year-old son, and now we can't live with out it. The rhymes are so witty, entertaining and infectious that I can't tell people about the book without quoting verbatim. Krauss's playful use of language is eternally endearing and Sendaks quirky illustrations of chair-chomping lions and clumsy giants are a treasure. I had feared that this book would be out of print. Now that I have found it, I am buying it for every child (and parent) I know starting with my three-year-old nephew.

The Best Children's Book Ever!
I LOVED this book as a child, so much that I asked for a copy as a birthday gift as an adult. This is the most visually entertaining, linguistically exciting, playful and joyful story I ever read in a children's book. Sendak's simple illustrations are profoundly expressive and appropriate for Kraus' self-indugent imaginary escapade. Yes, to most people it probably seems a little bit weird, but if you have an imaginitive child in your life....BUY HIM OR HER THIS BOOK!

More More More! More More More!
...and it's just a house for me me me
At first reading, somewhat bizarre. So read it twice! It grows on you; it grew into our favorite children's book. It screams to be read aloud; the rhymes aren't Seuss-ly annoying, and the rhythms are interesting.
"...they and I are making music
and we're falling over laughing"
The simple illustrations (Sendak, I think?) are great. Krauss's expressions of child-ego are true-to-my-memory, and rang bells with my kids. I could not afford books back then; fortunately our children's librarian had my taste in books (I don't recall any Berenstain Bears!); but this was one book I HAD TO OWN. It makes a very JOYFUL noise. Read it, then find a copy of Pete Seeger's or Woody Guthries' folk songs for kids... a perfect hour. ... Read more

Amazon.com

What's this--a new Eloise, never before seen or published? News doesn'tget better than that. Kay Thompson first wrote Eloise Takes a Bawth inItaly in the 1960s with Hilary Knight and pal Mart Crowley; it has beenmarinating until now for a release with all-new drawings by Hilary Knight. Ofcourse, this time Eloise is not in Moscow, not in Paris, she is simply in thebawth at home in the Plaza Hotel. With Eloise, though, nothing is simple.Perhaps especially the notion of taking a bath, where you have to "skibble intothe bathroom and take off all your clothes," then strike a pose and look in themirror, and splawsh, and sing, and bathe with turtle Skipperdee and dog Weenie.And pretend to be the "loosest cannonball in all the Caribbean" and "Little MissMermaid but let's keep that between us." But what's this? Could Eloise'sbathtime shenanigans be causing a drip that "has begun to drop within the wallsand hallowed halls of the stately old Plaza?" Drenching the elite at theVenetian Masked Ball in the Grawnd Ballroom, no less? Fabulously decadent scenesof Eloise enacting wild battles and undersea dives in the bathtub on the "tiptop floor" of the Plaza contrast deliciously with the resulting swampy splendorof the ballroom. Extended fold-out cross-sections of the hotel's plumbing systemand a spectacular, colorful, double gatefold illustrating the underwater ball("the sensation of the social season" thanks to Eloise!) add drama and sillinessas well. A splawsh indeed! (Ages 6 to 106) --Karin Snelson ... Read more

Reviews (6)

The final Eloise story completely misses the boat.
Americans have the mistaken belief that stories _about_ children are necessarily _for_ children. This was good for Kaye Thompson, though, because the "Eloise" books were most-often bought by adults for children.

But they're hardly kiddy-lit. A sophisticated child might appreciate Eloise (I did), but for the average child, Eloise is little more than a bad role model.

She's spoiled, self-absorbed, bratty -- and gets away with it, because she knows what most children don't realize until they've become parents: the most-important thing you can do as a child is to disrupt the adult world. It doesn't matter that you're punished for it, if you've inflicted pain and confusion on grown-ups.

Eloise is _not_ the child hiding in every adult, but rather the child many adults wish they had been - doing whatever they like, then secretly snickering, because they know their parents aren't going to enact any _meaningful_ retribution. Unlike most children, Eloise isn't sufficiently intimidated by adults to be worried about the consequences of her acts.

