Book Description

Nate the Great loves his mother’s Monster Cookies. Her Strawberry Draculas, her Chocolate Frankensteins, and especially her Cinnamon Werewolves. But now her Monster Cookie recipes are missing! Nate, the great detective, has never solved a case for his mother before. Can he do it? With his dog, Sludge, Nate gets to work. They look, sniff, climb up, bend down, push, and pull. They find long and short clues. Crinkly, wrinkly clues. And fishy, fangy clues. But which clues count? Can Nate the Great ever hope to eat those wonderful cookies again?
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Reviews (1)

Cinnamon Werewolves! Yes!
For over twenty adventures now, Nate the Great, the young detective, has searched for his friends' missing things. He's searched for missing stamps, weeds, boring beach bags, missing pets, musical notes, stolen bases, and even saved the King of Sweden (kinda!). In all of this, his mom has been quietly supportive. He leaves a note on the refrigerator to tell her what case he's working on, that he will be back, and that he loves her. But in NATE THE GREAT AND THE MONSTER MESS, Nate investigates the disappearance of something his mother has lost: a special cookie recipe. If Nate and his dog Sludge cannot find the list, Nate will never again enjoy Strawberry Draculas, Chocolate Frankensteins, and Cinnamon Werewolves (his favorite cookie!). Nate is on the search, and he's reluctantly rounding up the usual suspects.

Marjorie Weinman Sharmat is the author of over twenty Nate the Great adventures, including NATE THE GREAT STALKS STUPIDWEED, NATE THE GREAT AND THE BORING BEACH BAG, NATE THE GREAT AND THE HALLOWEEN HUNT, and NATE THE GREAT AND THE MUSHY VALENTINE. She has written dozens of books for young readers. She named Nate the Great after her father. Her books have been named as Children's Choice books and Junior Literary Guild selections, and been picked as Books of the Year by the Library of Congress.

Although most of the Nate the Great series have been written as long stories, this book is one of the series' more recent additions to be broken into chapters. The short, punchy chapters make great stopping places for reading out loud when traveling, or to dole out as rewards-or for those nights when little listeners don't want to go to bed right away and can ask for "just one more chapter." Reading Nate the Great books out loud is always a treat, especially for the reader willing to do character voices and make the most of the terse, first-person narrative. In this book, Nate encounters Annie and her dog Fang, Rosamond and her cats, and Oliver who follows everybody-including Nate the Great on this case. Again, Marjorie Sharmat makes perfect use of logic and clues, building an intriguing mystery that young minds will ferret out and understand.

The entire Nate the Great series is recommended to younger readers and parents who love reading to their children that might have tired of (or memorized!) all of the rhyming Dr. Seuss books. This series makes a great transition to leap from to Nancy Drew or the Hardy Boys later. ... Read more

Reviews (8)

THE BEST BOOK OF THE SERIES!
I own the entire set of the Applewood re-releases, and this was the best of the lot.

Inexplicably the writing of this book was far superior to the rest of the novels in this series (and they were all very good!) Several other readers that I have spoken with agreed that "The Sign of the Twisted Candles" was their fave!

I wonder if a different "ghost writer" worked on this particular novel? Hmmmm... I guess that will remain a mystery!

An Excellent Story
This review concerns both the original 1933 edition and the revised 1968 edition, which is the one with which most younger readers would be familiar. Both books have a similar story; except the revised edition is shorter, some characters names were changed and some events were either eliminated or altered. During a storm, Nancy, Bess and George seek shelter at an old tea room. While there, they meet a one hundred year old man named Asa Sidney, as well as an orphaned girl and her dishonest guardians. This launches Nancy into the middle of an old family feud between Asa Sidney's relatives and the relatives of his deceased wife, who happens to have been the sister of Bess and George's great-grandfather. Nancy's involvement in the feud ultimately costs her her friendship with Bess and George. Nancy has a lot of work to do as she tries to end the long-standing feud, repair her friendship with Bess and George, discover the parentage of the orphaned girl and prevent the girl's guardians from stealing the fortune that Asa Sidney has amassed. There really isn't much of a mystery to this book; however, the story more than makes up for that. Like all of the other books in the series, it features unscrupulous people up to something dishonest and Nancy usual desire to help someone in need, but this time she is affected personally because of the loss of her friends. I found the book to be very interesting and the writing was very descriptive (at least in the original version). I recommend reading the original version over the revised edition, if possible, but either way this book should not be missed if you are a fan of Nancy Drew. In my opinion it is one of the 5 best books of the series.

Masterful!
This is definately a great Nancy Drew mystery. I read a lot of them often, and this one is definately extremely descriptive and you can just be there with Nancy through thick and thin. I was right there the whole time. Certainly a must for readers!

One of the best books in the Nancy Drew series!
This book is one of the finest in the Nancy Drew series. It is classic Nancy Drew. The Applewood facsimile books, "As you remember them!" are the only way to enjoy Nancy Drew in my opinion. I love the old fashioned clothing, sayings and settings much more than the yellow spine books of today that are so condensed they read all the same. The old style books are written with quality in mind and evoke a different period in our American history.

