Nancy Clancy: Secret Admirer
Common Sense says
- Jane O'Connor
- Friendship
- 2013
Parents say
Kids say
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The parents' guide to what's in this book.
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that this second of the Nancy Clancy chapter books is an uplifting, heartwarming, fun Valentine's Day read. It's not only filled with the usual Nancy Clancy verve and enthusiasm, along with fancy words and a few French phrases, but it also carries a refreshing message about learning to appreciate the people around you. Nancy lives in a sunny world of honest, caring people, so for the most part that is not a difficult task. Still, she seems like a real kid in a real world, and some of her classmates are harder to like than others. Young readers who have grown up with Fancy Nancy will enjoy reading these new adventures that take the spunky girl and her friends into upper primary grades.
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- Kids say
Enjoyable, but some concerns
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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?
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
- Author: Jane O'Connor
- Illustrator: Robin Preiss Glasser
- Genre: Friendship
- Topics: Book Characters, Friendship
- Book type: Fiction
- Publisher: HarperCollins Children's Books
- Publication date: January 2, 2013
- Publisher's recommended age(s): 7 - 10
- Number of pages: 128
- Available on: Hardback, iBooks, Kindle
- Last updated: June 19, 2019
Our editors recommend
For kids who love strong female characters and mysteries
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