I've been an Eloise fan "forever," so I eagerly anticipated "Eloise Takes a Bawth." Alas, it doesn't come close to the "originals." Once you know the hotel is throwing a grand Venetian ball, the title's import becomes all too clear. The book slogs its wholly predictable way to a completely foreseeable ending. Eloise might be full of surprises, but this story isn't.

The preceding books were about _attitude_, not _plot_. "Eloise Takes a Bawth" is almost all plot, and a poor one at that. Is it any wonder that Kaye Thompson suppressed it? It's a shame her family and publisher didn't respect her judgement.

Eloise "completists" will want "Eloise Takes a Bawth" for their collection, but they are warned -- ...

Who says bawths can' be fun?
About a little girl(Eloise), who is forced into taking a bath, in order to be clean for the Grand Ball. She spends a lot of time in the bawth, pretending to be a boat racer, a skier, and a surfer. She keeps filling the water up, and ends up flooding the whole bathroom. Her room happend to be just above the Ball room. Everyone at the ball is wondering how water is getting all over the place. They all think that one of the hotel's pipes has sprung a leak. Her father, one of the people who are important at the ball, comes up to her room to get her, and realizes she was causing all the water to be in the ball room. First she is in trouble, but then her father looks at what has happend to the Ball Room. It is a pretty good story with an ironic ending.

Funny!
I have been read Eloise since I was five years old and she never gets boring. This book is an excellent edition to the continious saga of Eloise. How can you do anything but love this precocious little girl? This is a great book for children, and adults will love it to.

Eloise Takes a Plunge.....
There is nothing so refreshing, so enlivening, or inviting, there is nothing so delicious as a bawth. Eloise, that irrepressible and precocious nymph, just about sinks the Plaza Hotel as she splawshes, dives, plays and swims in the tub, tub, tub of her penthouse bawthroom. Drips, drops, leaks, and waterfalls begin to spout all over the building, and the manager, Mr Salomone is beside himself as he watches all his hard work on the Venetian Masked Ball, to be held that very evening in the Grand Ballroom, turn wet, soggy, and almost float away. "ELOISE/thanks to you/the Plaza's through through through/flooded floor to floor/stem to stern/door to door/The Venetain ball's a bust/Come down with me/I want you to see/the mess you've made!" But has Eloise's bawthtub antics really ruined the ball? No, of course not. In her own inimitable way, she's actually saved the day, and the Venetian Masked Ball turns out to be the sensation of the social season..... Written in the early sixties, though never published, Kay Thompson's Eloise Takes A Bawth finally makes its long-awaited debut with the help of playwright Mart Crowley and the stunning and imaginative artwork of her long-time collaborator, Hilary Knight. Ms Thompson's engaging and lyrical text is filled with her trademark energy and wit. But it's Mr Knight's captivating artwork that really steals the show. Each bold and busy pen and ink illustration is rich in subtle color, brilliant, eye-catching detail, and marvelous facial expressions, and youngsters will want to linger and explore every inch of each fun-filled page. Especially noteworthy is a dazzling four page fold-out of the masked ball in all its New York, social scene glory, and a creative and playful look behind the walls, at the Plaza's intricate plumbing system. Perfect for kids from 4 to 94, Eloise Takes A Bawth is a veritable feast for the eyes and ears, and a treasured masterpiece to read and share with friends and family now, and future generations in the years to come. "Now Eloise's forty-year bawth is finally drawn. Soak away."

Not Quite
An excellent book--it will make you chuckle and will put your kids to sleep. But it doesn't quite measure up to the good old original Eloise book. ... Read more

Book Description

Louie's unhappy because the other kids call his father "the junkman." But his father knows that it's not just junk: "All a person needs is some imagination! And a little of that stuff can take you right out of this world!"