Great!
In attempt to help a one hundred year old man, Nancy meets a girl being harmed by cruel guardians. While trying to solve the mystery of the Twisted Candles Inn, Nancy almost loses the friendship of her two closest "chums" - Bess and George. Nancy discovers that friendship is more important than a case or two; (of course she solves the mystery as well, after patching things up with her chums!) Read the book to see how Nancy saves the day once again. A great read for mystery fans, young or old. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Critique of Nate the Great and the Boring Beach Bag
I, Melika the excellent really adore the book Nate the Great and the Boring Beach Bag. This book is about a boy who solves a mystery of a missing beach bag.In my opinion this is a easy mystery, but you might think differently. I don't admire an easy mystery, but I prefered the rest of the book, and I really recommend this book.

Mystery At The Beach
Trying to take a day off and bask at the beach just doesn't work for Nate the Great. As a detective, his detecting services are always on call. This time Oliver, Nate's next door neighbor and the world's greatest pest, has come up with a new mystery. Oliver has lost his beach bag. The beach bag contains Oliver's clothes and shoes, which Oliver will need. Nate signs on for the case at once, and the search begins-with Oliver following closely after, of course. During the course of his investigation, he runs across the usual suspects: Annie and her dog, Fang, and Rosamond, who is running a seaside restaurant.

Marjorie Weinman Sharmat is the author of over twenty Nate the Great adventures, including NATE THE GREAT STALKS STUPIDWEED, NATE THE GREAT AND THE BORING BEACH BAG, NATE THE GREAT AND THE HALLOWEEN HUNT, and NATE THE GREAT AND THE MUSHY VALENTINE. She has written dozens of books for young readers. She named Nate the Great after her father. Her books have been named as Children's Choice books and Junior Literary Guild selections, and been picked as Books of the Year by the Library of Congress.

NATE THE GREAT AND THE BORING BEACH BAG offers more than the usual high standard of entertainment readers have come to expect from Marjorie Weinman Sharmat. Filled with the wit and humor of any other Nate the Great book, this particular entry also involves rudimentary mapping skills and an introduction to logical thinking. Also, long-time fans will really get the humor in Rosamond's Restaurant, where the sandwiches actually come packed with sand! The first-person voice of Nate the Great is an absolute delight to read on its own, but even better to share with a young reader just beginning to discover the worlds and adventures that lie between the covers of a book. Marc Simont's artwork, especially since it is out of the urban locale that the Nate the Great adventures usually favor, is eye-catching and colorful.

Young readers will enjoy the whole Nate the Great series because the tales are told in a familiar fashion and involve a solid cast of characters that return book after book. These books are also some of the best to choose for read-alouds to pre-readers or for the last story before bedtime because they can be read in just a few moments. The Nate the Great mysteries are fun and addictive for both parent and child.

I like the Nate the Great books!
This story is about a boy who lost his beach bag and Nate the Great finds it. It's a detective story and it's also funny. Kids who enjoy detective stories will like this series. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

An Exciting Adventure
This review concerns the original 1935 edition and the revised 1972 edition which is completely different from the original. In the original, Nancy wins a piece of land in northern Canada in a radio contest and almost immediately people are trying to buy the land from her. Could it be valuable? Determined to see the land for herself, Nancy, along with her friends Bess and George, set out for the remote wilderness of northern Canada. Along the way the three girls meet an authoress who tells them a sad story of how she was kept apart from her first love many years ago. Upon arriving at her land, Nancy finds that a ruthless group of swindlers is trying to steal her land from her. How Nancy reunites the authoress with her first love and outsmarts the group of swindlers makes for a rather interesting story. This really isn't a mystery story, it's more of an adventure; however, it is quite an exciting book. The story grabs your attention very quickly and there is plenty of action. The northern Canadian setting is used very effectively. The end of the book was very good, as it displays two of Nancy's best qualities, her courage and her willingness to sacrifice something that is hers to help someone else. Unfortunately, this edition is not the one found in new book stores; however, if you ever find it at a used book store, buy it, you won't be disappointed with it. In the revised edition, Nancy goes to the Ohio River area of Illinois to search for a hollow oak. Legend has it, that in the 1600s a French missionary hid a treasure in a hollow oak but was killed before he could reveal its location. This version isn't bad. The book kept me interested throughout but it never had me so engrossed that I couldn't put it down. I would recommend reading this book, but I enjoyed the original version so much more.

Mysteries, Mysteries, Mysteries!
Nancy Drew in The Message in the Hollow Oak is very interesting and was fun to read about. I thought it was very interesting to see in her point of view on how to solve her mysteries. She has a very creative mind.
I thought that Nancy was interesting because she always knows what to do when everyone else is stuck. She tends to always find a way to solve her mystery and help other people that are also part of it. Nancy and her friends may at some times get in a little mischief, but always, no matter how bad the situation, find different ways to get out of it. It also occurs to me that in this book, they never have gotten in any illegal problems, but had to phone the police a couple of times to keep Nancy safe. One thing that I also like is that she thinks of things that I would have never thought of before and it helps me just in case I might need something to solve, but not as intense.
The Message in the Hollow Oak is a great book for young and older readers. They're not scary, and not too boring. it's just the right thing. It was a great book to me and will be to you if you read it.

