Common Sense Media Review
Predictable yet appealing Nancy Drew classic.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 9+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 5 parent reviews
Based on 11 kid reviews
Kids say this book is a fun and engaging mystery that resonates well with young readers, though it has some creepy and tense moments that may not be suitable for younger children. Many appreciate Nancy as a strong role model, while others find the series repetitive after a few books, but overall, it is celebrated for its adventurous spirit and well-crafted mysteries.
- fun mystery
- strong role model
- suitable for teens
- creepy moments
- repetitive series
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
When Nancy's friend Helen tells her about a ghost haunting her great-aunt's mansion, she's determined to check it out. But she's sidetracked when a suspicious character tells her that her father is in danger. Sure enough, her father is kidnapped and as she rushes to find him she also finds a connection between her father and the ghost.
Is It Any Good?
Nancy Drew, a name synonymous with female-teen sleuthiness, provides a model for young readers of determination, courage, and problem solving. She makes friends easily, garners the admiration of the chief of police, gets confessions out of criminals without breaking a sweat, and most of all, she's her father's daughter. These mysteries, in circulation since the 1930s, are each page-turners, where Nancy naturally comes out on top. They're predictable and sometimes repetitive, but when Nancy gets herself into a dangerous situation, the reader will follow along with nail-biting interest. The syndicate behind author Carolyn Keene has figured out a formula that works and has stood the test of time.
The scary scenes -- like when a truck chases Nancy down, or when Nancy confronts a criminal -- are less frightening than anything found in a Harry Potter book. So tween mystery buffs should definitely consider working some classic Nancy Drew into their libraries.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about what teen life looks like in 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?
Book Details
- Author :
- Genre : Mystery
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Grosset & Dunlap
- Publication date : May 1, 1930
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 9 - 12
- Number of pages : 192
- Last updated : October 9, 2025
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