So Louie builds the Imagination I, a spaceship fueled entirely by imagination -- and blasts off into an adventure that will dazzle children and adults alike. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Regards to the Man in the Moon
Louie is upset that his friends call his father "the junkman." But his father explains to him that all it takes is a little imagination to transform "junk". So with the help of his parents, Louie builds the spaceship Imagination I. The next morning, he and his friend Susie blast off into the wide expanses of space. At first they are a bit afraid, but that changes when they see wondrous things and discover new worlds. A mini adventure occurs when Ziggie and Ruthie---who have followed the two into space---run out of imagination and get stuck. This book introduces children to the mystery and beauty of outerspace. Keats' illustrations done with a combination of paint and collage are truly fantastic. However, I find that most importantly "Regards to the Man in the Moon" teaches children to let their imagination soar and transport them places they've never been, and where they can be anyone and do anything. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Dreadfully Boring
This review concerns the original 1955 edition and the revised 1975 edition which is a shorter version of the original. A search for stolen antique furniture sends Nancy, Bess and George to the Amish country of Pennsylvania. This book was sooooo boring. The mystery was not interesting and typically the "exciting" chapter endings had little or nothing to do with the mystery. There was a secret connected with one of the pieces of furniture, but you learn so little about it until the end of the book that I just didn't care and when it was revealed it was dull anyway. The end of the book is terrible as the crooks are caught without any help from Nancy. Unless you want to read the entire set, I'd skip this one.

Witch Tree Symbol
This book was pretty good. It took a while for Me to really get into the story line though. But the things that happened! That made up for it! it was cool! For a good bit of the book everyboody thought nancy was a witch! Except Bess and George, of course! BUT, parts of the book were a tiny bit corney. If you don`t mind that then this would be a GREAT book for you!

The Witchtree Symbol
Of Nancy's many stories that take place away from her home town of River Heights, this one has got to be the BEST! She and her good friends Bess and George embark on a journey through the Amish farms of Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Caroline Keene not only provides an exciting mystery, she also paints a fasinating portrait of life in the Pennsylvania Dutch county, complete with cultural foods and festivals. As a nine year old girl, I read the Nancy Drew series starting with the first book so that the events in Nancy's life would make chronological sense to me. Today, twenty-seven years later, I would advise any budding Nancy fan to start with "The Secret of the Old Clock" and then go directly to this thrilling mystery. They won't be disappointed!

Thrilling!
This is a book that I will never foget because Nancy Drew had bad experience that made this book more interesting.It starts out that she is hexed and some people think she is a WITCH! I reccomend this book to you. ... Read more

Book Description

When I scored tickets to the grand opening of a new spa in town, I knew I had to take Bess. George came along, too, but she's been acting so weird. I knew this wouldn't be her idea of a total blast, but she's just been no fun at all. It's unlike her to be such a grouch!

But then, this new spa isn't turning out to be much fun, either. Deirdre's here, for starters. And someone's tampering with the food, and trying to take the "luxury" out of this otherwise luxurious place.Something stinks in this spa, and if I can't sniff it out, my name's not Nancy.... ... Read more

Reviews (3)

An Alright Mystery
Nancy, Bess and George are invited by Aunt Eloise to stay at a cabin on Mirror Bay near Cooperstown, N.Y. where there have been recent sightings of a woman gliding on the water of the bay. Nancy sets out to investigate the mysterious woman, but soon is faced with numerous other mysteries, including a vacation scam perpetrated by a woman who bears a resemblance to Nancy; the search for an old carriage, sealed in a box and sunk in the bay many years ago; and a strange green-glowing wizard that lives on a nearby mountain. This wasn't a bad book and it is easily one of the better books from #35 up (most of which are garbage). Nancy has many mysteries to solve and they are fairly interesting. The book has a not bad amount of action and it isn't as poorly written as some of the other books put out at that time. One thing that I didn't care for with this book, was that Nancy resembled the woman involved in the vacation scam. This is a tired plot device that has been featured more than once in this series. Generally, I did enjoy this book; it wasn't one of the most exciting books I've ever read, but I would recommend reading it.

The Secret of Mirror Bay
This book is very suspenseful. It makes you want to keep reading, also there is a good plot, and it is well written. If you like this book read other "Nancy Drew" books, written by Carolyn Keene. I really liked this book, actually, I loved reading it.