Read this book
I think you should read this book. Carolyn Keene has made this book exciting with a little bit of history along with it. This is a great book!

A really good read
This book is about Nancy going to Illinois and trying to solve the mystery of Pere Francois and his treasure. She stays at a dig site with Ned's cousin Julie Ann and is terrorized by a man with many identities named Kit Kadle. He will stop at nothing to find the message Pere Francois left and ultimately find the treasure. Will Nancy find it....... READ THE BOOK!

The Message in Hollow Oak was exciting .
The Message in Hollow Oak is a tale everyone should read. It is an exciting tale with an twist of history. Some of the most beloved Nancy Drew characters come alive once again to bring another mystery filled with suspense and danger. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Benny, Jessie, Henry and Violet teach School?
Schoolhouse Mystery was good. When Benny's friend Max challenges him to go to a little town that he says has no mystery, they ask Elizabeth Gray, who owns the schoolhouse, she lets Benny, Jessie, Violet and Henry be school teachers. One day in school, Benny's student Isabelle tellls him about The Money Man, Mr. Fred Willet, he had traded antiques for money or nice and shiny things. In the schoolhouse there is a painting of George Washington, and on one of his buttons, instead of a button, there is a space. At the end, when John Carter and Benny discover that there is a secret place in the chimney, that Freddy Willet has 3 names and stole schoolroom books and library books. At the end, Freddy gets aressted. If you like mysteries, then this book is for you!

I reccomend highley
This is one of the greatest boxcar children books ever! The kids have a great adventure! ... Read more

Book Description

A to Z Mysteries#17

Q is for Quicksand. . . .

Everyone in Green Lawn is quaking about the ducks that keep crossing River Road. But just when the town raises enough cash to build a special duck bridge, the money is stolen! Dink, Josh, and Ruth Rose are on a quest to find the culprit. But to catch their quarry, the kids have to go wading . . . through quicksand! ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Excellent book!
It's my level of reading. It had some funny parts and it had some scary parts. My favorite part was when they were playing a game seeing if ducks would come over the bridge. Good book for a 2nd or 3rd grader. ... Read more

Book Description

R is for Racehorse . . .

And they’re off! Dink, Josh, and Ruth Rose are excited to see Uncle Warren’s new racehorse, Whirlaway, in action. But the night before the big race, the horse disappears! He shows up the next day, just in time to lose the race. Why is Whirlaway suddenly so slow? Can the kids figure it out–or is Whirlaway out of the winner’s circle for good? A to Z Mysteries are fast-paced, collectible mysteries for beginning chapter book readers! ... Read more

Reviews (1)

It is a really cool book
You should read this book. It is all about a racehorse, how he got lost and how they found him. It is a really cool story. You should read it sometime.
I'm 8 years old, my name is Lizzy, and this book is just the right level for me.
And I'm not going to give away the whole book to you, but it wasn't too scary that I didn't want to read it. It was just the right amount of scariness. ... Read more

Book Description

Reader t.b.a.
approx. 3 hours
2 cassettes

Nance Drew's keen mind is tested when she searches for a missing will. ... Read more

Reviews (41)

The Secret Of The Old Clock
This book is great! It is about Nancy Drew and how she has to find a will that a man named Josiah Crowley may have made. But Ada and Isabel, the people who would get the will if no one found a later one,are no help! They hope there isnt a later will. Ada and Isabel are rich, and the people the later will is going to go to are poor. Nancy Drew has to find out the mystery. She has to find a blue notebook which tells of where the will is! Josiah Crowley is a very smart man and has great hiding places! The time is running out! The will is going to go to the mean twin sisters who dont even need it, Ada and Isabel! If you read this great story, you will find out if she finds it!!

