Parents' Guide to

Nancy Clancy, Super Sleuth

By Patricia Tauzer, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 7+

Chapter book mystery promises more fun for Fancy Nancy fans.

Book Jane O'Connor Mystery 2012
Nancy Clancy, Super Sleuth Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

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

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age 7+

Based on 2 parent reviews

luvreading16
luvreading16 Parent
July 4, 2016
age 6+

My 6 year old and I loved this book

This book held both my attention, as well as my 6 year old daughters. We solved one of the mysteries early on in the book, but weren't totally sure if our guess was right until near the end. One thing that confused us was that the secret code key didn't work. There was a twist at the end that I really liked. We are very picky about book content and I'd recommend this book.
nitromomma
nitromomma Parent of 7 and 13-year-old
February 2, 2013
age 7+

GREAT!!!!!

My daughter loves this book and has read it four times already. She is begging for me to find out when book 2 is available. It's a very cute story and very entertaining. My 7 year old loves this book while her older sister loved Junie B. Jones. My 7 year old didn't like Junie B. Jones series as she complained that Junie was too mean and rude.

This title has:

Educational value
Great messages
Great role models
See all 2 parent reviews

What's the Story?

Inspired by the Nancy Drew mysteries she has been reading, Fancy Nancy is in search of a mystery to solve. Unfortunately, she sighs, there isn't much crime in her neighborhood. But when a special memento disappears from her classroom open house, she and her friend Bree get to work. Of course, Nancy isn't just an ordinary girl detective. She's just as fancy as she used to be (in her popular picture books), and she also still has a flair with words. Nancy and Bree find that tracking down the real culprit is a challenge, and the resulting discovery brings with it an important lesson about understanding and forgiveness.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (2):
Kids say (3):

It's great to see Fancy Nancy growing up and still bursting with exuberance and individuality. NANCY CLANCY, SUPER SLEUTH keeps that spirit alive while developing a story that's perfect for kids getting into chapter books and looking for a little more challenge. Developing Nancy as a Nancy Drew-inspired "super sleuth" fills the bill, especially for kids who are looking for mystery stories aimed at younger readers.

This series promises to be the perfect next step for readers who want the Nancy Drew experience but aren't quite ready for it yet. Author Jane O'Connor shows she knows kids and captures their world "superbly."

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about what it's like to see Fancy Nancy a little bit older and solving a mystery at school. Do you like her in this chapter book as much as you did in her picture book series? Why do you think the author chose to have her move on to big-girl adventures?

  • Do you think Nancy's fancy words add to her story? Do you like to use special words? What are some of your favorites?

  • What affects Nancy's choice of a special memento to share in school? Why is the teacher's memento so special? What special memento would you choose to share? What would you say about it?

  • Which clues that Nancy uncovers in her search for the marble thief lead her to jump to the wrong conclusion, and how does she finally uncover the truth?

Book Details

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