Nancy goes to look into 1 thing and finds another.
This book is wonderful. It has two mysteries in one. It's one of the best I've read. It has a great plot, and it neatly draws it together at the end. It kept me in suspense and it was difficult to put away. And if you enjoy this one, I suggest you read Clue in the Diary ,too. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

The Cuckoo Child
I thaught this book would be good because it had a funny name. It was good too. The cuckoo child is about a boy who loves birds of any kind. Helives with his Mom, Dad, and sister. his name is Jack Daw. In the begining Jack sees some chickens hatch. Then he ascked his father when he could have some birds of his own. His father said when he was 5. On his 5th he got budgerigars. For his 6th he got bantams. For his 7th, ducks. Then his 8th birthday came and he got geese. He named them Lidia and Wilfred. The next day Jack was going on a field trip with his class to the Wildlife Park. When they got there, there were more birds than he had expected. And then he saw it; the great male ostrich. It was amazing. His teacher came back for him and they cept going. Then they came to a sign that siad:Ostriches->. His teacher read the signthat told about ostriches. Jack asked his teacher if they would see any eggs. A man "ansered you will see lots". It was a park ranger. He showed them some eggs. After the park ranger showed them the eggs Jack sneaks an egg into his back. What happens to the egg? Read this book and find out!

The Kid and the Bird
I read this book because it was my second choice, and because everyone else was reading it.

Jack Daw loves birds, any types of birds.One day Jack and his class went a field trip to the local zoo.He finds himself looking straight at a nine foot tall, 345 pound ostrich! Then Jack comes up with a plan.Jack steals an extra ostrich egg that's about to be fed to a snake!Then he brings the ostrich egg back home to his family's farm.

If you want to find out what happens to the ostrich egg, and you like birds, read this book!It's very interesting!

The Odd Bird
I read this book because our teacher said that if we put a book review on Amazon.com we could keep the book.So why not?Before I read the book I thought it was about a child that was crazy about something,I didn't even think that it was about birds.The main characters in this story are Jack,Oliver,Lydia,and Wilfred.Jack has a way with birds and he is always with them he loves them so much that he gets them for birthday presents.One day his class goes on a field trip and he gets something if you what to find out read this book.This book is very interesting i think it is a very good bookfor all ages it is only a 127 page book too! This is one of those books that you take time out of your day to read it!

An on the farm kinda bird!
This book is veryinteresting if you like birds. A boy takes an egg andhatches it. Its an ostrich. he raises the bird. Then the bird gets to bigfor the farm. What will happen to the bird? Read this book to find out! ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Nancy Drew Solves A Mystery Around For Years
This was the eighth book I read,and possibly the best! When Nancy goes on vacation she ends up in a mystery. Her father isn't there yet so she goes out looking for him. She also is sloving the case of the tolling bell which tolls right before water comes rushing out. Aperson dies and a ghost has been seen the end is for you to find out.

One Of The Best Nancy Drews
This review concerns the original 1946 edition and the revised 1973 edition which is similar to the original, only it is shorter. Nancy, Bess and George travel to Candleton to help one of Mr. Drew's long-time clients, Mrs. Chantrey, who has been cheated out of some of her money. While there, Nancy also learns of another mystery concerning a nearby cave along the coast. The cave is reported to be inhabited by a ghost. Whenever anyone comes too near to the cave, the ghost sounds a tolling bell as a warning to leave at once before water comes rushing out of the cave. Several people have almost drowned and one person actually did die. Intrigued by the mystery, Nancy becomes determined to learn the true secret of the cave. This is definately one of the better Nancy Drew books. The mystery is interesting, the writing is good and there is plenty of action and suspence. I enjoyed this book very much and was never bored by it at all. Something I particularly liked about this book was that Nancy actively participated in capturing most of the criminals. This is a great book that I strongly recommend to any fan of Nancy Drew.