The Secret Of the Old Clock Book Review
The Secret of the Old Clock is the first Nancy Drew mystery story by Carolyn Keene. Unlike most mysteries I couldn't figure out what was going to happen from the beginning. In matter of fact not tell the end I knew what was going to happen, which I liked. It seems like in the book that the author wrote this book for kids to enjoy and have a great book in their hands to read. There are over sixty-five books in the series, which also might mean that she enjoys writing these mysteries. The Secret of the Old Clock is about a very wealthy man who has dies recently. For the past two years that he was alive, he was under the care of a very wealthy family but not so nice. The only reason that they took care of him was so that they could get all of his money when he died. There were three other families that were in bad need of money for various reasons. When he dies he made his will out to the very wealthy family, but he told the three other families that he made a large portion out to them. Nancy is trying to figure out if the wealthy man who died had made a later will. Do you think that Nancy will solve the mystery? The setting in The Secret of the Old Clock is very realistic. The story is based in a suburb. The houses are not right next to each other like in a city, but there not like the country far apart. They have green grass, trees, paved road, hills, and a lot of bridges with creeks following under them. About twenty minutes away from the town are farms with wide open fields. On the fields they have big red barns. Then about an hour away from the town are forests with lakes surrounding the woods. There are many cabins on the lake including a coupe of camps. All the roads are dirt. When I was reading the book I could easily imagine the setting when I closed my eyes because she gave many details. There are many characters in The Secret of the Old Clock. Carolyn Keene made me believe in them as people because they live in houses, played ball, eat food, drive cars ect. I liked all the characters except burglars and the wealthy family who took care of the man who died. The burglars took peoples prized passions. The wealthy families' girls, Isabel and Ada, were snobs and they took advantage of the wealthy man. Without the burglars and the wealthy family the book would not be possible. Nancy was my favorite because she will do all she can to help people. For example, a little girl fell off a bridge and Nancy rescues the girl, after somebody got robbed Nancy said, "I'm afraid I'm exceeding the speed limit," she thought. "But I almost wish a trooper would stop me. Then I could tell him what happened to the poor Turner sisters." Nancy almost killed herself by stopping another robbery. Mary Turner and her sister Edna take care of a little girl named Judy because her parents died. They manage a small income. Mary said, "To tell you the truth, Nancy, at the time Judy's parents were killed, Edna and I wondered whether we would be able to take care of Judy properly. But we decided to try it now we wouldn't part with her for anything in the world. She's won our hearts completely."
Isabel and her sister Ada are the wealthy snobs. They were waiting in the dress shop and Ada said, "Do you realized that my father owns considerable stock in Taylor's? If we report your conduct to him, he could have you discharged."
At the beginning of the book Nancy Drew was in her car and a little girl, Judy, ran out into the street and fell off the rode into the creek. Nancy saves the girl and when she brings her back inside Judy's aunts tell her about there issue with the money and Joseph Crowley was supposed to leave them money in his will when he died, but the money went to a very wealthy family. Nancy said she will try to find if Joseph made a later will. The two aunts tell Nancy to go to this family's house to try to find more information. There are two girls, Allison and Grace, in the next family that was also supposed to get money from the will. There parents dies and did not leave money to them. Joseph also said to them that they would get money from the will. Then there is an elderly woman, Abby, who can not pay for nursing. Abby can not remember many things and Joseph mention something to Abby about a will but she can not remember. Do you think that the later will will be discovered? To find out what happens you should read the book! The Secret of the Old Clock was one of those books were you can not put down. In some books the beginning to the book is really slow and you have to read about forty pages till the good part comes in. Well, In The Secret of the Old Clock the good part came in at the very start of the book. I thought that it was a extravagant. Also in most mysteries you can tell what is going to happen form the first few chapters and guess right. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes a good book in their hands and a excellent book .

A good Nancy Drew mystery...
I read both the 1930 and 1959 versions of this book. Both are just as entertaining, only the original version is better written. Unfortunately, the 1930 version also contains some of the worst Black stereo-typing of the series, but otherwise, it's a good book.

A lover of Carolyn Keene
Would you be surprised if someone made a secand will? Nancy Drew had that experience. Nancy's adventure begins after saving a little girl from walking into the road. After saving her life, one of the little girls aunts tell Nancy that there have been rumors that a man named Josiah Crowley had made a second will right before he died.She tells her that many robbers wanted to find the will and take away his money.Nancy agrees to help and find the missing will and begins searching for people who knew Crowley in her town of River Hights. Nancy finds some strange clues and soon finds the will in an unexpected place.

My Review
Nancy Drew and the Secret of the Old Clock
By: Keene, Carolyn
Reviewed by: Gandhi, Rujuta
Period: P.1
In the beginning, Nancy witnesses a girl almost getting hit by a truck. Fortunately, the young child crosses the road in time, however, she falls over a bridge. Nancy quickly runs and picks up this five year old child. Nancy finds everything is all right and then the child's aunt rushes outside. The child awakens at her house where her and her aunt live. Nancy slowly gets involved in her first mystery ever! She learns that Judy and her aunts, Allison and Grace, are very poor and trying to get a will that was left behind by Allison and Grace's uncle. Nancy also learns that the money is in a secret clock that was stolen by movers. One of the mover's name was Josiah Crowley. The mover was riding in the truck that almost hit Judy. In general, Nancy solves the mystery when she finds a key to the movers truck. The key was next to one of the tires. Therefore, the clock is given back to the owners, Allison and Grace. In the clock is a big stash of money that their small family needs.
I liked this book because it was descriptive. It also kept you guessing. For instance,"An instant later she gasped in horror." This sentence doesn't say much, but it makes you want to read on to see what was wrong. Since I read the books out of order it told me something was going to go wrong. This quotation doesn't simply keep you reading on, it gives some description. The author could have wrote,"Nancy gasped." Instead, she decided to give you a hint of what was going to happen. I like this in a story.
Similar to all the other Nancy Drew books, it was hard to find a point where it got a bit tedious. This time it was the part when Nancy and the police were trying to find the movers. It took quite a few pages to present this. However, I was still interested because of the high amount of description. For example,"Then, unexpectedly, she caught a glimpse of a red taillight on the road far ahead." It was hard to find a tedious part. I would say this book was almost PERFECT!
My favorite part of the book was the beginning. It was very descriptive. In the beginning, a girl, Judy, was nearly run over by the movers. Then Nancy saw and went to go rescue the girl when the young girl fell over the bridge. It was also dramatic. I really enjoyed this book, especially, the beginning! ... Read more

