Nancy Drew started in 1930. Since then, she's sold over 200,000,000 copies and is still going strong.
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The Hidden Staircase: Nancy Drew Mystery Stories No. 2
(1959, Fiction - Mystery, Written by Carolyn Keene)
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Is it age appropriate?
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Not age appropriate for kids under 8, age appropriate for kids over 9; suggested age 9. -
Is it any good?
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Common Sense says
Predictable yet appealing Nancy Drew classic.
Why We Rated This 
for Ages 9 and Up
The good stuff
What to watch out for
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Violence:
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Sex:
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Language:
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Consumerism:
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Drinking, drugs, & smoking:
What Parents Need to Know
About The Hidden Staircase: Nancy Drew Mystery Stories No. 2
Parents need to know that this classic Nancy Drew mystery -- the best-selling of the whole series -- includes scenes of Nancy's father being drugged and kidnapped, a truck purposely running Nancy and her father off the road, and threats made to many characters. Today's readers may find Nancy dated in terms of dress, language, and lack of high-tech gizmos, but her pluckiness, problem-solving tenacity, and fearlessness make her a timeless heroine. The version of this book you'll usually find for sale was updated in the '50s from an edition first published in 1930.
Read our full review by Pam Gelman
Families Can Talk About
- Families can talk about the difference in lifestyles of today's teens compared with characters found in these books. How do Nancy and her family and friends communicate with each other without cell phones, computers, text messages, etc.? How has technology improved detective work?
Our Members Say
See all 9 member reviews
Most Recent Reviews
- I rate this title on for age 9 and give it
Nancy Drew
- I rate this title on for age 2 and give it
I LOVE Nancy Drew Mysteries!!
I have read almost all of the Nancy Drew books. They are all exciting and spine tingling!! I love the way Carolyn Keene leaves each chapter ending in a suspicious thrill. I would recommend this series to kids around my age but not too young because some of the situations that Nancy gets herself into are scary for young children. I am a NANCY DREW fan!!
- I rate this title on for age 2 and give it
Best of all the books.
This is my favourite book of all the Nancy Drew novels I have read. Unlike "The Secret of the Old Clock" you can't guess what's going to happen half way through the book. But also unlike the "The Bungalow Mystery" it gives you enough information to keep you guessing and interested. There is a bit more violence in this particular book than in some of the others, however I think the book would would be quite boring with a bit of danger. There's no blood or gore, no sexuality and no alcohol. Drugs are in the book but it's not as if Nancy does drugs. Characters are drugged and gagged but seems how this is a 1930's story for girls they make it out alright. I recommend this particular book and all the Nancy Drew Novels to any girl from eight to eighty-one.
- I rate this title on for age 2 and give it
- I rate this title on for age 5 and give it
A classic!
This book is a timeless classic. Kids as young as 5 or 6 can enjoy the earlier books (before other authors took over). They're good and clean-- even what little violence there is is still much better than the majority of daytime children's TV shows. They get repetitive after a while, but the first 12 books or so are definitely worth reading.
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