Ancient bell
Nancy, George and Bess are bound for a week at the seashore, intending to swim, sun and relax, when they encounter a mystery. There is a cave at the edge of the sea which, when the incoming tide arrives, resonates with the deep sound of a tolling bell. Local legend has it that the bell warns anyone exploring in the cave that they have only a few minutes to flee for their lives before the water surges powerfully through the cave.

I recently read this book for the first time as an adult, and I appreciate the marvelous plotting, smooth and exact language, and finely drawn characters of author Carolyn Keene. Readers of any age will be captivated. Highly recommended.

One of the best Nancy Drew books I have read!!!
I loved this book. In my opinion this is one of the best Nancy Drew books written. I always enjoyed all of the suspence. I never knew which characters to trust in this book. This book is basically about a mysterious ghoust and a mournful tolling bell in a dark cave. Every time the ghost appears and the bell sounds water will rush through the cave and almost drown anyone around the cave. When the book begins 5 people had already been nearly drowned and 1 person had already lost their life. Nancy and George are almost drowned by the rushing water!I won't tell you anything else because it will ruin the book. I would definalty recommend this book to anyone who loves Nancy Drew books. This is one great book! Really!!!

One of the most thrilling Nancy Drews ever!
Nancy travels to the East Coast and finds a thrilling mystery in a cave. A strange ghost who lives there is said to ring a bell whenever the tide comes in. Although she is warned against it, Nancy investigates the old cave and is nearly drowned! The ending is the most thrilling of all Nancy Drew mystery's. The surprising ending will thrill all readers. ... Read more

Book Description

I'm a detective,not an actor, so who would think I'd be involved in a crime both offscreen and on? A producer has come to River Heights to film a reenactment of the heist that gave our town it's name, and he thinks I'm perfect for the part of Esther, the sister of the thieving Rackham boys. So I figure, why not give it a try?

But once the cameras start rolling, the trouble begins. Food poisoning. Broken generators. And worse! If I don't sniff out some suspects soon, this might be my final act. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Eggs and zucchini may sound like a special Sunday omelet to most, but for Nancy Drew, it means it's time to roll up her sleeves and start solving mysteries. In this first book of the "modernized" series featuring the whip-smart girl detective, Nancy is called upon to solve not one but two whodunits, simultaneously. Someone has been smashing the neighborhood zucchini patches and the disgruntled gardeners are starting to point fingers at one another. Meanwhile, a new resident in Nancy's Midwestern town is frantic when she discovers that her old and precious Faberge egg has been stolen. Can our favorite not-so-hard-boiled detective unscramble both these cases before it's too late?

Fans of Carolyn Keene's classic Nancy Drew series will be pleased to note that, although Nancy has been brought up to date with computers and cell phones, she's still the same sweet girl who volunteers in her spare time. All her old buddies are alive and well: George is still a tomboy, but now spends her time surfing the Web; Bess continues to be a bit of a femme fatale, but only in the nicest way; Nancy's boyfriend Ned remains ever faithful and ever patient; and housekeeper Hannah Gruen is as gruffly, bustlingly loving as always. New readers will love to sink their teeth into a "new" series, and may even be inspired to dig out their mothers' old Nancy Drews (Ages 8 to 12) --Emilie Coulter ... Read more

Reviews (10)

hmmmm
Without a Trace by Carolyn Keene is part of a pretty dumb run off series from the original Nancy Drew. In the book Nancy is in high school or college, it isn't really clear. However she seems like a third grader! The book was childish and pretty boring. Nothing like the original series. The story was that someone was smashing zucchini in Nancy's neighborhood (????) and a valuable Faberge egg was stolen from a newcomer in town. Of course Nancy solved both mysteries. (...) The characters were not at all well developed and the storyline was pretty dumb. I mean seriously... smashed zucchini? This book may be good for younger kids.

Nancy Drew is at it again!
I thought this was a fairly good start to yet another updated Nancy Drew series. All the familiar characters are here, from Nancy's housekeeper, Hannah Gruen, to her boyfriend, Ned Nickerson. The plot is fairly simple in this one; a Faberge egg has been stolen, and it's up to Nancy to figure out who did it. She does, of course, and while it wasn't really a complex mystery to me, I'm sure it will be a little less obvious to younger readers.