Reviews (3)

The invisible island
I'ts really not so great on my opinion, but I reccomend it. The reason why i'ts not so out of the extrourdinary is because it has some parts that really don't make sense.

Simple and good for predictions!
I used with a student who was older but it helped her comprehension. She loved this story. It helped her to build her vocabulary, use context clues, and use clues to predict the stories. The author provides a map in the front that provided a great visual reference for my student. We were able to practice mapping skills and do many activities based on the story. It is a good series if children are not ready for the Harry Potter series.

AwEsOmE!
This book is so cool! You should definetely buy it if you have enjoyed the other awesome books in the series~ I like all of them especially the Absent Author that is really neat too! Definetely buy it~ ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Who Is The Garbage Snatcher?
Nate the Great, the youngest detective to ever deliver tough guy lines, is summoned to his newest case by his next door neighbor, Oliver. Oliver is something of a pest because he follows people. It doesn't matter who they are or where they're going, if they catch Oliver's eye he will follow them. He's followed Nate the Great around on a lot of the cases Nate has been given to find things his friends have lost. Oliver's problem sets Nate on his first night case as a detective. Someone is stealing from Oliver's garbage can and dumping the rest all over the place. Reluctantly, Nate the Great takes the case and is followed by Oliver. Along the way, Nate finds out what Rosamond's four cats will eat. It is a very long list, and not at all what Nate needs to know. Researching the case also leads Nate to the local library to study nocturnal animals. However, the real culprit who is stealing Oliver's garbage is a major surprise!

Marjorie Weinman Sharmat is the author of over twenty Nate the Great adventures, including NATE THE GREAT STALKS STUPIDWEED, NATE THE GREAT AND THE BORING BEACH BAG, NATE THE GREAT AND THE HALLOWEEN HUNT, and NATE THE GREAT AND THE MUSHY VALENTINE. She has written dozens of books for young readers. She named Nate the Great after her father. Her books have been named as Children's Choice books and Junior Literary Guild selections, and been picked as Books of the Year by the Library of Congress.

As usual, Majorie Weinman Sharmat writes a sharp and smartly told tale. Nate the Great is one of the best fictional heroes to ever come about for young readers and pre-readers. Reading one of the Nate the Great books to a pre-reader is a fantastic privilege. The first-person, clipped dialogue is pure pleasure for the reader willing to do "voices." Annie and her dog Fang were absent from this adventure and long-time readers will miss them, but Oliver and Rosamond are there, as well as the usual stumbling blocks Nate encounters. And pancakes-lots and lots of pancakes. The author's clues are there, though, and many alert readers will figure out the solution to the garbage-snatching mystery one step ahead of Nate, which is the best place to figure those things out. Marc Simont's artwork is simple and elegant as always, adding to the enjoyment.

Young readers will enjoy the whole Nate the Great series because the tales are told in a familiar fashion and involve a solid cast of characters that return book after book. These books are also some of the best to choose for read-alouds to pre-readers or for the last story before bedtime because they can be read in just a few moments. The Nate the Great mysteries are fun and addictive for both parent and child.

A Stinky Surprise
Nate the Great is a cool detective who solves lots of mysteries. In this story he is trying to find out who is dumping Oliver's trash. We liked it when Nate the Great went undercover to solve the case. The best part was when Nate runs into a "Stinky Surprise"! We think this is a great book for all second graders. ... Read more

Book Description

Let me introduce myself. I'm Nancy Drew. Some call me a girl detective. Others call me "that girl who cooked my goose." But everyone calls me sharp -- especially when it comes to crime. And since mystery and I follow each other everywhere, I'm pretty busy. Take a look inside at some of my favorite cases, and you'll see what I mean!

