Parents' Guide to

Nancy Clancy: Secret Admirer

By Patricia Tauzer, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 7+

Super sleuths turn matchmakers in fun Valentine caper.

Book Jane O'Connor Friendship 2013
Nancy Clancy: Secret Admirer Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this book.

Community Reviews

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age 9+

Based on 2 parent reviews

CSM Screen name 1584866
CSM Screen name 1584866 Parent of 7-year-old
May 19, 2014
age 8+

Enjoyable, but some concerns

My 7 year old daughter really enjoys this series. However, it concerns me that Nancy and Bree make choices that I feel are risky in this day and age - leaving the house at night, for example, and accepting rides from a guitar teacher in this story. I needed to discuss why these weren't good choices with my daughter.
Courtney W.
Courtney W. Parent
September 28, 2013
age 9+

Ugh

My 6 year old grabbed this book at our school book fair. Fancy Nancy is her absolute favorite so when we settled down to read, I was taken aback by the elements of scheming, plotting, and romanticizing of the babysitter and the guitar teacher. These are not concepts I'm eager to introduce to my first grader! I'm sorry to see Jane O'Connor succumb to the all too pervasive trend of introducing romance at earlier and earlier ages. This book quickly made its way into the donation pile. We'll be sticking with Fancy Nancy and skipping Nancy Clancy for the foreseeable future.
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What's the Story?

Valentine's Day is drawing near and romance is in the air. Super sleuth Nancy Clancy and her friend Bree have no mysteries to solve, so they use their detective talents to create one of their own. They try their hand at matchmaking, working to pair up Nancy's babysitter with her guitar teacher by leaving flowers and mysterious notes from a "secret admirer," hoping to draw them into a magical Valentine's date. Of course, using fancy words is all part of the deal. Along the way, the two girls learn a little about themselves, their own friendships, and that love sometimes has a mind of its own. /search/Jane%20O%27Connor

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say: (2):
Kids say: Not yet rated

Nancy Clancy and her friend Bree are the kind of exhuberant kids that make life fun, and happy. They are good-hearted, and creative enough to live on the edge of mischief but never step over the line. In their stories, author Jane O'Connor continues to emphasize that using fancy words is fun, dreaming of mystery and romance exciting, and developing strong friendships essential. And, Robin Glasser's sketched illustrations add even more life to the story. If that isn't enough, this NANCY CLANCY: SECRET ADMIRER is a terrific Valentine's Day book, especially for young readers beginning to enjoy chapter books.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the human heart, both the physical and emotional aspects, and talk about all the heart words Nancy found fascinating. Can a heart break? What does it mean to be kindhearted? Or heartless?

  • How do the Nancy Clancy chapter books compare with the Fancy Nancy picture book series?

  • When Nancy and Bree try to create a romance between Annie and Andy, why does Nancy say "platonic" is the first fancy word she doesn't like?

Book Details

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