Bland, lacks the spark of the original series
Without A Trace is an inauspicious beginning to the "All New Girl Detective" series. Firstly and most importantly, the problem is Nancy herself. In the original series, she was feisty, intelligent, loyal, rich, fashionable, and thoughtful. I give these people credit for trying to perserve these qualities (as other spin-off series have not) but it didn't work. In trying to make Nancy more human, they've lost her appeal. She used to be every girl's dream for growing up. Now she's just another fictitious detective, not as smart as most.

The first-person narrative is dull reading, and makes Nancy sound dull-witted. The people tried to make her human through the first-person and by making her a "casual" dresser, slightly klutzy forgetful. A beginning reader could probably understand most of the book, including the two simple mysteries. The first-person does distinguish the series from "Nancy Drew Files" and "Nancy Drew On Campus," but it is just boring.

The plot tension is lame, too. The only things at stake in the novel are neighborly relations over a couple of vandalized vegetables and a new neighbor's loss of a valuable Faberge egg. The solutions to both mysteries are gimmicky and lacking in the genius of the originals.

Bess, George, and Ned have lost their personalities too. Bess is a girly girl--and then, in a random, vain stab at avoiding stereotype, she is also an auto mechanic. George is an internet junkie, in an attempt to modernize the characters, and Ned is a warmhearted, bland doormat with no romantic tension at all.

However, the book had a few good points: Nancy is still helpful and polite, volunteering at the animal shelter on the weekends and now driving a hybrid car. The writers have stayed closer to the Nancy we love than the "Nancy Drew On Campus" series, which turned her into a brat. There are a few amusing moments. The book is wholesome, easy to understand, and may be entertaining for younger readers.

However, older readers will realize that Nancy has lost her class and her sparkle. Real Nancy fans are better off rereading original series.

Mixed Feelings...
I remember when I read my first Nancy Drew book over twenty years ago. I had just started third grade. My mother, who had read all of the original texts as a child, was the one to recommend the books to me. I went to the library and checked out "The Clue of the Tapping Heels" - and I was instantly hooked! For the next few years I read every Nancy Drew book I could get my hands on. Even when I hit junior high I would still pull my old books out and re-read them for the hundredth time (although I never admitted this to my friends!). I still have all of books from my childhood, and over the years I've added many more to my collection.

So of course when I heard about the new series coming out, I had to run out and get the books. My reaction? I think kids who have never read Nancy Drew before will enjoy them. The stories are easy to read, and Nancy and her friends seem like pretty cool role models for younger readers.

But I have to say that as a die hard Nancy fan, adults who grew up with the classic hardcover series will probably be a little disappointed with this new series. So far, all of the mysteries take place locally in River Heights. In the original series, my favorite stories were the ones in which Nancy took off to some far away place like Hawaii or Scotland. Also, the myteries themselves seem a lot simpler in this new series. I just can't picture the old Nancy Drew tracking down a zucchini vandal! And the biggest disappointment of all to me? The characters! I know that these new books are trying to make the original characters more realistic and give them more depth, but I had the opposite reaction to them. Ned seems about the same, and George appears to be a more modern version of her old self, but I just can't picture the still ultra-femine Bess with a carpenter's license or working underneath the hood of a car. And Nancy? The old Nancy Drew would NEVER run out of gas because she forgot to check the tank! She used to be the most athletic, coordinated, and graceful girl on the planet - how did she manage to trip on a smashed zucchini and knock herself out?
Although the old Nancy didn't pay as much attention to fashion as Bess, she always had the perfect outfit on for every situation. Bess was constanly complimenting Nancy on her looks, not telling Nancy what colors would be best for her to wear! I know the new Nancy is supposed to be human, hence the changes, but in my opinion it was Nancy's original "perfect" character that held all the charm for me. She was exactly who I wanted to be when I grew up!