#1 Without a Trace

#2 A Race Against Time

#3 False Notes

#4 High Risk

Book Description

Meet Tyrone the Tyrannosaurus, Green Lawn’s newest–and biggest!–visitor. The kids’ old friend Jud Wheat is in town, and he’s raising funds for a dinosaur museum by taking the T. rex on tour. But after the show in Green
Lawn, all Jud’s money disappears! Can Dink, Josh, and Ruth Rose track down the cash and rescue Jud from this prehistoric pickle?A Stepping Stone book™ ... Read more

Reviews (9)

The most poetic title in the Drew series.
"Password" and "Larkspur Lane" -- these terms echo each other as much as "Lenore" and "Nevermore" do in Poe's "The Raven." It is fitting, then, that this is one of the better Keene books in the Nancy canon. I am reviewing my childhood reading, made possible by Applewood reissues and the continued availability of the Grosset & Dunlap revised titles. It is a truism that the early books (despite their out-of-fashion references and language, and their social stereotypes) are always better than the revisions, and it's often true that the originals are more satisfying, stylish stories. I enjoy the mysteries screeching to a halt while the girls indulge in their noon "luncheon." However, in this title I have to go with the revision. It's a masterful rewrite, condensing and reorganizing the early story while cutting out a lot of leisurely pacing that slows the story down. Perhaps Nancy's greatest strength as a detective is her unwillingness to give up; when she has no clues or prospects of any in this novel, she drives the roads outside of her midwest town until she finds one (a crude sign on a tree with "L. L." posted on it). Can't get into a prison-like old folks' home? Impersonate an elderly lady. Get thrown into a deep cistern? Use the pieces of a ladder thrown in after you to claw your way up the wall. The criminals are getting away in a small plane? Let the gas out of it before they can take off. Meanwhile she still has time to win first prize in a flower arranging competition. Nancy is simply too much, and knowing her has been one of the delights of my life.

I Prefer The Original Version
This review concerns the original 1933 edition and the revised 1966 edition which has a story similar to the original version. Nancy finds a carrier pigeon which contains a strange coded message. Later, the family's doctor tells Nancy of how he was kidnapped and taken to a large home to treat an elderly lady, whom he believed was being held against her will. Armed with a bracelet the doctor managed to slip off of the old lady's wrist as her only clue, Nancy sets off determined to find the house and free the old woman. The revised edition has an added mystery concerning a spooky, blue circle of fire which has been appearing recently in the woods outside of the new home of Nancy's friend Helen's grandparents. Personally, I liked the original edition much better than the revised edition. The writing was better and the book flowed along a lot better than the revised edition did. The extra mystery in the revised edition seemed out of place and really didn't make the book more interesting. The main mystery of the book, Nancy trying to find the elderly woman, was good and is typical Nancy Drew, with Nancy risking her life attempting to help someone else. Both editions were fairly suspenceful and had exciting endings; although again, I prefered the ending in the original story. Either edition is worth reading, but I give the original 3 1/2 stars, while I give the revised 3 stars.

Great fun!
As I lay in bed sniffling this weekend I read Password to Larkspur Lane. Carson gives Nancy a new black and green roadster for her birthday (she gets it early as she needs to evade some thugs who have been spying on the house and they would have recognized her old maroon roadster.) Then she speeds off to Sylvan Lake to join Helen Corning and her parents at the much larger cottage they have taken this summer. Ned Nickerson is also there and Nancy is the belle of the Yacht Club dance, in addition to beating the pants off the snooty "amateur swim champion" who instigated a diving competition because she resented Nancy getting all the male attention on the swim platform. She also wins the adulation of everyone at the lake when she rescues a tot who falls in the water in front of a speedboat, but is duely modest about it, considering that the little girl fell in as a result of Nancy's having questioned her after hearing her name. Nancy and Helen enjoy a few luxurious rides in the splendid new machine as they search for a remote estate surrounded by larkspurs/delphiniums to solve the mystery Nancy stumbled upon as she happened to drive by a car that mysteriously had the windows up even though the weather was clear (actually, the book said the curtains were drawn--did cars come with window curtains in 1933?) Nancy actually falls into dire straits but, fortunately, had the foresight to call Ned beforehand so he could fly in with some burly pals (and Carson, who just happened to be at the local airport as they were about to take off in their just-the-right-size-to-land-in-the-back-yard plane) in the nick of time to thwart the evildoers who were bilking wealthy older women.

Oh, Nancy also won 1st place for her flower arrangement of larkspurs at the Blenheim Flower Show. Of course.

I desperately want this cold to go away so I can drive around in my splendid machine and stumble upon adventures. I will need some new sport frocks though.

Password To Larkspur Lane
~ Hi I have to tell you this is the best book that I have read! It was exciting and heart jumping book. You guys out there have to read this book. It is an awsome book. You have to buy it!~

rewritten is not better
I am a Nancy Drew fan...for over thirty years..as my mother was before me and my daughter after me. This rewitten version is not up to the thrills and chills of the edition by Mildred Wirt Benson in the 1930's. This edition lacks the intrige of the first..it is more "up to date" and P.C. than the first, but I suggest that anyone who loves Nancy and has only read this book obtain a copy of the original that has been published by Applewood Books..it even has the fantastic old illustrations. ... Read more

Reviews (16)

Keene Very Keen on Mystery Books
Nancy's Mysterious Letter is only one of many well-written books by Carolyn Keene. Keene does it again. With each book, the action starts on page 1. Sometimes it's so suspenseful that I actually worry about Nancy's predicament. Keene's vivid descriptions of the characters really bring out the color in them. I haven't read this particular book in a few years, but the style of Keene's writing is still fresh in my mind. This series of mystery books is a must-have for Nancy Drew lovers abroad.

Nancy's Mysterious Letter Review :)
In "Nancy's Mysterious Letter", Nancy receives a letter from London. Not just any letter though, it tells of her inheritance of a small fortune. Unfortunately, the inheritance is for a different Nancy Drew. But before all this, Nancy invites her elderly mail carrier, Ira Nixon, in the house for some hot chocolate because it was winter and very cold. When Ira has bid Nancy farewell and is about to leave, he discovers his mailbag has bean stolen! Then later on, Nancy discovers the thief who stole Ira's mailbag is planning to marry the other Nancy Drew for her fortune. Meanwhile, nobody told the other Nancy Drew about her inheritance! Nancy's out on a mystery to discover who stole the mail, and who the real heiress to the fortune awaiting in London is.

Overall, it was ok. Maybe if it had more suspense and action, I prefer those kinds of books. I'm not sure if this was just a dud, or if all the Nancy Drew books are like this because this is the first one I've read. The thing that bugs me is that everything works out so perfectly through the story, so it gets boring, and there's no surprise in the ending. Just because I don't care for it though, don't you not read it. If you like innocent mysteries and old-fashioned stories, you'll probably love this. *_~

Don't judge a books by its cover :)
This book has to be the very first Nancy Drew book that i ever read. True it may not be as exciting as her other books and the drama may not be so convinving. But if you think about it, what Nancy went through in the older versions of these books was a lot for people "way back in those times" I recommend this book for any young, middle aged, or older aged reader. Happy reading!

Awful!!!
This review concerns the original 1932 edition as well as the revised 1968 edition which tells a story similar to the original. Nancy mistakenly receives a letter intended for another Nancy Drew, informing her that she has inherited a large sum of money. Also, when Nancy invites her elderly mailman in for a drink of cocoa, his mailbag is stolen from Nancy's porch. Nancy sets out to find the other Nancy Drew and to locate the person who took the mailbag so that she can restore the tarnished reputation of her mailman. Personally, I found this book to be very boring. The mystery is not exciting and there is very little action in the book. Nancy solves the mystery in the end, but it is not through brilliant detective work, it is because she attends a football game at Emerson University. I know that chance encounters always play a big part in solving the case in Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys mysteries, but this was just pure dumb luck and nothing else. I wouldn't even waste your time on this one.

Roxie's Review of a magnificant Book
I thought it was a awesome book, especially if you love mysteries and old fashioned fun. When I read it, I just couldn't take my eyes off of it. It is fun, frightening, and wonderfully entertainig. at first, I thought I was going to be scared to death, but it was really cool. I totally recomend it. ... Read more

Book Description

How can a leftover slice of pizza point to a thief? What does an upside-down year have to do with a street address? And why will a turned-around clue catch a cheating treasure hunter?

Encyclopedia Brown knows! America's most popular boy detective is back, with ten brand-new solve- it-yourself mysteries to challenge and entertain his fans. You can match wits with the ten-year-old supersleuth as he and his partner, Sally Kimball, puzzle over clues and make some surprising discoveries. Their case load includes artistic cheats, phony worm pills, a leaking tent, and one of the world's slowest-growing trees. And if you're stumped, Encyclopedia tells how he did it in the back of the book. But don't peek until you're stuck!

Reviews (2)

my favorite
i like this book alot it has taught me a lot about solving cases. i enjoy this book because i want to be a detective just like him one day.

He does it again!
Encyclopedia Brown does it again! This book was just as entertaining as the others! I originally bought this book for my nephew (10 years) and I ended up reading most of it with him! Needless to say, he loved it and so did I! He now wants to read more about Encyclopedia Brown and I can't wait to buy them for him! ... Read more

Reviews (11)

Great Book!!!
I thought this book was one of the best Nancy Drew books I've ever read! It was so good with a whispering statue and all. I loved this book because you never know who did it until the end. Nancy Drew books like this one always have me tangled up in suspects until they reveal who it is!

A Rather Dull "Mystery"
This review concerns the original 1937 edition as well as the revised 1970 edition, which tells a story completely different from the original. In the original version, Nancy, Bess and George are going to the coastal town of Seacliff with Mr. Drew who has business there. Before leaving, Nancy meets a woman who tells her about a statue of a whispering woman which is on the grounds of an abandoned estate near Seacliff. The woman tells Nancy that Nancy resembles the statue. Also, on the train to Seacliff, Nancy meets a woman who she fears is going to be swindled by a man she just met on the train. Nancy tries to help the woman, but she basically tells Nancy to mind her own business. Nancy being Nancy, decides to try to help the woman anyway. As well, Nancy gets her stupid dog, Togo, who is a complete nuisance throughout the book. In the revised edition, Nancy is asked for help from a woman who suspects that she is being swindled by a man she commissioned to sell some rare old books for her. She believes that the man is only giving her a small fraction of what he is actually getting for the books. In order to investigate, Nancy, Bess and George travel to Waterford where Nancy uses the alias Debbie Lynbrook and gets a job in the bookstore of the suspected swindler. There is also a side mystery concerning a stolen whispering statue. Personally, I didn't find either version very good. The original edition is the better written of the two (no surprise there), but it didn't have much of a mystery and only the last few chapters were that interesting. I found the whole Debbie Lynbrook thing in the revised edition rather neat and different, but for whatever reason the mystery never really grabbed in this version. Neither book is really that bad, but they are not ones that I'd highly recommend.