I think it was because my expectations were so high that I didn't enjoy the books as much as I thought I would. But I'm sure there are many people out there who would disagree with me. This series doesn't begin to compare to the original Nancy Drew series, but new readers (and old readers with a more open mind than mine!) may soon have a new favorite on hand!

Meet the New Nancy
There's a problem in Nancy Drew's neighborhood. Someone has been smashing all the zucchini plants. Is this a case of neighbors turning on each other, or is something else involved?

While investigating, Nancy meets Simone. She's recently moved to River Heights. When one of her family heirlooms is stolen, she asks Nancy for help. But who would take something that had more sentimental then monetary value?

I must admit I was very curious when I heard about them updating Nancy Drew. I'd read some of the books as a kid, and couldn't resist picking this book up. Ultimately, I liked it. Nancy, Bess, George, and Ned have been given more human make-overs. They could turn into much more interesting characters here then they were in the originals. And the first person narration was a nice touch. I found the crimes a little too mundane compared to what Nancy used to investigate, but the plot was well done with several clues hidden throughout the book. I picked up on some of them, but not all.

In the end, this updating is a winner. Here's to the New Nancy staying around for quite some time. ... Read more

Book Description

My friends and I knew before we got to Arches National Park that it's full of red cliffs arches, and rock formations -- plenty of places for hiking, biking, and getting lost. It's a good thing there are park rangers and guides to help tourist like us find our way. Or at east that's what we thought, until of the guilds left for a second to investigate some noise, and never came back.

It seems unlikely that a respected tour guide who knows the area like the back of her hand could just get lose. Something's fishy. And you can bet I'm going to get to the bottom of this before I find my way home. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Excellent book
I thought that this was an excellent book it was exciting and went at good pace and kept me on the edge of my seat and it was not hard to understand what was happening and it was easy to keep up

It was a good book for kids and adults.
I liked this book because this book was realistic. It was so beliveable that when they got kidnapped it made me mad.

It is a good book for kids and some adults.
Its about kids going on mysteries. Their mysteries is about crocodiles. It has a lot of action and its exciting.

I loved this book because it is full of action and suspense.
The Mystery Of Crocodile Island, by Carolyn Keene, is set in Key Biscayne outside of Miami Florida. Nancy, Bess, and George travel to help Nancy's father with a mystery from the Crocodile Island Company. There, they try to discover the secret the company is trying to keep from one of the owners, but instead find them selves in a lot of sticky situations.

The first time they find themselves in trouble, is when they are kidnapped by someone impersinating their friend at the airport. Next thay are locked inside a mysterious house with no way out. Then the girls find themselves being followd by a strange boat. Later on, Nancy and George are attacked by vicous mosquitos on a deserted island. Plus, Nancy nearly comes face to face with the jaws of death while feeding a crocodile. But with Nancy's skills, she is able to pick up the smallest clue and turn it into the proof to solve the mystery.

I enjoyed this book because you could never put it down. The end of one chapeter had so much suspense to lead right to the next chapter.Plus I could really relate to Nancy. She seemed so life like. Also, I think that the whole collection of Nancy Drew books, are some of the best that I ever read. Anyone who enjoys thrilling mysteries should read this book. I loved it, and I know that you would too!!!!!

It leaves you in supense like every other Nancy Drew book.
Every night when I read in my bed I read a Nancy Drew Book.Once a book left me in suspense for two and a half hours I think if I began telling the plot I would tell the end too! ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Sirko and the Wolf: A Ukrainian Tale
This is a charming book. This makes a nice introduction to extended family (albeit canine), friendship and helping each other in times of need. It also provides a discussion point or lesson in the shortsightedness of setting a particular value on something and not appreciating true worth. These lessons are engagingly delivered in a story children and adults can relate to. The illustrations are colourful and rich in detail. This book also provides a periferal look at another people, time and culture through the illustrations and setting of the story. This book makes a wonderful gift for a child that has a Ukrainian ancestry and heritage. It is unique and one they can be proud of. ... Read more