Nancy Drew and You- Solving the Mystery
Nancy Drew has another mystery on her hands, and she needs your help. This mystery book is called The Whispering Statue by Caroline Keene. The book is very good. It is interesting and mysterious. When you are reading this book, you are solving the mystery too. When I read the book, Nancy thought of everything before me in the beginning of the book. However, later in the book, I caught on quicker than before and even found one clue before Nancy did. I really liked solving the mystery with Nancy and her friends. I liked it because I felt like I was in the book too. Finding the Whispering Statue was hard, but we did it, and so can you! All of the Nancy Drew books are mysteries, but this one is particularly mysterious. Nancy has a disguise, and Nancy and her friends must be very careful, so they are not caught. All sorts of things happen, but we make it through and find the Whispering Statue. I won't tell you how, but read The Whispering Statue, and you'll find out!

A Chore to Get Through...
This is true even of the 1936 version...This book simply couldint keep my attention! I had to force myself to finish it, or else I'd have felt I had wasted the [money} paid to get it! Only get it to complete youre collection of Applewoods...Don't put youreself through this "adventure"...

Supirior!
This book is good if you are looking for a good mystery to read! It has Nancy, Ned, George, and Bess, they all help solve a very baffling mystery! I own this book and like it very much! ... Read more

Reviews (2)

A Boring Book!!
This review concerns the original 1936 edition and the revised 1974 edition which is slightly different from the original but basically tells the same story. Nancy meets a young Indian boy (named Coya in the original, Rishi in the revised) who lives with a circus. The boy is being mistreated by a man named Rai who claims to be the boy's father, but Nancy doubts this claim. Nancy saves Rai from an elephant and to show his thanks he gives Nancy an ivory, elephant charm which he says can protect the wearer from harm. Coya/Rishi runs away from the circus and Rai and the Drews take him in. Later, Rai changes his mind and wants the charm back and he will do anything to get both the charm and Coya/Rishi. Also figuring into this "mystery" are a strange woman and a bizarre house out in the middle of the woods. The house, apparently, has no floor, but it does have a secret passage and a bunch of swings and trapezes hanging from the ceiling. This book was just plain awful!! The mystery, what there is of one, is stupid and boring. The house serves absolutely no purpose other than to use up pages and it makes no sense. Who would build a house like that out in the middle of nowhere? The strange woman in the book is more annoying than anything and comes off as too scatterbrained and weak-minded to be the great criminal mastermind that the plot requires her to be. The book has little in the way of action or suspence. This book is just bad, bad, bad! Take my advice and don't read it.

An exciting mystery!
In this book, Nancy Drew goes to see a circus and feels sorry for a little boy who appears to be abused by his master. Nancy is surprised when he shows up at her home. He wears a mysterious ivory charm in the shape of an elephant that is supposed to protect the wearer from harm. He gives it to Nancy. She will surely need protection soon after, because she must investigate a mysterious hideout and missing jewels. Could it be that the mystery of the room in the cave and the shady circus are related? read to find out! I would also recommed buying the applewood books fascimle edition of this story. It is priced higher but it is the original story from the 30's. Buy both versions for some flavor and to see how the story was changed. ... Read more

Book Description

C is for Canary...Dink, Josh, and Ruth Rose get an urgent call from Mrs.

Davis. Her canary is missing! The little bird has vanished without a trace, and

he's not the only one. Two other pets are missing. The kids suspect a

pet-napper, and now that Ruth Rose's cat, Tiger, has turned up missing too,

it's become personal!




... Read more

Reviews (3)

The Canary Caper
My name is Arden Feldman. I think that the book was very good. I liked how they solved the mystery. I really liked the part when the kids came out of the bushes and they looked like ninjas. I could not stop reading the book because it was so good.

Good Mystery
What I like about the book is that the book has a lot pages to read and is interesting about A canary.
The canary is lost and there are three kids, Dink Josh and Ruth that found the canary.
The book is a good book for kids who like mysteries.
I like to read too much.

Nice children's mystery!
My 5 year old son loves this series -- we read them as quickly as they come out. In this one, pets are disappearing -- but why? These are not exactly mysteries -- unlike, say, the Clue Jr. books there's no way for the reader to solve the crimes before the crooks are caught -- but they are interesting and fun to discuss, chapter by chapter, as the plot thickens! ... Read more